In the practice of law, you will be looking for the law, or “legal authority” that is pertinent to your case. You hope that you will find legal authority that will cause a court or administrative agency to say “you win.”
So what are our sources of authority?
- Remember that the United States Constitution forms the basic law. It establishes the legal framework of the government.
- Then remember that each of the “three branches” are going to provide you with primary legal authority.
- The "Law" will be the result of the interaction between the relevant texts from some or all branches (and levels) of government