Deck 4: Finding the Law: Legal Research

Question 1

Statutes are laws enacted by the legislature.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Precedent is an example set by the decision of an earlier court for similar cases or similar legal questions which arise in later cases.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The case brief is a short summary of a case.
Multiple Choice

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Case law is a collection of reported cases.

Question 5

Which of the following are not secondary sources?

A) treatises
B) ordinances
C) digests
D) periodicals
E) form books

Question 6

Which of the following is an encyclopedia?

A) Corpus Juris Secundum
B) American Jurisprudence 2d
C) California Jurisprudence 3d
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 7

Relevant facts are sometimes called:

A) key facts
B) focus facts
C) explanatory facts
D) important
E) precedent

Question 8

Information in a legal encyclopedia is arranged:

A) alphabetically
B) chronologically
C) numerically
D) randomly
E) none of the above

Question 9

Stare decisis means:

A) case law
B) reporter
C) similarities
D) precedent
E) review

Question 10

A digest is an index to statutes.

Question 11

If you are unfamiliar with the area of law you are researching, you should begin the research with:

A) case law
B) statutes
C) secondary sources
D) primary sources
E) newspapers

Question 12

Some secondary sources are referred to as:

A) annotations
B) dictionaries
C) finding tools
D) research manuals
E) indexes

Question 13

The official reporter for U.S. Supreme Court cases is

A) Supreme Court Reporter
B) United States Reports
C) Lawyer's Edition
D) The Supreme Court Web Site
E) Westlaw

Question 14

Primary sources include case law, statutes, constitutions, and dictionaries.

Question 15

Encyclopedias are a secondary source.

Question 16

Facts should be sorted into the following three categories: relevant, explanatory, and unnecessary.

Question 17

We look to statutes to provide:

A) concise statements of the law
B) a detailed summary of the law
C) summaries of important cases
D) guidance for the public
E) references to secondary sources

Question 18

Form books are filled with sample forms and explanations on how and when to use the forms.

Question 19

Before comparing your facts and issues with case law, it is important you properly identify:

A) important precedent
B) facts and issues in your client's situation
C) judicial history
D) the question presented
E) explanatory facts

Question 20

An issue is a question that must be decided by a court.