Legal Advice and Research

Often individuals looking for legal advice simply don’t know where to turn. With so many branches of the law and types of lawyers available, it can be an overwhelming process to find a quality and affordable lawyer. But with so many resources now available on the Internet, the process has been greatly simplified. All it takes is a quick search in order to find hundreds of lawyers within minutes of any location, and some sites offer ratings and comments from those who have previously utilized each lawyer’s services.

Another great way the Internet has helped in the legal field is the information available for research that is just a few clicks away. Individuals can perform a quick web search on past cases and rulings, and find thousands of case studies and other information, often available at no charge.

Some websites also feature updates to legal practices, billing, and other valuable information that lawyers may not have access to otherwise. One of the most useful tools is Google Scholar, which allows for searches of any United States case law. Users can easily perform free searches for opinions of cases and legal journals, in full-text format, as well as patents and basic articles. It is very easy to use, especially for those who are already familiar with Google, as the search is done in exactly the same way. A search can be performed using any information available, such as topic, citation, lawyer name, or case name.

Using advanced search limits results based on jurisdiction or the state where the case took place. This feature also offers assistance with performing a Boolean search if the case in question cannot be located. Citations are also given in search results, which show up as quoted information from the actual case.  The search also provides additional sources with further information about the case, under the “Related Documents” tab.