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Legal Research & Writing LAW-215

Legal Research & Writing LAW-215. Statutory Law Part 2. U.S. Code “The official source, but not a practical tool for research.”. Slow publication schedule, (8 months – 2 years. out of date). New edition every 6 years. Annual hardbound supplement volumes.

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Legal Research & Writing LAW-215

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  1. Legal Research & WritingLAW-215 Statutory Law Part 2

  2. U.S. Code“The official source, but not a practical tool for research.” • Slow publication schedule, (8 months – 2 years. out of date). New edition every 6 years. Annual hardbound supplement volumes. • Lacks helpful research references or “annotations,” e.g., secondary sources and case law.

  3. Annotated Codes“The starting point for statutory research.” • Federal • United States Code Service (USCS). Print Volumes (Lexis) Online (LexisNexis) • United States Code Annotated (USCA). Print Volumes (Thompson/West) Online (Westlaw).

  4. United States Code Service(Lexis) • U.S.C.S. provides the following “extra” features: • History; Ancillary laws and directives • Code of Federal Regulations references • Cross references • Research guide • Interpretive notes and decisions

  5. United States Code Annotated(Thompson/West) • U.S.C.A. provides the following “extra” features: • Historical notes • Cross references • Library references • Westlaw electronic research • Code of Federal Regulations references • Notes of decisions

  6. Advantages of Annotated Codes • Legislative History Information: • More detailed information, including summaries, explanations, references and statutory notes for amending legislation. Cites to some LH docs., e.g. House & Senate reports. • Cross-References to Related Code Sections. • Some references to related Administrative Regulations.

  7. United States Code Annotated Legislative History Information

  8. Advantages of Annotated Codes • Case Law Abstracts • “Head note like” abstracts of decisions that have applied or interpreted a U.S.C. section. • USCA “Notes of Decisions” • USCS “Interpretative Notes and Decisions”

  9. United States Code Annotated Case Law Abstracts

  10. Advantages of Annotated Codes • Frequent Updates: • Annual pocket part or pamphlet supplements. • Interim quarterly and monthly pamphlet supplements. • Cumulative Later Case & Statutory Service (USCS). • Advance Pamphlets (USCS). • Advance statutory supplements (USCA). • U.S. Code Congressional & Administrative News.

  11. Annotations to Secondary Sources and Research Tools • West Digest topic and key number cites (USCA) • Electronic research guidance (LexisNexis & Westlaw). • Legal encyclopedia references. (C.J.S. & AmJur 2d). • American Law Reports (A.L.R.) cites. • Legal periodical cites.

  12. United States Code Annotated Secondary Annotations

  13. Research Techniques for Locating Statutes • To locate federal or state statues, there are three techniques: • Descriptive word approach • Title/topic approach • Popular name approach

  14. Updating Federal Statutory Research

  15. End of Statutory Law Part 2

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