Book Review: Nemes and Coss’ Effective Legal Research (5th Ed 2012)

When some barristers, eager for the challenge of the court room, stumble across the title Effective Legal Research, they might give a glazed look and say to themselves that it is little wonder an academic lawyer is the barrister writing the review.

Of course, if that were their response, it would be somewhat disappointing, as it would ignore the very real nexus between research and opinion writing and preparation of cases.

From my academic standpoint, I am only too aware that some legal offices and barristers’ chambers liaise with Law Schools, underscoring the need for law graduates to be able to find out about the law and have substance behind, for example:

• the opinions they write;
• their understanding of the nuances of decisions of courts and the impact of milestone cases (on themselves and their clients); and
• their court room decisions (such as whether or not something is admissible in evidence; or which line of authority might be ripe for legal review or change).

The way in which law graduates and lawyers develop and hone these skills is in no small part through developing a tremendous capacity to research. Indeed, while practising law does clearly rely on the traditional skills of advocacy (both spoken and written) and strategy, actually understanding and knowing the law surely goes hand-in-glove with these very practical skills.

For that reason, this book on legal research is a useful edition. It covers internet-based research and databases; techniques and strategies of research; legislation, case law and secondary sources; citation and effective legal writing as well as international research. These are all good things to know about.

Given the constant changes being made to databases, the reviewer also recommends that barristers and solicitors attend courses on research, from time to time, as part of their CPD commitment. (And always be nice to and appreciate the excellent staff at the Supreme Court Library and the various university libraries throughout the town!)

Louise Floyd

1 February 2013