Washington Legal Researcher's
Deskbook 3d, 2002

Publications
Written by Penny Hazelton, Jonathan Franklin, Ann Hemmens, Mary Ann Hyatt, Peggy Roebuck Jarrett, Nancy McMurrer, Cheryl Rae Nyberg, and Mary Whisner.

"[T]he most comprehensive and in-depth book on researching Washington law available. . . . an invaluable resource for practicing attorneys (and law students) . . . "Julie A. Heintz, Washington Legal Research, at 180 (2005).

Price: $65 plus $3 shipping. Washington residents add tax (8.8%): total cost: $73.72. Click here for information on placing an order.

Table of Contents, with links to Detailed Table of Contents

  1. How to Use a Law Library
  2. The Process of Legal Research
  3. Fundamentals of Legal Research in Washington
  4. Washington Practice Materials
  5. Administrative Materials and Decisions
  6. Legislative History, Initiatives, and Bill Tracking New this edition: Initiatives
  7. Local Government Law New this edition
  8. Historical and Archival Sources New this edition
  9. Indian Law Research in Washington New this edition
  10. Nonlegal Resources
  11. Managing Your Library
  • Appendix: Acronyms and Abbreviations
  • Index

    Detailed Table of Contents

    Chapter 1 How to Use a Law Library

    1. The Basics of a Law Library
    2. Services
    3. Collection Organization
    4. Locating Items in the Collection
      1. Library Catalogs
      2. Searching Online Catalog Records
      3. Searching Indexing and Abstracting Services
      4. Legal Research Guides
    5. Online Searching
      1. Effective Online Searching
      2. Evaluating Resources on the Internet
    6. Everything Is Online, Right?
      1. What Is Online?
      2. What Is Not Online?
      3. Other Considerations

    Appendix I: Law Libraries in Washington State

    1. State Law Library
    2. County Law Libraries
    3. Court Libraries
    4. Academic Law Libraries
    5. Directories of Washington Libraries

    Appendix II: Library of Congress Call Numbers

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    Chapter 2 The Process of Legal Research

    1. Introduction
    2. Formats of Legal Materials
      1. Electronic Legal Information Systems
      2. Print Tools
    3. Integrating the Use of Print and Electronic Tools in Legal Research Projects
    4. Strategies for Effective Legal Research
      1. Rombauer Framework
        1. Preliminary Analysis
        2. Search for Statutes
        3. Search for Mandatory Case Precedent
        4. Search for Persuasive Case Precedent
        5. Refine, Double-Check, and Update
      2. Conclusion
    5. Managing Your Legal Research
      1. General Suggestions
      2. Note-Taking
      3. Help! A Dead End!
      4. When to Stop the Search

    Appendix I: Research Process: Comparison of Major Legal Research Texts
    Appendix II: Here There Be Dragons: How to Do Research in an Area You Know Nothing About
    Appendix III: Develop the Habit: Note-Taking in Legal Research

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    Chapter 3 Fundamentals of Legal Research in Washington

    1. Introduction
    2. Secondary Sources
      1. Practice Materials
      2. Legal Dictionaries
      3. Encyclopedias, Texts, and Treatises
      4. Legal Periodicals
    3. Statutes
      1. Session Laws
      2. Codes--The Revised Code of Washington and Its Predecessors
      3. Annotated Codes
        1. West's Revised Code of Washington Annotated
        2. Annotated Revised Code of Washington
      4. Electronic Versions of Washington Statutes
      5. Uniform Laws and Model Acts
      6. Court Rules
    4. City and County Codes
    5. Administrative Regulations
      1. Washington State Register
      2. Washington Administrative Code
      3. Researching the History of Regulations
      4. Electronic Versions of Administrative Regulations
    6. Case Law
      1. Official Reports
      2. Unofficial Reports
      3. Legal Newspaper
      4. Electronic Versions of Caselaw
      5. Unpublished Opinions
    7. Case Finding Tools
      1. Secondary Sources and Annotated Codes
      2. West Digest System
        1. Approaches to Using West Digests
        2. Changes in the Digest System; Updating Digests
      3. Cumulative Subject Index
      4. Shepard's Washington Case Name Citator
      5. West Fax
      6. Citator Services
      7. Computer-Assisted Legal Research
      8. Briefs
    8. Attorney General Opinions
    9. Citator Services
      1. Shepard's in Print
      2. Electronic Citator Services
        1. Shepard's on LexisNexis
        2. Keycite
        3. Citators on CD Law
        4. GlobalCite on Loislaw
        5. Comparisons and a Caution
        6. Full-text Searching
    10. Citation Format
    Appendix: Washington Courts Style Sheet

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    Chapter 4 Washington Practice Materials

    1. Introduction
    2. Encyclopedia Sources
      1. Washington Practice
      2. Washington Lawyers Practice Manual
    3. Subject-Specific Resources
      1. Deskbooks, Manuals, and Treatises
      2. Self-Help Sources
      3. CLE Materials
    4. Litigation Aids
      1. Benchbooks
      2. Pattern Forms
      3. Docket Information
      4. Jury Verdicts, Arbitration Awards, and Expert Witnesses
      5. Judicial Biographies and Backgrounds
    5. Ethics Opinions
    6. Directories
    7. Current Awareness: Bar Publications and Legal Newspapers
    8. Subject List of Practice Resources
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    Chapter 5 Administrative Materials and Decisions

    1. Introduction
    2. Administrative Agencies' Functions and Procedures
      1. Enabling Legislation
      2. Administrative Procedure Act and Model Rules of Procedure
      3. Public Records Act
      4. Bibliography
    3. Multi-Agency Sources of Administrative Decisions
      1. CD Law
      2. LexisNexis
      3. West Group
    4. Agency-Specific Sources
      1. Accountancy Board
      2. Administrative Hearings Office
      3. Auditor
      4. Banks Division
      5. Consumer Services Division
      6. Credit Unions Division
      7. Ecology Department
      8. Employment Security Department
      9. Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
      10. Environmental Hearings Office
      11. Ethics Advisory Committee
      12. Executive Ethics Board
      13. Financial Institutions Department
      14. Fish and Wildlife Department
      15. Forest Practices Appeals Board
      16. Governor
      17. Growth Management Hearings Boards
      18. Health Department
      19. Higher Education Personnel Board
      20. Human Rights Commission
      21. Hydraulic Appeals Board
      22. Industrial Insurance Appeals Board
      23. Insurance Commissioner
      24. Judicial Conduct Commission
      25. Labor and Industries Department
      26. Legislative Ethics Board
      27. Liquor Control Board
      28. Marine Employees' Commission
      29. Personnel Appeals Board
      30. Personnel Resources Board
      31. Pollution Control Hearings Board
      32. Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Board of Registration
      33. Public Disclosure Commission
      34. Public Employment Relations Commission
      35. Retirement Systems Department
      36. Revenue Department
      37. Secretary of State
      38. Securities Division
      39. Shorelines Hearings Boards
      40. Tax Appeals Board
      41. Utilities and Transportation Commission
    5. Databases
    Appendix: Administrative Agency Decisions at a Glance

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    Chapter 6 Legislative History, Initiatives, and Bill Tracking

    1. Introduction
    2. How a Bill Becomes a Law
    3. The Process of Researching Legislative History in Washington
      1. Compiling a Legislative History at a Law Library or on the Internet
      2. At the State Archives--Files and Records of Legislative Committee, Governors, and Agencies
      3. House and Senate Journal Tapes
      4. TVW
      5. Fee-Based Electronic Products
      6. Other Government Sources
      7. Unofficial Sources
      8. Telephone Numbers and Internet Addresses
    4. Sources of Legislative History Documents
    5. Researching Initiatives and Referenda
    6. Legislative Bill Tracking
      1. News Sources
      2. Washington State Legislature's Website
      3. Legislative Digest and History of Bills
      4. Meeting Schedule and Bill Status
      5. Legislative Hotline
      6. Governor's Office
      7. LEGlink
      8. LexisNexis and Westlaw
    7. Tips on Using the Legislature's Search Feature
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    Chapter 7 Local Government Law

    1. Introduction and General Texts on Local Government Law
    2. Secondary Sources
      1. Background on Local Governments
        1. Role of Washington State
        2. Cities
        3. Counties
        4. Special Districts
      2. Directories
      3. Practice Materials
        1. Local Procedure
        2. Planning and Land Use
          1. Growth Management Act
          2. Shoreline Management Act
        3. Budgets and Taxes
        4. Employment
    3. Public Records
    4. Primary Sources: Legislative
      1. State Law
        1. Washington Constitution
        2. Revised Code of Washington
      2. Local Law
        1. Charters
        2. City and County Codes
          1. Washington State Building Code
          2. Other Uniform Codes
        3. Ordinances
        4. Resolutions and orders
        5. Legislative History
          1. Seattle
          2. King County
    5. Primary Sources: Administrative
      1. Rules and Guidance
        1. Seattle
        2. King County
      2. Decisions
        1. Seattle
        2. King County
        3. Kitsap County
        4. Snohomish County
    Appendix I: Washington City Codes
    Appendix II: Washington County Codes
    Appendix III: Library and Office Directory

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    Chapter 8 Historical and Archival Sources

    1. Introduction
    2. Statehood History
    3. Constitutions and Constitutional Conventions
    4. Territorial Session Laws and Codes
    5. Territorial Legislative Assembly
    6. Territorial and Early State Courts
    7. Territorial Governors and Gubernatorial Archives
    8. Agency Documents and Archives
    9. Other Sources on Washington Government and Legal History
    10. Washington State Archives
      1. Collections
      2. Access
      3. Finding Aids
    11. Unique Collections
      1. Washington State Bench and Bar Collection
      2. Pacific Northwest Collection
      3. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Pacific Alaska Region
      4. Washington State Library
    12. Selected Online Resources
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    Chapter 9 Indian Law Research in Washington

    1. Introduction
    2. Federal Indian Policy
      1. Pre-Revolutionary War (Before 1776)
      2. Treaty-Making and Federal Authority (1776-1828)
      3. Removal, the End of Treaty-Making, and the Move to Reservations (1828-1887)
      4. Allotment and Assimilation (1887-1934)
      5. Indian Reorganization (1934-1953)
      6. Termination (1953-1968)
      7. Tribal Self-Determination (1968 to Present)
    3. Indian Law Terminology
      1. Who Is an Indian?
      2. What Is an Indian Tribe?
      3. What Is a Federally Recognized Tribe?
      4. What Is Indian Country?
      5. What Is the Federal Trust Responsibility?
      6. What Is Tribal Sovereignty or Tribal Self-Government?
      7. What is PL 280?
    4. Scope of Federal, Tribal, and State Power over Indians
    5. Practitioner's Checklist
    6. Research Tools
      1. Research Guides
      2. Treatises, National in Scope
      3. Periodical Literature
      4. Primary Law Sources
        1. Treaties and Tribal-State Compacts
          1. Treaties
          2. Tribal-State Compacts
        2. Constitutions and Statutes
          1. Federal
          2. Tribal
        3. Court Opinions
          1. State and Federal Cases
          2. Tribal Court Cases
        4. Administrative Rules and Decisions
      5. Directories and Reference Materials
      6. Research Tools for Washington Tribes
        1. Research Guide
        2. Treatises and Books
        3. Periodical Literature
        4. Primary Law
        5. Directories and Reference Material
    7. Conclusion
    Appendix I: Washington State Tribal Directory
    Appendix II: Basic Rules of Jurisdiction in Indian Country (Criminal)

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    Chapter 10 Nonlegal Resources

    1. Introduction
    2. Finding People, Organizations, Agencies, and Corporations
      1. Telephone Numbers and Email Addresses
      2. Locating a Lawyer
        1. Washington State
        2. United States
      3. Directories of Association
      4. Government Directories
        1. Washington State
        2. United States
        3. Other States
      5. Corporate Directories
    3. Finding Factual Information
      1. Almanacs
      2. Atlases and Maps
      3. Country Information
      4. Statistical Sources
        1. General Sources
        2. Court Statistics
        3. Criminal Justice Statistics
        4. Economic Statistics
        5. Census
        6. Advanced Statistical Finding Tools
      5. Medical Information
    4. Writing Resources
      1. Dictionaries and Thesauruses
      2. Usage Guides
      3. Quotation Books
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    Chapter 11 Managing Your Library

    1. Managing Your Library
      1. If Your Firm Has a Librarian
      2. If Your Firm Does Not Have a Librarian
      3. Using a Consultant
      4. How Do You Know When You Need a Librarian?
    2. Hiring a Librarian
    3. Selecting Materials
      1. Questions to Consider
      2. Selection and Acquisition Tools
      3. Publishers on the World Wide Web
      4. Selecting Legal Databases
      5. Comparison of Low-Cost Legal Research Services on the Web
    4. Managing Your Library: A Selected Bibliography
      1. Books and Serials
      2. Articles
      3. Websites
    5. Library Support Services in King County
    6. Document Delivery Services
      1. Pacific Northwest
      2. National
    7. Legal Publishers and Distributors: A Selected List of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho Legal Publishers
    8. Publishers of Current Washington Legal Periodicals
      1. Law Reviews
      2. Legal Newspapers
      3. Bar Publications
      4. Index
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    Appendix: Acronyms and Abbreviations

    Index

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