By Tobin A. Sparling
Published by Wolters Kluwer Law & Business (2015)
KF 240 .S63 2015
The Harris County Law Library is proud to feature the latest edition of Strategic Legal Research: Finding the Information You Need Efficiently and Cost-Effectively by Tobin A. Sparling, a Professor of Law at Houston College of Law (formerly South Texas College of Law). Sparling’s book stands out from other legal research resources in that he stresses a research methodology that focuses on thinking through the issue before jumping in and simply beginning the research. He suggests ten basic steps that will enable you to perform legal research more efficiently and economically. He identifies the advantages and disadvantages of various resources, such as print, in-house electronic, Bloomberg Law, and other internet research sources. Sparling also discusses the common features found in the major research databases like Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law. The remainder of material in the book is dedicated to researching specific resources, such as statutes, court rules, administrative law, and nonlegal authority. Naturally, Sparling devotes some discussion to researching Texas materials and understanding the Texas legal system.