The Legal Research and Writing Handbook: A Basic Approach for Paralegals

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Summary: Legal Research and Writing Handbook: A Basic Approach
Review: Although the Legal Research and Writing Handbook is geared for paralegals, it is a valuable guide for attorneys as well. The authors guide readers through each step necessary to use a research tool. In addition, readers learn how to integrate various research methods to perform comprehensive searches of legal materials. The writing portion of the book also provides a step by step approach to drafting documents. It is an excellent resource for all legal researchers and writers.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely awful book
Review: This book is poorly written and unedited. It is riddled with grammatical errors; the captions for the illustrations and samples are misleading; often the text that can't be distinguished from illustrations because of inconsistent use of fonts and dividing rules.

When one of the authors tried to discuss the difference between the executive, judiciary and legislative branches of the federal government, she forgot to describe the executive or perhaps didn't know what the president's function is.

One of the authors thinks that Black's is a common law dictionary. Perhaps she meant commonly used? No attorney would tolerate a paralegal or legal assistant with such poor communication skills as these authors possess; yet the book is supposed to teach the prospective paralegal to communicate in a legal environment.

Rating:
Summary: Sure fire guide to the legal research and writing process
Review: This text is clearly written and breaks down the mechanics of research and writing into easily understood steps. Great for students entering law school as well as for paralegals.