 Welcome to Unit 7 of PRDV301, Introduction to Paralegal Studies. Now that you've made it through the major areas of case law, we're on to the next step, research skills. Sifting through all of that case law can seem like a daunting task, but we'll teach you how to navigate a law library, conduct computer-based legal research, and how to use legal citation when you've found what you're looking for. We'll start by exploring the law library. You are probably familiar with general circulation libraries, such as your local public library. Law libraries, on the other hand, are a little different and can be confusing the first time you visit. Don't worry, this unit will cover a few strategies that will teach you how to get the most out of your time in the library. We'll also show you how you can find and get access to law libraries in your area. Next you'll learn about using legal databases on the web. These online tools let you access a monumental amount of information at the click of a button. The two most popular databases for legal professions are Westlaw and Lexis. Unfortunately, they are subscription-based and can be a little expensive for individuals. Luckily, there is a growing number of legal resources available freely on the internet as well. We'll show you how to locate these resources and use them in your research. Finally, we'll talk briefly about legal citations, understanding how these work is a must for any legal professional, in a system based on judicial precedent and extensive codes of statutes and regulations, it is critical for lawyers, judges, and other members of the legal system to be able to verify the legal resources relied on in presenting a case. The best tool for figuring out these complicated designations is called the Blue Book and we'll go through it and show you how to use it. Once you've made it through this unit and hopefully tried some of it out in practice, you will be introduced to two more skills paralegals must have, conducting investigations and interviews. Good luck and remember to take notes.