RasGuides: *School of Justice Studies*: Paralegal

Justice Studies Resources

Finding Resources

https://bit.ly/justicestudieslibrarian

Best Bets: Begin your search for articles in the databases listed below:

Academic Search Complete via EBSCO This link opens in a new window
Articles from all subject areas gathered from more than 11,000 magazines, journals, books and reports. Subjects include astronomy, multicultural studies, humanities, geography, history, law, pharmaceutical sciences, women's studies, and more. Coverage from 1887 to present. Start your research here.
Associate's Programs Source Plus via EBSCO This link opens in a new window
Articles from more than 1,900 magazines, journals and books that relate to associate degree programs of study including computer & data processing, forensics, graphic arts, health information technology, massage therapy, alcohol & drug abuse counseling, law enforcement & criminal justice, paralegal studies, and many more.
Discovery All-in-One Search This link opens in a new window
Discovery is an all-in-one search platform. Search most of our academic databases at one time on our familiar, easy-to-use EBSCO platform.
Justice Studies via ProQuest This link opens in a new window
Justice studies, criminology, social sciences, and psychology databases from ProQuest.

Specialized Databases: Use these databases for in-depth research.

Fastcase This link opens in a new window
Fastcase includes primary law (cases, statutes, regulations, court rules, and constitutions) from all 50 states, as well as deep federal coverage.
Lexis+ This link opens in a new window
A legal database for Rasmussen's paralegal students. Paralegal students will receive login and password information via email during the first week of their first term in the program.
News and Newspapers via ProQuest This link opens in a new window
Newspaper databases from the U.S. and Canada from ProQuest.
ProQuest (PQ Central +) This link opens in a new window
Business, justice studies, technology and design, and allied health disciplines are all covered in this database of databases! Highlights include access to HOOVERS business content, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times.
HeinOnline Academic This link opens in a new window
HeinOnline Academic includes more than 100 million pages of multidisciplinary content in more than 100 subject areas, including history, political science, criminal justice, religious studies, international relations, women’s studies, pre-law, and many more. With more historical content than any other database, HeinOnline provides access to 300+ years of information on political development and the complete history of the creation of government and legal systems around the world. Among the many databases included, HeinOnline’s journal collection features nearly 2,800 periodicals relating to a variety of subject areas, with all coverage dating from inception to the most currently published issues in most cases.
Want more information about how to use HeinOnline? Check out their Guides for database-specific content, search tips, tools, features, training materials, and more!

eBooks and Academic eBooks via EBSCO This link opens in a new window
24/7 access to eBooks in all program areas.
eBook Central via ProQuest This link opens in a new window
eBook Central via ProQuest is a collection of ebooks selected by Rasmussen University Librarians to aid in research and support course assignments.

When logging in for the first time, you may be prompted to search for your institution. Search for 'Rasmussen' and select it from the list and you will then be routed to the main search page.
Cloud Library (3M) This link opens in a new window
A collection of ebooks that supports leisure reading, life-long learning, and course assignments.

----Once the page opens, click the appropriate box for the device you are using to download the app.
You cannot use this database without using the app.
Lexis+ This link opens in a new window
A legal database for Rasmussen's paralegal students. Paralegal students will receive login and password information via email during the first week of their first term in the program.

Interlibrary Loan
Search for resources from outside of the Rasmussen Library System. Contact the School of Justice Studies Librarian for assistance in obtaining an item from outside of Rasmussen University.

Credo Reference eBooks This link opens in a new window
Credo Reference offers full-text online versions of hundreds of reference books in all major subjects. It includes dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopedias, quotations and atlases, plus a wide range of subject-specific titles. Also featured are concept maps for visual learners, tables, interactive maps, timelines, and talking dictionaries.
GALE Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new window
Hundreds of reference ebooks in ALL subject areas.
Lexis+ This link opens in a new window
A legal database for Rasmussen's paralegal students. Paralegal students will receive login and password information via email during the first week of their first term in the program.
Research Starters This link opens in a new window
Search over 70,000 Research Starters; they are a great way to start your research and get an overview of your topic!
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?authtype=ip,shib&custid=s9076023&groupid=main&profile=eds&direct=true&defaultdb=ers

Fastcase This link opens in a new window
Fastcase includes primary law (cases, statutes, regulations, court rules, and constitutions) from all 50 states, as well as deep federal coverage.
Lexis+ This link opens in a new window
A legal database for Rasmussen's paralegal students. Paralegal students will receive login and password information via email during the first week of their first term in the program.
HeinOnline Academic This link opens in a new window HeinOnline Academic includes more than 100 million pages of multidisciplinary content in more than 100 subject areas, including history, political science, criminal justice, religious studies, international relations, women’s studies, pre-law, and many more. With more historical content than any other database, HeinOnline provides access to 300+ years of information on political development and the complete history of the creation of government and legal systems around the world. Among the many databases included, HeinOnline’s journal collection features nearly 2,800 periodicals relating to a variety of subject areas, with all coverage dating from inception to the most currently published issues in most cases.
Want more information about how to use HeinOnline? Check out their Guides for database-specific content, search tips, tools, features, training materials, and more!

Cornell University Law School Legal Information Institute
Governed by the belief that everyone should have free and open access to the law, Cornell University Law School maintains this premier database of U.S. and state laws, case law, Federal regulations.
FindLaw for Legal Professionals
A companion to FindLaw.com, this cite includes additional resources on topics such as law firm management, legal careers, and additional legal resources.
Justia
Justia's mission is to provide free access to the law. Search for state and Federal materials here--most link directly to state and Federal sites.
Oyez
Oyez (pronounced oh-yay), a free law project at Chicago-Kent, is a multimedia archive devoted to making the Supreme Court of the United States accessible to everyone. It is a complete and authoritative source for all of the Court’s audio since the installation of a recording system in October 1955.

American Bar Association: Preview of U.S. Supreme Court Cases
Use this cite to find briefs filed with the United State Supreme Court to learn the issues facing the court in the current session.
Cornell University Law School Legal Information Institute
Governed by the belief that everyone should have free and open access to the law, Cornell University Law School maintains this premier database of U.S. and state laws, case law, Federal regulations.
Findlaw
Originally developed to market legal services, this cite offers information on a variety of legal topics.
FindLaw for Legal Professionals
A companion to FindLaw.com, this cite includes additional resources on topics such as law firm management, legal careers, and additional legal resources.
Guide to Law Online
The Guide to Law Online, prepared by the Law Library of Congress Public Services Division, is an annotated guide to sources of information on government and law available online. It includes selected links to useful and reliable sites for legal information.
Justia
Justia's mission is to provide free access to the law. Search for state and Federal materials here--most link directly to state and Federal sites.
Code of Federal Regulations (Annual Edition)
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) annual edition is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
United States Supreme Court
This is the official website for the United States Supreme Court. Find U.S. Supreme Court opinions and cases on the docket.

Films on Demand: Master Academic Package This link opens in a new window
Browse all of the academic videos available in the Films on Demand suite. Browse most popular, recently added, featured producers, and subjects.
Subjects include: sociology, English, technology & society, world languages, earth science, psychology, business & economics, history, counseling & social work, geography, music & dance, archival films & newsreels, political science, engineering, mathematics, nursing, anthropology, art & architecture, criminal justice & law, communication, philosophy & religion, physical science, education, environmental science, health & medicine, area studies, and biology.

ProQuest Videos and Audio
ProQuest offers videos on many legal topics including paralegal.

ASP: Counseling and Therapy in Video This link opens in a new window
Counseling and Therapy in Video provides faculty and students with a first-hand look at the realities of working with clients and the challenges associated with putting theoretical concepts into practice. These collection provide a thorough grounding in dozens of therapeutic methods and diagnoses, insight into the human condition, and training in skills such as reflection and empathy while working with specific populations such as veterans and teens.
ASP: Business Education in Video This link opens in a new window
Business Education in Video features executive interviews, corporate training videos, case studies, How To features and documentary films that focus on all aspects of the global business environment. Subjects covered include Globalization, Operations & Logistics, Management, Marketing, Finance, Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, International Business, Negotiations, Ethics, Cross-cultural communication, Technology, and much more.

Understanding Legal Resources

When looking for legal materials, determine jurisdiction and branch of government by THINKING IN TRIANGLES:

FEDERAL Legislative (Statutes)

STATE LOCAL Judicial(Cases) Executive(Regs)

Start a search for legal information by determining who has jurisdiction (is it a Federal, state, or local issue), then decide whether the answer to the question will be found in the statutes, court opinions, or regulations. Once these questions are answered, you can begin to search for appropriate legal resources:

Cases (Federal or state case reporters)
Statutes (Federal or state codes, municipal or county codes)
Regulations (Code of Federal Regulations, State Administrative Codes, Local Ordinances)

Legal resources are divided into two categories: primary sources and secondary sources.

In simple terms, primary sources are the rules of law. They include the version of the Federal or state government's Constitution, statutes, court opinions, and administrative regulations that those jurisdictions recognize as official or having "primary authority."

Secondary sources provide analysis and commentary about primary sources. They assist legal researchers in locating and explaining the law. Examples of secondary sources include:

· Legal Dictionaries

· Legal Encyclopedias

· Law Reviews

· Annotated Law Reports

· Treatises, Hornbooks, and Nutshells

· Restatements of the Law

How to Read a U.S. Supreme Court Opinion
Reading a U.S. Supreme Court opinion can be intimidating. The average opinion includes 4,751 words, and is one of approximately 75 issued each year. It might be reassuring, however, to know that opinions contain similar parts and tend to follow a similar format. There are also useful things to identify amid the pages to help focus reading. Here is a basic guide for reading a U.S. Supreme Court opinion.
About the CFR
Gain a basic understanding of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the rules issued by Executive agencies through this site.