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ONLINE LEGAL RESEARCH
A. Take Advantage of Free Resources
1. Go to Training Sessions
2. Keep Learning
3. Online Support
4. Personal ContactB. Explore the Databases
1. Sub-Categories
2. ExamplesC. Learn the Search Parameters
1. Filters
2. ExamplesD. Plan Your Research Sessions
1. Brainstorm Search Terms and Databases
2. Example
3. Categorize Your ResultsE. Take Advantage of Special Features
1. Richer Legal Research Options
2. Beyond Basic ResearchF. Practice and Learn
A BASIC APPROACH TO ONLINE LEGAL RESEARCH Every law student should have some familiarity with the benefits of online research, as well as understand traditional library research. Almost every law school has one or more representatives from legal research databases that can help you become an accomplished online researcher. Take advantage of free access to databases as well as research assistance. When you are a practitioner, the database will not be free, but you’ll be proficient enough to be able to get what you need quickly and easily.
A. Take Advantage of Free Resources
The major legal research engines provide free access, support, and training to law students.
1. Go to Training Sessions: You will be offered the opportunity (or required by a course) to take one or more introductory lessons in online research at some point during your law school career. Do it as soon as you can. You will learn the basics of efficient research and receive a number of helpful tips.
2. Keep Learning: Lexis-Nexis and other engines have ongoing free training sessions throughout law school. They are usually in the school’s computer lab, so you don’t need to have a laptop to attend. These sessions can teach basic or advanced skills.
3. Online and Phone Support: One excellent tip is to consult the online or telephone assistance provided free of cost by the service providers. These well-trained experts know the best, most efficient searches to run. After you ask a pro a few times, you will begin to get the hang of how to run an efficient search on your own. FAQs, tips and strategies, and automated training will also be available at the website.
4. Personal Contact: You will also get to meet your local representative, who can be a great source of helpful information. They will probably post the dates and times they will be at the law school. Don’t be afraid to use this resource - that’s why they are there and they love students who ask questions!
B. Explore the Databases
The first step in an efficient search is to find the right database. There is a variety of databases available in LexisNexis, including combined state and federal law, federal law alone, state law alone, non-US legal, secondary legal sources, etc.
1. Sub-Categories: Within each of these basic categories, there are hundreds of sub-databases and each can be searched separately or combined. By narrowing down your database, you can avoid being buried in inapplicable cases that don’t elucidate the doctrine you are discussing. Below is a sample of other law-related internet resources.
2. Examples: Below are commonly (and not commonly) used legal research databases. Don’t just go to the ones you have heard of, you might find an excellent database on a very specialized practice are if you look around.
AllLaw, www.alllaw.com
CataLaw, www.catalaw.com
FindLaw, www.findlaw.com
Hieros Gamos, www.hg.org
Internet Legal Research Group, www.ilrg.com
Law.com, www.law.com
LawLinks: The Internet Legal Resource Center www.lawlinks.com
The 'Lectric Law Library, including The "Lawcopedia," an online legal dictionary/encyclopedia www.lectlaw.com
VersusLaw, www.versuslaw.com C. Learn the Search Parameters
Online legal research is much more than putting in some words into a search engine and hitting “enter.”
1. Filters: There are many terms that can help you specify and refine your search to filter out unrelated documents. Placing these modifiers between different search words can result in a much more accurate search. This list is not exhaustive, but it does give you an idea of what you can do to narrow your search.
2. Examples: In the examples below, “x” stands for any search word you might use such as “contract” and “integrated.”
x & x = both terms appear in somewhere in the document, but where or in what order are not relevant.
x or x = one term or the other appears in the document.
x w/[#] x = the first word appears within a certain number of words before or after the second word. For example, “wombat w/20 deadly” will find any document where the word “wombat” appears within 20 words of the word “deadly.”
w w/s x = both terms appear within the same sentence.
x w/p x = both terms appear within the same paragraph.
x* = find any word with this root. For example, typing in “argu*” will locate any document with the words “argue”, “arguable”, “arguably”, “argument”, “argumentative” and so on.
“x y z” = find this phrase. For example, instead of typing Fourth Amendment (no quotation marks) which will get you every document with the word “Fourth” and the word “Amendment”, typing in “Fourth Amendment” will retrieve documents containing that exact phrase in that exact order. D. Plan Your Research Sessions
Many students simply jump online and start typing in terms in a hit-and-miss fashion. This is not the most efficient way to conduct research, or to learn how to run effective searches. Try planning out your session.
1. Brainstorm Search Terms and Databases: Think of the most specific search terms you can. Start with a very narrow search, then expand if you come up empty. Likewise, choose databases that are authoritative in your jurisdiction, and then expand once you have exhausted all permutations of your search terms. Remember, once you have expanded the database, you need to narrow your search terms again.
2. Example: Say you are trying to find authority to support your argument that an employer can consent to the search of an employee’s locker. Instead of searching for “Search and Seizure” in all databases, which will retrieve a ridiculous number of documents, try coming up with a more specific search. Start with [consent w/s search w/p employer & locker] in the databases that are authoritative for your jurisdiction (WA or OR State Supreme & Appellate Court Cases, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Cases, U.S. Supreme Court Cases). If nothing comes up, you can eliminate “locker” or change it to “employee property” or something more generic.
3. Categorize Your Results: The biggest mistake most novice online researchers make is to simply click “print” on case after case, statute after statute, and then have a giant pile of paper with no rhyme nor reason to it. As your findings print, clearly label them under categories according to the argument of your paper. For example, if you are writing an argument in support of the protection of flag burning as political speech, label your printout of the First Amendment as “Constitution/Mandatory Precedent/Right to Freedom of Speech Established.” Label your printout of Tinker as “Supreme Court/Mandatory Precedent/Act as Speech Upheld.”
E. Take Advantage of Special Features
Many 1Ls don’t avail themselves of the more advanced features of online legal research databases.
1. Richer Legal Research Options: Explore and understand features that can track case status, Shepardize, notify you about new information related to a particular topic, etc.
2. Beyond Basic Research: Below are some examples of special services from Lexis-Nexis that go way beyond the basics:
Knowledge management Complying with USA Patriot Act Locating a person Professional development Practice management Staying informed Risk management Client development Technology management Electronic filing & service Business and industry research Get a book or CD-ROM Electronic discovery Integrating content F. Practice and Learn
During law school is the best time to hone your online research skills, while the databases are available at no cost. These skills will be invaluable for your entire legal career.
