Legal Support Legal Research and Filing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'cite checking' a legal brief involve?
- Verifying that all cited authorities are accurate, properly formatted, and still good law (Correct answer)
- Proofreading for grammar and spelling errors
- Confirming page numbers in the appendix
- Checking that all exhibits are attached
Correct answer: Verifying that all cited authorities are accurate, properly formatted, and still good law
Cite checking involves verifying that every citation in a brief accurately reflects the cited source, follows proper citation format, and that the cited authority remains valid law.
Question 2: What is 'The Bluebook' in legal practice?
- The standard guide for legal citation format used in US courts and law reviews (Correct answer)
- A directory of licensed attorneys
- A guide to court procedures
- A compilation of federal regulations
Correct answer: The standard guide for legal citation format used in US courts and law reviews
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the standard reference guide for legal citation format, used by most US law reviews, courts, and legal professionals.
Question 3: What is a 'secondary source' in legal research?
- Materials that analyze or explain the law, such as treatises and law review articles (Correct answer)
- Case law from lower courts
- Statutes from other states
- Unpublished court opinions
Correct answer: Materials that analyze or explain the law, such as treatises and law review articles
Secondary sources are legal materials that explain, analyze, or summarize the law, including law review articles, treatises, legal encyclopedias, and Restatements.
Question 4: What is 'annotated code' in statutory research?
- A statutory compilation that includes summaries of cases interpreting each statute (Correct answer)
- A code with editorial corrections
- A statute with definitions added by the researcher
- A simplified version of complex legislation
Correct answer: A statutory compilation that includes summaries of cases interpreting each statute
An annotated code is a compilation of statutes that includes not only the text of the law but also citations and summaries of court decisions that have interpreted each statutory provision.
Question 5: What is 'lexis advance' used for?
- Online legal research including case law, statutes, and secondary sources (Correct answer)
- Electronic court filing
- Attorney directory and bar verification
- Client management and billing
Correct answer: Online legal research including case law, statutes, and secondary sources
Lexis Advance (now Lexis+) is a comprehensive legal research platform offering access to case law, statutes, regulations, law review articles, and practice guides.
Question 6: What is a 'pocket part' in a legal reference book?
- A supplemental pamphlet inserted in the back of a book to update it with new information (Correct answer)
- A small portable version of a legal reference
- An index at the back of a treatise
- A condensed summary of the main volume
Correct answer: A supplemental pamphlet inserted in the back of a book to update it with new information
A pocket part is a pamphlet inserted into the back cover of a bound legal volume to provide annual updates, adding new cases, statutes, and legal developments since the main volume was published.
Legal Support Legal Research and Filing 2
What does 'cite checking' a legal brief involve?