My client wants me to research federal laws relation to its business but I am having a hard time using search engines. Is there a place I can go to get more information?

Any logical research task worth doing is likely to generate a service or website to facilitate this task. As it happens, there are a number of legal sites that can help you out. The best place to start is Thomas, a site run by the U.S. Library of Congress, the largest library in the world (named after Thomas Jefferson, whose donated library formed the basis of the original Congressional library). In addition to actual signed legislation, it provides access to Congressional intent as reflected in conference reports, Congressional calendars (i.e., schedules for upcoming legislation that would affect your client), the Global Legal Monitor (if your client needs to track foreign legislation), and state legislation.

Tip: This is not just for lawyers or legal scholars. If you are advising management, then unarguably every business, association or nonprofit is affected by current or impending legislation. Your recommendations about change in strategy or operations must be judged against law in areas of pricing, antitrust, human resources and labor, advertising, environmental, safety and other areas. Some laws apply across all businesses and others only apply to specific industries. Consulting in the real world has to accommodate real laws and a good consultant is up to speed on all the rules.

© 2009 Institute of Management Consultants USA