THE USE OF LAW INFORMATION SOURCES IN LEGAL RESEARCH BY NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES LAW STUDENTS

Yıl 2015, Cilt: 3 Sayı: 1, 15 - 23, 27.05.2015

Doreen Olorunfemi

Öz

The paper investigated the law information sources used in legal research among undergraduate law students in Nigeria universities. Twelve faculty of law libraries were purposively selected from among the thirty four universities that offer law in the country. In all, 1534 law students were randomly selected from the total population of 7219 registered law students at the time of this study. A descriptive survey method was used to obtain open and close ended data from law students, 82% responses were retrieved as sample size for the study. The finding revealed that primary and secondary law sources in both print and electronic formats were available in in Nigerian university law libraries. It was also found that the print law sources were mostly available in the law libraries, which the law students frequently used in legal research to access law related information. The respondents indicated that they do legal research to further their knowledge on legal issues. The study identified the some challenges experienced in legal research while sourcing information in the law libraries. The study recommends that the university managements should provide relevant information sources in especially electronic resources to enable legal research in the law libraries.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Law information sources, Legal research, Legal professionals, Law students, Nigerian universities

Kaynakça

• Akhihiero, P.A. (2009). Legal Research in a Digital Age. Law Week of the Benin Branch of The Nigerian Bar Association. Benin City: Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre.
• Akpoghome, U.T and Idiegbeyan-Ose, J. O. (2011). The role of digital library in law research. International Journal of Information Science, 2(6), 108-113.
• Ali, H., Owoeye, J. E. Anasi, S. N. I. (2010). Resource sharing among law libraries: an imperative for legal research and the administration of justice in Nigeria. . Library Philosophy and Practice. Retrieved March 25, 2013, from http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/ali-owoeye-anasi.htm.
• Asein, J.O. (2005). Introduction to Nigerian Legal System (2nd ed.). Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria: Ababa Press Ltd.
• Dada, T.O. (2011). Law Libraianship and Legal Research in the Digital age. Lagos: Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
• Deakin University Australia. (2014). MLL110 Legal Principles and Skills students. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from Library Resource Guides: http://deakin.libguides.com/law.
• Dina, Y., Akintayo, J.O. and Ekundayo, F. (2013). Hauser Global Law School Progamm: Globalex- update- Guide to Nigerian Legal Information. Retrieved October 29, 2011, from http://www.nyulawglobal.org/Globalex/Nigeria1.htm.
• Du Plessis, T. (2014). Competitive legal professionals' use of technology in legal pratice and legal research. Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://www.scielo.org.za/revistas/pelj/iaboutj.htm.
• Echono, A. (2014). ICT and the advancement of legal studies and practice in Nigeria. Retrieved November` 14, 2014, from http://thelawyerschronicle.com/ict-and-the-advancement-of-legal-studies-and-practice-in-nigeria/.
• Fariss, L.K. (2012). Issues Facing Academic Law Libraries - New Challenges, New Opportunities. Indiana Libraries, 31(1), 37-39. Retrieved November 6, 2014, from http://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/facpub/550.
• Haruna, I. (2000). Professional effectiveness attributes of legal practitioners as correlates of information utilization in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. Ibadan: University of Ibadan.
• Hanson, A. 2002. From key numbers to keywords: how automation has transformed the law. Law Library Journal, 94(4). Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://www.aall/net.org/products/2002-36.pdf.
• Ihedioha, E. (2012, July 1). The Legislature: Roles, Misconception and Experience in a Democratic Nigeria. Retrieved May 20, 2013, from Vanguard Newspaper: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/07/the-legislature-roles-misconceptions-and-experience-in-democratic-Nigeria-1/.
• Iluyomade, B.O; and Eka, B.U. (1992). Cases and Materials on Administrative Law in Nigeria (2nd ed.). Ile-Ife, Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo University Press Limited.
• Jacobstein, J.M. and Mersky, M.R. (2002). Fundamentals of Legal Research. 8th. New York: Fountain Press.
• Kane, S. (2014). E-Discovery Explosion: E-Discovery Growth and Challenges. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://legalcareers.about.com/od/careertrends/a/ediscovery.htm.
• Kenny, G.J. and Qiang, C. Z. (2004). Information and Communication Technologies and Broad-Based Development: A Partial Review of the Evidence. Washington, D. C: The World: The World Bank.
• Lawal, V. (2007). Legal Research and Legal Education in Africa: the Challenge for Information Literacy. Retrieved August 16, 2011, from http://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=sws_papers.
• Lawal, V.L., Stilwell, C., Kuhn, R. and Underwood, P. G. (2012). A contextual study of the information literacy of aspirant barrister in Nigeria. South African Journal of Library and Information Science, 78(2).
• Mahmood, I., Hartley, R. and Rowley, J. (2011). Scientific communication in Libya in the digital age. Journal of Information Science, 379-391.
• National Universities Commission. (2012). Standards and rules of procedure for approval of law faculties Abuja: Nigeria.
• Obilade, A.O. (1979). The Nigerian Legal System (2nd ed.). Ibadan: Spectrum Books Limited.
• Ogunfolu, O. (2006). Legal Research and the Use of Source Materials. In A. Sanni (Ed.), Introduction to the Nigerian Legal Method (2nd ed., pp. 264-282). Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo University Press Limited.
• Olorunfemi, D.Y and Mostert, B.J. (2012). Information seeking behaviour of law students in a developing country: A literature review. XX SCECSAL: Information for Sustainable Development in a Digital Environment (pp. 440-446). Nairobi: The Law Publisher.
• Olowu, D. and Lasebikan, F. (2006). Sources of Law in Nigeria. In A. Sanni (Ed.), Introduction to Nigerian Legal Method (2nd ed., pp. 245-259). Ile-Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University Press Limited.
• Parvez, A. (2011). Development in library services with the advent of ICT based products and services: A continuous process. International Journal of Digital Library Services, 1-9. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from https://www.academia.edu/1497626/Development_in_Library_Services_with_the_advent_of_ICT_product_and_services_a_continuous_process?login=[e-mail]&email_was_taken=true.
• Singh, J.A. (2011). Workshop on Research, ethics, and law. Faculty of Arts, University of Zululand at Protea Hotels, Empangeni.
• The Law Library of Congress. (2014). Guide to Secondary Legal Resources. Retrieved 11 14, 2014, from http://www.loc.gov/law/help/secondary-rsrcs.php.
• Windsor, E. and Friedmann, R. (2010). Law libraries transformed. Law and Technology Resources for Legal Professionals, Retrieved: 21st October, 2012, from http://www.llrx.com/features/lawlibrariestransformed.htm.