Welcome to the world of legal research! Whether you’re a law student, legal professional or just trying to navigate the complex world of law on your own, it can be a daunting task. With so many resources available and different approaches to researching the law, where do you begin? Fortunately, we’ve got some expert advice from a seasoned law librarian who has spent countless hours helping people find their way through this maze. Join us as we explore some invaluable tips and tricks for navigating legal research like a pro!
What is legal research?
Legal research is the process of finding legal information. This can be done by searching for cases, laws, and other legal materials. It can also involve looking up court decisions and secondary sources such as law review articles.
There are a few different ways to go about doing legal research. One way is to use a law library. This can be helpful if you need to find primary sources, such as court decisions or statutes. Another option is to use an online legal research service, such as LexisNexis or Westlaw. This can be a good choice if you need to find secondary sources, such as law review articles.
No matter which method you choose, there are a few things to keep in mind when doing legal research. First, make sure that you understand the difference between primary and secondary sources. Second, take advantage of any search tools that are available to you. And finally, don’t forget to ask for help if you get stuck – there are plenty of people who are happy to help!
The different types of legal research
There are many different types of legal research, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The most common types are Shepard’s Citations, KeyCite, Westlaw, and LexisNexis.
Shepard’s Citations is a good place to start your legal research. It allows you to find all the cases that have cited a particular case, which can be helpful in understand the precedent set by that case. However, Shepard’s Citations does not provide full text of the cases it cites, so you will need to find those elsewhere.
KeyCite is another good starting point for legal research. It allows you to see if a particular case has been overturned or criticized by later cases. Like Shepard’s Citations, KeyCite does not provide full text of the cases it cites.
Westlaw and LexisNexis are the two largest commercial legal research providers. They both offer extensive databases of full-text court opinions, statutes, and other legal materials. Westlaw and LexisNexis also offer many helpful tools for searching their databases, such as Boolean operators and keyword search functions.
How to find the right resources for your legal research
There are a number of ways to go about finding the right resources for your legal research. The best place to start is with your local law library. Here you can speak with a librarian who can help point you in the right direction.
Another great way to find resources is through online legal research databases. These databases provide access to a wide variety of legal resources, including court opinions, statutes, and more. Many of these databases are free to use, but some may require a subscription.
There are also a number of online directories that can help you find legal research resources. These directories typically list a wide variety of resources, including both free and subscription-based options.
Finally, don’t forget about Google! A simple Google search can often turn up a wealth of helpful results, including blog posts, articles, and more that can help you with your legal research.
Tips for efficient and effective legal research
There is no one perfect way to conduct legal research, but there are a few tips that can make the process more efficient and effective.
One tip is to start with a broad search and then narrow down your results as needed. This can be done by using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) in your search engine to combine or exclude keywords. For example, if you want to find cases discussing the First Amendment AND free speech, you would search for “First Amendment AND free speech.”
Another tip is to use secondary sources such as law review articles and treatises to get an overview of a legal issue before delving into primary sources such as court opinions. Secondary sources can provide helpful background information and context that can save time in the long run.
Finally, it is important to keep track of the sources you consult during your research so that you can easily find them again if needed. Creating a bibliography or research log as you go can save a lot of time later on.
Conclusion
Legal research can be a daunting task, especially for those who are new to the law. Thankfully, with the right guidance and advice from seasoned legal researchers like librarians, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. From learning where to start your search to utilizing organized databases and understanding how the various resources fit into one another, there is plenty of help out there that makes navigating legal research easier than ever before. With these tips in mind, you will be well on your way to successfully completing any legal research project!
