Legal Research Must Be Efficient to be Cost-Effective, says John Marshall Law School Professor Sonia Green
(PRWEB) July 09, 2013 -- When it comes to legal research, there’s more than one way to get the job done. According to Professor Sonia Green of The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, the most important thing to learn about legal research is how to do it effectively.
Green is among the John Marshall professors who teach in the school’s No. 2-ranked Lawyering Skills program, which focuses on writing but also on interviewing clients and legal research, among other skills.
The two basic methods of legal research are using law books in a library or finding the information online. If students do legal research at the library, the information is free, but their time is not. As Green points out, there are times when putting your hands on the law books is a pretty quick process.
Online research can include free searches, on Google or on databases of federal laws, for example, but also includes using services like Westlaw or Lexis, which come with a fee. Knowing how to use both kinds of online tools is necessary. Green said that sometimes it’s quicker to use the online resources, either paid or free, but sometimes the trip to the library might win out.
Professors at John Marshall aim to teach students and future lawyers how to determine which research method would be most effective, and thereby least expensive, in a given situation. Being successful at that determination can save money for their firms and their clients, Green said.
About The John Marshall Law School
The John Marshall Law School, founded in 1899, is an independent law school located in the heart of Chicago’s legal, financial and commercial districts. Through classes, clinics and special programs, students develop the strategic, analytical and transactional lawyering skills that are so valuable to employers. Its excellent curriculum, coupled with outstanding skills and experiential learning, help make John Marshall graduates practice-ready from day one. For practicing attorneys, John Marshall offers nine LLM degrees, more than any other law school in the Midwest. John Marshall is also a leader in providing distance education options in intellectual property, estate planning and employee benefits at the advanced graduate degree level. John Marshall offers six clinical experiences, including the nationally recognized Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic and the Fair Housing Legal Clinic. U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Graduate Schools 2014 edition ranks John Marshall’s Lawyering Skills Program second and its Intellectual Property Law program 12th in the nation.
Marilyn Thomas, The John Marshall Law School, 312-427-2737 661, [email protected]
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