Legal Research Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Riverside County Law Library

Access Primary law on Fastcase!

Written on April 2, 2020.

Access primary law on Fastcase! We understand your need for access to legal sources during this telecommuting season, so we are proud to offer remote access to Fastcase. All you need to do is call 951-368-0368 and receive the log-in information to begin your legal research. Fastcase uses two platforms, Fastcase 6 and the newer Fastcase 7, and has a citator called “authority check.” Fastcase 7 offers access to secondary sources such as the expert witness database and law blogs. Keep in mind...

Using EBSCOHost and Nolo to Tackle Common Legal Issues.

Written on February 13, 2020.

Using EBSCOHost and Nolo to Tackle Common Legal Issues Are you having trouble figuring out how to start your legal issue? Here at the Riverside County Law Library, we have excellent starting point resources in various legal issues. Nolo print books and the EBSCOHost database are great starting points of reference and are both available at the library. Can’t make it into the library? No problem, you can use EBSCOHost on your computer at home. As a Riverside County resident, you can call in to...

Up In Smoke

Written on November 12, 2019.

The area of cannabis law in California is in a state of being continuously updated. History of cannabis’ legislation in California has been slowly extending the range of use. The 1996 California Compassionate Care Act passage legalized marijuana use for qualified patients and their caregivers strictly for medical purposes. Recently, the passage of the 2016 Adult Use of Marijuana Act legalized the regulated sale, possession, and consumption of cannabis for adult, personal use here in California....

U.S. Constitution has new searchable and user-friendly website.

Written on September 23, 2019.

In celebration of Constitution Day on September 17th The Library of Congress website released a new annotated version of the US Constitution complete with search capabilities, explanations and references. Since 1911, legal researchers at the Library of Congress have published and distributed an annotated version of the Constitution that lawmakers are able to use as a guide in their legislative duties. That version has been updated regularly as applications of the laws have evolved with changing...

Legal Research Resources for Self-represented litigants

Written on July 9, 2019.

Legal research can be difficult. Law librarians can provide insight and guidance on the process but sometimes patrons need an in-depth guide that will walk them through the process. Below are some resources geared towards self-represented litigants. These guides offer easy to understand explanation of basic legal concepts and how the concepts are useful in legal research. Locating the Law: A Handbook for Non-Law Librarians. The 6th edition of this online publication covers a variety of...

So, we meet again

Written on May 31, 2018.

I really don’t like Google. Well, it’s not so much that I don’t like Google as a company so much as it is what it has done to the legal system. Well, it’s not so much what it’s done to the legal system as it has done to the people who relied solely on Google to supply their legal pleadings. Time after time I have people come to me complaining about stupid judges who granted demurrers against them when all they did was use the complaint (or answer) they found on...

It’s about time

Written on May 24, 2018.

Let’s face it, law and legal stuff can be pretty scary, sometimes. Take the young lady who came into our library. Seems she had been sued for a breach of contract. A while back. Seems she didn’t know about the awesomeness of her local county law library (i.e. the RCLL) so she pulled a response from somewhere off the Internet and filed it. You can imagine her surprise and chagrin when, 30 days later, she was served with a demurrer to her answer. Wait, what?! Can the plaintiff...

We looked (almost) everywhere

Written on February 28, 2018.

What a day! Some days we get maybe 4-5 people asking anything from how to not get evicted to how to file a class action lawsuit. Today, I got hammered with well over a dozen questions that covered the gamut of legal research – which isn’t a bad thing. Its was just a busy day. Then I had a lady ask where she could find a Petition to Open Probate. Huh. Thinking a bit, a list of possible titles pop into my head and I start to walk over to California Forms of Pleading and Practice...

Can I have it back, please?!

Written on January 26, 2018.

February is right around the corner and as Valentine’s Day approaches, many feel stirred to make the ultimate romantic gesture and propose to their loved one. An engagement ring can be a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and it frees the giver from having to think of another gift so soon after the holidays. These romantic symbols are most often a starting point to a long and happy marriage; but sometimes the stars are crossed and a frequently researched question at the Riverside County Law...