Introduction toLegal Research

Legal Research at Drake

Smart Research Practices

Fundamentals: Sources of Law

Agency regulationsAgency decisionsExecutive orders

Public laws - statutes Court opinions - cases

Fundamentals: Primary v. Secondary

• Primary – force and effect of law• Secondary – explains and analyzes the law;

helps you locate primary materials

Fundamentals: Jurisdiction

738 N.W.2d 555

Case Law

Secondary Sources

Exercise Hypothetical

Margaret Van Meter owns an 80 lb. Doberman Pinscher named Peanut. Peanut has never bitten anyone, but he is known around the neighborhood for growling, barking, and snapping at people who pass by the Van Meter property. Last week Alison Flynn came to Van Meter’s door to deliver a package. When Van Meter opened the door to Flynn, Peanut lunged through the door and bit Flynn in the face. Is Van Meter liable for Flynn’s injuries?

Animals 75-79

• Access these pages through this path on the library’s home page: Class Presentations > Introduction to Legal Research 1

• Read through the passages to get background information and to identify potentially relevant cases.