Identifying legal issues can be a valuable skill for anyone interested in becoming a lawyer. A legal issue is any question or problem that has legal consequences. A legal issue can be caused by unexpected circumstances such as a health emergency, or it can be caused by a planned event. A legal issue can be difficult to identify unless you know what to look for. However, you can learn how to spot legal issues by looking at cases from core subjects.
Often, a court opinion will summarize the facts of the case. It will also highlight arguments that were presented in the courtroom. When a court decides on an issue, it will state its decision in a holding. A holding may be a simple yes or no statement, or it may be a short statement that includes interpretation of a statute or judicial doctrine. A holding may also be an opinion on a case that has been previously decided.
In a criminal case, the defendant may be punished by community service, fines, or imprisonment. In a civil case, the defendant may be ordered to pay money, such as alimony or child custody. The court can also issue orders for the property of the defendant, such as a property judgment. The court may also issue protection orders if the defendant is a victim of domestic violence.
If you are seeking information on a legal issue, you can seek help from a lawyer, the court, or the self-help center. These services may be free, and they can help you keep up-to-date on the law. For criminal cases, you can also contact your local law library. In civil cases, you can use an online service, such as Westlaw or FindLaw.
To get the most out of a brief, you should look for selective facts, logical fallacies, and distortions of precedent. You can also look for ways that the case could have been argued better. You can also ask yourself if the outcome of the case violates a sense of justice. You may find that the best statement of facts is found in a concurring opinion or dissenting opinion. You should also ask yourself if the judge’s decision was based on a selective fact or a logical fallacy.
You can find federal and state statutes online. You can also find the latest edition of the United States Code online. For state statutes, you can search the online version of the Wisconsin Statutes or contact your local law library. Some county law libraries offer free access to online services. However, some county law libraries may require a nominal print charge.
For US Supreme Court cases, you can find them in the US Reports and Lawyer’s Ed. 2nd series. If you need more information, you can also check out the online versions of Westlaw, FindLaw, and the Supreme Court Reporter. If you are looking for cases from other states, you can also check the North Western Reporter.