Transcript Instructor`s Slides (shorter version)

Preparing for the Session
Follow 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 Training
Spring 2007
Exploring the Unknown:
Issue-Based Searching
Presented by
Lee Ryan, John Shafer, Amy Wright & Terry Cullen
Choosing the Right Source
Typical Westlaw
Scope (
) Screen
 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
search tips
and Lexis’s
to learn: coverage, dates,
Westlaw Database Selection
premises
Michiganliability
Law Review
Lexis Source Selection
bad faith Eviction Defense Manual
California
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?
(Terms)
must a drug manufacturer warn consumers of risks or side effects?
drug
manufacturer
warn
consumer
risk
“side effect”
(Alternatives)
must a drug manufacturer warn consumers of risks or side effects?
drug
pharmaceutical
manufacturer
warn
disclose
consumer
risk
“side effect”
Root Expander (!) & Universal Character (*)
discrim!
discriminate, discrimination...
test!
test, tests, testing, tester, tested
(but also: testify, testimony, testament…)
super*ede
supercede or supersede
bank***
bank, banks, banker, banking
(but not bankrupt…)
test***
test, tests, testing, tester, tested
(and testify)
(but not testified, testamentary…)
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
Negligen!
Neg!
(Root expander)
must a drug manufacturer warn consumers of risks or side effects?
drug
pharmaceutical
manufact!
manufacturer
warn!
warn
disclos!
disclose
consumer
risk
“side effect”
Connectors (for Context)
OR
AND & other restrictors
Expands / Broadens
Limits / Restricts
Common variants of AND:
w/p
w/s
w/#
=
same paragraph
=
same sentence
=
within specified number
e.g., jury w/5 tamper!
How OR expands
How AND restricts
Does a lawyer who fails to do research commit malpractice?
— Lexis search in California Cases —
7155
94,524!
76,131
Lawyer
or
Attorney
or
Legal
42
2131
and
w/p
Malpractice
and
w/p
Research
264
Phrases versus Connectors
Put phrases in quotes —
“Proximate
Cause”
Proximate Cause
Don’t overuse phrase searching —
“child custody” won’t find
“...custody of the child…”
(Connectors)
must a drug manufacturer warn consumers of risks or side effects?
manufact!
manufacturer
drug
pharmaceutical
warn!
warn
disclos!
disclose
consumer
risk
“side effect”
drug or pharmaceutical w/p manufact! w/p warn! or disclos! w/p
consumer w/p risk or “side effect”
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?
Are you…
• Seeing the same documents over & over?
• Using different search techniques?
• Using different publishers’ tools?
• Checking both primary & secondary
sources?
• Using both Shepards & KeyCite?
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
frisk!
w/#
or
w/s
w/p
search!
and
w/3
seiz!
w/3
seiz!)
versus
frisk!
or
(search!
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?