Preparing for the SessionFollow these steps:
Launch Internet Explorer Go to: http://lawschool.westlaw.com
but don’t log in!
Hit the CTRL + N keys to open a new window
Go to: http://www.lexis.com/research but don’t log in!
Have your Lexis password and your Westlaw Password ready.
Lexis/Westlaw TrainingSpring 2007
Exploring the Unknown:Issue-Based Searching
Presented by Lee Ryan, John Shafer, Amy Wright & Terry Cullen
Choosing the Right Source Tools
Directory — Westlaw
“Look for a Source” — Lexis
Techniques Browsing
Searching to discover items about a particular topic.
Searching for a title that you already know. “Search the Westlaw Directory”
“Find a Source”
Use Westlaw’s and Lexis’s to learn: coverage, dates, search tips
Typical Westlaw Scope ( ) Screen
Westlaw Database Selection
Michigan Law Review
premises liability
Lexis Source Selection
California Eviction Defense Manualbad faith
Source Selection Principles
Pick the smallest that fits your needs. Seek: Your jurisdiction only
Your topic only
Consider a secondary source… When you are new to a topic
When you are not sure where to start
Whenever analysis and explanation might be useful
The Client’s Problem —
You represent a small business with 200 employees. The head of human resources has been informed that one of the employees is addicted to “crank” (also known as speed or methamphetamine).
She has come to you to find out if her company needs to provide any special accommodation for this employee under state or federal law.
must a drug manufacturer warn consumers of risks or side effects?
must a drug manufacturer warn consumers of risks or side effects?
drug manufacturer warn consumer risk
“side effect”
(Terms)
must a drug manufacturer warn consumers of risks or side effects?
drug manufacturer warn consumer risk
“side effect”pharmaceutical disclose
(Alternatives)
Root Expander (!) & Universal Character (*)
discriminate, discrimination...
test, tests, testing, tester, tested (but also: testify, testimony, testament…)
supercede or supersede
bank, banks, banker, banking (but not bankrupt…)
super*ede
discrim!
test, tests, testing, tester, tested (and testify) (but not testified, testamentary…)
test!
bank***
test***
Neg!
neg neg neganepant negant negar negardchepe negarde negardy negate negater negatif(e negation negationist negatism negatival negative negative negative negatively negativeness negativism negativist negativistic negativity negativo- negaton negator negatory negatron negatyfe nege negebure negentropy neger negh negh neghe neghe neghebur neghnesse neght Negh t neghsom neglect neglect neglect neglectable neglected neglecter neglectful neglecting neglectingly neglection neglective neglectly neglector négligé negligeable negligee negligence negligent negligently negligible negoce negociall négociant negon Negoos negotiability negotiable negotial negotiant negotiate negotiation negotiator negotiatory negotiatress negotiatrix negotiosity negotious negre negremancien Negress Negretti Negri negrification Negrillo Negrine Negrine Negrish negritic negritize Negrito Negritude Negro Negro-head Negroid Negroism Negroization Negroland Negroloid negromancer Negroness Negroni Negrophil Negrophilism Negrophilist Negrophilistic Negrophobe Negrophobia Negrotic Negus negus
neg neg neganepant negant negar negardchepe negarde negardy negate negater negatif(e negation negationist negatism negatival negative negative negative negatively negativeness negativism negativist negativistic negativity negativo- negaton negator negatory negatron negatyfe nege negebure negentropy neger negh negh neghe neghe neghebur neghnesse neght Negh t neghsom neglect neglect neglect neglectable neglected neglecter neglectful neglecting neglectingly neglection neglective neglectly neglector négligé negligeable negligee negligence negligent negligently negligible negoce negociall négociant negon Negoos negotiability negotiable negotial negotiant negotiate negotiation negotiator negotiatory negotiatress negotiatrix negotiosity negotious negre negremancien Negress Negretti Negri negrification Negrillo Negrine Negrine Negrish negritic negritize Negrito Negritude Negro Negro-head Negroid Negroism Negroization Negroland Negroloid negromancer Negroness Negroni Negrophil Negrophilism Negrophilist Negrophilistic Negrophobe Negrophobia Negrotic Negus negus
neg neg neganepant negant negar negardchepe negardenegardy negate negater negatif(e negation negationistnegatism negatival negative negative negative negativelynegativeness negativism negativist negativistic negativitynegativo- negaton negator negatory negatron negatyfe negenegebure negentropy neger negh negh neghe negheneghebur neghnesse neght Negh t neghsom neglect neglectneglect neglectable neglected neglecter neglectful neglectingneglectingly neglection neglective neglectly neglector négligénegligeable negligee negligence negligent negligentlynegligible negoce negociall négociant negon Negoosnegotiability negotiable negotial negotiant negotiatenegotiation negotiator negotiatory negotiatress negotiatrixnegotiosity negotious negre negremancien Negress NegrettiNegri negrification Negrillo Negrine Negrine Negrish negriticnegritize Negrito Negritude Negro Negro-head NegroidNegroism Negroization Negroland Negroloid negromancerNegroness Negroni Negrophil Negrophilism NegrophilistNegrophilistic Negrophobe Negrophobia Negrotic Negus negus
Negligen!
must a drug manufacturer warn consumers of risks or side effects?
drug manufacturer warn consumer risk
“side effect”pharmaceutical disclose
manufact! warn!
disclos!
(Root expander)
Connectors (for Context)
Expands / Broadens Limits / Restricts
Common variants of AND:
w/p = same paragraph
w/s = same sentence
w/# = within specified number e.g., jury w/5 tamper!
OR AND & other restrictors
How OR expandsHow AND restricts
Does a lawyer who fails to do research commit malpractice?— Lexis search in California Cases —
Lawyer or Attorney or Legal
7155 76,131 94,524!
and Malpractice2131
264and Research
42
w/p w/p
Phrases versus Connectors
Put phrases in quotes —
Proximate Cause“Proximate Cause”
“child custody” won’t find “...custody of the child…”
Don’t overuse phrase searching —
must a drug manufacturer warn consumers of risks or side effects?
drug manufacturer warn consumer risk
“side effect”pharmaceutical disclose
manufact!
warn!
disclos!
drug or pharmaceutical w/p manufact! w/p warn! or disclos! w/p consumer w/p risk or “side effect”
(Connectors)
Quick Westlaw Refresher —Features of Law School research page
Find By Citation
Directory
KeyCite This Citation
Search These Databases
Research Trail
Decide where to search and…Sign on!
lawschool.westlaw.com
Quick Lexis Refresher —Features of Law School research page
Get A Document
Find A Source Tab
Shepard’s
History
How can I tell when I’m finished?
• Seeing the same documents over & over?
• Using different search techniques?
• Using different publishers’ tools?
• Checking both primary & secondary sources?
• Using both Shepards & KeyCite?
Are you…
Just Ask!
When using an unfamiliar electronic resource, don’t get lost!
Ask one of your friendly USF librarians for help
at: 415.422.6773
OR….
If you’re doing your research in the dead of night….
Call the Lexis or Westlaw reference attorney hotlines – they’re available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Lexis: 1-800-45-LEXIS Westlaw: 1-800-REF-ATTY
Fields / Segments
Each part of a document can be separately searched
Fields/Segments vary depending on type of document
Field searching narrows search results!
Order of Processing:
or w/# w/s w/p and
frisk! or search! w/3 seiz!
versus
frisk! or (search! w/3 seiz!)
Choosing the Right Source Westlaw and Lexis both have multiple sources to search –
think of both systems as libraries of primary & secondary legal resources.
Search for cases, statutes, regulations, or…
Search treatises and law review articles.
How can you find the right place to start searching?
Top Related