The 4-step process of legal research—issue analysis, consulting secondary sources, searching for codified law, and locating relevant case law—provides a structured approach to finding and interpreting the law. This process ensures that researchers thoroughly understand the legal issues at hand, access comprehensive background information, and find the most relevant and current legal authorities. Having a systematic process is crucial because it helps maintain accuracy, efficiency, and reliability in legal research, ensuring that conclusions are well-founded and that the legal advice or arguments developed are based on solid legal principles and up-to-date information.