By: Cathrine Felix | May 8, 2020
The legal sphere has emphasized the importance of legal research skills regardless of being a law student or legal professional. Legal Research is indispensable and crucial to the success of lawyers. Legal professionals are often given the task of extracting the relevant legislation and appropriate cases to support the legal decisions. In the ordinary scenario, research may seem like a simple task. However, given the voluminous load of cases and statutes the entire process may seem cumbersome and hard to tackle. But an effective legal research ability will enable you to locate the law swiftly while staying updated throughout your career.
Technology’s Impact in the Legal Domain
A well-informed lawyer is always presumed to know the precedents and relevant legislations. Law is dynamic and it is nearly impossible to venture into the array of judgments pronounced every day. The advent of technology has created an impact in the legal sphere and law firms utilize software to aid the legal research process. These research tools filter out the irrelevant database and produces concise set of results within minutes. Thus, a lawyer’s duty has been reduced to analyzing and interpreting data. Digitalization has transformed the traditional paper-based research into the modern computer-based software research. Opting an unconventional research tool saves time, space and costs while ensuring accuracy in results.
The Research Methodology classes in law schools are confined to theoretical aspects and less concerned with the pragmatic approach in Courts. Law schools focus on teaching the various research methodologies and sources of law. In the realistic setting, the mission is solely focused on locating the precise provision of law to arrive at the desired result. Hence, Research is the starting point to decipher the case and strategize efficaciously.
Becoming A Certified Researcher
LexisNexis is the pioneer for providing computer assisted legal research and popular tool among the Canadian Legal regime. The case management software contains primary and secondary sources of law in single space that can be accessed in a click of a button. In light of technological advancement, Courts have begun accepting online citations. Legal Associates are expected to demonstrate exceptional skills and conduct widespread research. LexisNexis offers a comprehensive training module that endorses your research abilities. Getting certified with LexisNexis, you stand to gain knowledge while furthering your research skills. The Certification enables you to be distinguished from your peers. All this, without burning a hole in your pocket. It’s free.
What you will need to access the training?
The LexCan legal research training can be accessed at https://www.lexisnexis.ca/en-ca/academic/certification-program.page
You will be required to create a profile with LexisNexis University. The training modules is a combination of tutorial videos and practical questions. You will be asked to conduct basic searches via LexisNexis Advance Quicklaw and the training will take about 2 hours to be completed.
Pro-tip: Before beginning the modules, please ensure you have access to LexisNexis Advance Quicklaw. You could opt for the trial subscription which will be activated within 48 hours of submitting a requisition.
Exam Tip: After completing the training modules, you can proceed to launch the exam. This is relatively an easy exam, yet it is utmost necessity that you follow the prescribed research steps to arrive at an answer. On successful completion of the exam, you will receive the e-Certificate.
What you gain to learn from the Certification?
The legal community is familiar with the concept of “precedents” and its relevancy in legal research. Sifting through cases which have no relevance to your given problem is inefficient and time consuming. Law firms are hard pressed of time and tend to sway to a candidate who has the ability to do quick search. Thus, Quickcite signals and connectors will be your guiding light to find good law. These techniques narrow your search results enabling you to sift through only relevant information.
Generally, lawyers rely on primary sources for conducting their investigation. However, the training modules stresses on the benefits of secondary sources such as Halsbury’s Laws of Canada. Law Journals provide an updated version of the debated laws and its most recent cases. Beginning your research with the law journals gives you the holistic understanding of the enabling statute and its regulations.
Key Take-Away
As an Internationally trained lawyer, you may find similarities in the legal research databases. Ideally, the search methodology, contents and sources of law are identical. A multi-jurisdictional legal professional will find it easier to maneuver through the software and detect the law based on Law Review Journals. The importance of secondary sources of law cannot be over-emphasized here. Research needs to be taken seriously and the researcher must be keen to develop research skills. The key to an effective research is a formal training and defined tactics that can be achieved through the LexisNexis training modules.
About the Author
Cathrine Felix, is an Internationally Trained Lawyer, currently pursuing the licensing process in Canada.
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