Deck 9: The Internaloffice Memorandum

Question 1

Use the CJS to look up whether or not a police officer can conduct a search of a motor vehicle during a routine vehicle stop. Find the volume index for the topic and provide the location of the full cite.

Answer 1

Research project.  Students will need access to CJS.

Question 2

Where would you begin research about a legal topic if you had no idea what it was about (e.g., Admiralty)?

Answer 2

Secondary authority only analyzes the law, for instance treatise, legal encyclopedia, law review articles etc. Secondary authority refers to sources of information that describes or interprets law and is cited by the lawyers during their arguments. It is also used by judges in the court, however, it is not mandatory to be followed. It helps in easy reference and guidance to understand any case and the laws applicable on the issue in question.
To begin a research on any legal topic for which the person undergoing the research has no idea should at first refer to the legal encyclopedia. It is a multivolume compilation which provides an in-depth knowledge and coverage of every area of law. An encyclopedia covers all the subjects of any particular branch for any legal subjects. They provide opinions published by various publishers, attorneys who provide their analysis and opinion on the decision taken by the court. They help the lawyers to convince the jury or judge of the court to decide any case, but the court is under no compulsion to follow the recommendation provided by the court. It is always better to refer a legal encyclopedia when a person wants to undergo a research about an issue for which he or she has no idea. It is a multivolume compilation which provides an in-depth knowledge and coverage of every area of law.

Question 3

Using either Black's Law Dictionary or Ballentine's Law Dictionary , define the following terms:
Arbitrage
Res ipsa loquitur
Prima facie

Answer 3

Research project.  Students will need access to Black's or Ballentine's.

Question 4

What is West's national encyclopedia?

Question 5

Research the law firm of Baum Hedlund online at www.martindale.com. Where are they located? What type of law do they practice? List five of their past clients.

Question 6

What is LCP's national encyclopedia?

Question 7

Is there a legal encyclopedia for your state?

Question 8

Why should you never cite a commercial law outline?

Question 9

What quality do virtually all law dictionaries lack?

Question 10

Why would you cite a definition from Black's Law Dictionary in a brief?

Question 11

Why would you cite a definition from Ballentine's Law Dictionary in a brief?

Question 12

Why would a student want to buy Gifis's Law Dictionary?

Question 13

What is the leading long-established national legal directory?