A Quick and Comprehensive Approach to Performing Legal Research with AI tools

Counseling a client and appearing in front of a judge with a large audience is nerve-wracking, to say the least. Besides the pressure, there is always a need to create powerful arguments so that you can swing the judges in your favor.

However, doing so is not easy. You require not only extensive experience as a lawyer but also the utmost expertise.

But today, some online tools and resources can make your job a little easier. They can help perform legal research quickly and comprehensively without too many hurdles.

This article will introduce such a tool that can be utilized to prepare for court in no time. It will be demonstrated with a step-by-step guide to help perform legal research in the most efficient way possible.

Step-by-Step Guide On Performing Legal Research Effectively

Conducting legal research can be difficult. But by following the given structured approach, one can easily enhance their efficiency and accuracy in work.

1. Clarify the Scope of Your Case

Before starting legal research, you have to clarify the scope of your case by following some basic tips:

• Define the legal problem clearly, which will let you focus on the relevant cases.

• Ask multiple questions related to the case and prepare answers for it: What was the situation? Where did the situation take place? What is the way out of this problem?

• Specify the relevant legal jurisdiction where the issues arise, as laws and regulations of the region may vary with time.

 These are some basic tips to follow to clarify the scope and define a premise to the case. However, one must not stay limited to the given points and keep on exploring on their own as well.

2. Adapt Law Material to Solve the Problems

To effectively address legal issues, it is important to adopt the relevant law materials. When you research such materials, you will find two types of sources. 

Primary sources like case law, statutes, regulations, treaties, etc., form the foundation of legal systems and guide decisions. 

Secondary resources, including legal books, articles, encyclopedias, and others that provide in-depth overviews of legal topics, often cite key cases. 

While secondary sources don’t create binding laws, they offer essential context and explanations, helping to interpret primary legal materials and apply them effectively to resolve issues.

3. Extract the Crux of the Material

When gathering relevant legal sources, you will encounter a substantial volume of law material. For instance, a secondary source in the form of a legal textbook could span 2000–3000 pages, making it time-consuming to review.

If you want to save time and pick only the key elements of your findings, like court opinions, etc. We suggest you summarize those using AI-powered tools. They can convert any large content into a short one by giving you the crux of the whole text.

Below, we have attached a screenshot of our practical demo as a reference in which we used a summarizer tool to condense large data.

Image: 

https://www.summarizer.org/

This tool is free to use, providing high accuracy in output and that, too, without requiring any registrations.

With that said, there’s always an opportunity to implement any other summarizing tool in one’s workflow. So, keep exploring alternatives until one gets an option that meets their requirements perfectly.

4. Ensure Validity and Relevance of Data

Sometimes, irrelevant information can occasionally be encountered in summarized material as important, which may result in biased views and false accusations. 

Additionally, when irrelevant information is represented, it can draw attention away from core issues, hurting one’s professionalism in the court.

In this step, you have to check whether the data you collected is correct or not. Also, ensure its relevance according to the client’s issues.

 For that, refer back to the original files and see if there’s anything that can be eliminated from the created notes. Remove all non-valid arguments and information that may weaken the case instead of strengthening it.

5. Apply the Research

Finally, it is time to step into the courtroom and put the findings and notes to good use. Build a case by banking on the core arguments and staying relevant, clear, and concise in the delivery. 

Go with great confidence in front of everyone and provide recommendations (if any) on the case based on the laws or secondary/tertiary information uncovered.

Present your evidence clearly and in a well-profound manner. Emphasize the strength of your research. Oppose the opponent’s views and demonstrate confidently how the law should favor the client’s position instead of the other way around.

Following the given method, one can create a solid legal foundation for their client’s case, allowing them to emerge triumphant from the courtroom.

Final Thoughts

Effective legal research is crucial for preparing strong arguments in court, and online tools/resources can significantly streamline this process. 

Lawyers can significantly enhance their working efficiency by clarifying the case scope, utilizing primary and secondary legal materials, summarizing content, and ensuring the validity of information.

Ultimately, presenting well-researched and concise arguments with confidence can lead to favorable outcomes for clients and the lawyers presenting the case.

FAQs

1. What are the Methods of Legal Studies?

There are different ways of legal studies. These are mainly defined as doctrinal, analytical, historical, and comparative. However, there can be more types and subtypes of the mentioned categories.

2. Where to Find More Reading Material for Legal Problems?

Consider reading secondary sources of information like legal books, articles, encyclopedias, etc., to build up stronger cases for the client.

3. Why is there a Need for AI Tools in Legal Research?

AI tools make it easy to understand complex and lengthy material, like the AI Summarizer mentioned in this post. Leveraging such tools is a quick and comprehensive approach to performing legal research.

4. What is the Survey Method in Legal Research?

In the survey method, a person may ask people questions about their opinions, attitudes, or experiences related to a legal issue. It is a good way to form solid arguments for the courtroom.

5. Advice for Lawyers Getting into the Courtroom?

Present the arguments clearly and concisely to the jury. Soak up the pressure and stay confident throughout the hearing. Avoid getting too far away from the core of the problem and maintain focus.