A nontechnical book written for the average person and covering basic legal materials. Among other things, it explains how to use all major legal research tools and helps you frame your research questions. An entertaining videotape with a six-step strategy for legal research. If you really plan to do your own legal research, this is a must-see. It's available from many public and law library video collections.
Every business is governed by both federal law and state law.
If yours is a typical small business, you'll be concerned primarily with state law. For example, the law dealing with how you form a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation is almost entirely based on state sources, as is the law controlling buying a business, leasing space, hiring employees, forming contracts and resolving disputes through arbitration or small claims court. Federal law deals with federal taxes, trademarks, consumer protection and equal opportunity standards. In doing legal research, you'll refer to both primary and secondary sources. A small business rarely gets involved in questions of constitutional law.