Legal Research Podcasts

Robert Berring, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law and the author of "Finding the Law," has produced an interesting and entertaining series of podcasts on legal research. Topics range from general advice to more specific topics that would be useful for both experienced and developing legal researchers. The podcasts also feature the questions and comments of a second year law student, who essentially "stands in for" those students listening to the podcasts, thereby providing a student’s perspective on the process.

Podcasts covering general topics include:

• Legal Research Strategy - ideas for research strategies that apply in the real world

• Judicial Opinions and the History of Precedent - the doctrine of precedent and its origins

Those covering more specific research topics include:

• U.S. Code - the tricks of searching for federal statutes

• Legislative Histories - why you would want to do one and where you can find information

• Legal Periodicals - why they are useful and how best to find them

J. Fusaris