Traditional Case Law Research. Advanced Legal Research September 10, 2012 Elizabeth Caulfield, MLIS, JD

Transcription

1 Traditional Case Law Research Advanced Legal Research September 10, 2012 Elizabeth Caulfield, MLIS, JD 1

2 Advanced Legal Research Theatre With the ALR players: names of students, names of students, names of students, names of students

3 Long ago and far away, a group of talented legal researchers and thespians at Texas Tech University School of Law generously shared their talents with the world. 3

4 Official and unofficial reporters Official Sanctioned by statutes Legislatively endorsed Unofficial Not Sanctioned by statutes Published faster Editorial enhancements 4

5 National Reporter System by West State court cases = regional reporters North Western Reporter Pacific Reporter North Eastern Reporter Atlantic Reporter South Western Reporter Southern Reporter South Eastern Reporter Special court cases Bankruptcy Reporter Military Justice Reporter Federal Claims Reporter Veterans Appeals Reporter Federal court cases West s Supreme Court Reporter Federal Reporter Federal Supplement Federal Appendix Federal Rules Decisions 5

6 picture of Regional Reporters (State Cases) map from West 6

7 Show me a headnote in print Topic Key Number Two Topics and KN s for this HN. Picture from a print volume of a headnote with a topic and key number Picture from a print volume of a headnote with two topics and two key numbers Summary paragraph 7

8 Show me a headnote online Topic Summary paragraph Picture from Westlaw Next of a headnote with a topic and key number Key Number 8

9 Show me the West topics in print Picture from a print volume of digest topics (part of the 400 list of topics from West) 9

10 Show me the West topics online Picture from Westlaw Next of digest topics (part of the 400 list of topics from West) 10

11 Topics divided into subdivisions (key numbers) Picture from Westlaw Next of a topic with some subtopics underneath Picture from Westlaw Next of a subtopic with list of other subtopics underneath 11

12 Relationship b/t HN s and T s/kn s Wherever a HN goes, a T and KN are sure to follow Picture from Westlaw Next of a headnote with a topic and key number (You can see the topic and headnote on the left and the key numbers assigned to that topic on the right.) 12

13 Where do the editors get the KN s? From the detailed outline of subdivisions within the Topic I used the same pictures from slide

14 DWI (Descriptive Word Index) Picture showing the spines of Descriptive Word Index volumes 14

15 Picture from Westlaw Next of a topic number and its corresponding key number and the name of that key number What does that mean??? Picture from Westlaw Next of that topic within the list of 400 topics Picture from Westlaw Next of where the subtopic would fall among the list of other subtopics Picture from Westlaw Next of the subtopic among the list of other subtopics around it 15

16 Picture from a print volume of a headnote with a topic and key number Picture from Westlaw Next of a headnote with a topic and key number 16

17 Picture from Westlaw Next of a topic number and its corresponding key number and the name of that key number What does that mean??? Picture from Westlaw Next of that topic within the list of 400 topics Picture from Westlaw Next of the subtopic among the list of other subtopics around it 17

18 Picture from a print volume of a headnote with a topic and key number Picture from Westlaw Next of a headnote with a topic and key number 18

19 Finding the Topic list in Westlaw Next Picture from Westlaw Next showing the location of the West Key Number System 19

20 DWI directs you to Topics and KN s Part of DWI showing reference that says, References are to Digest Topics and Key Numbers Page from DWI showing the term, products liability Page from DWI showing entries under products liability, and the relevant topics and key numbers 20

21 Use the outline in the digests Picture from print digest showing first page of topic, (subjects Included and excluded) Picture from print digest showing key number with other related key numbers around it 21

22 Use the Table of Cases Picture showing the spines of Table of Cases volumes Picture of case name from a Table of Cases volume, showing the topics and key numbers listed for the case 22

23 Go directly to Topic & KN (print) Picture of headnotes from a print digest volume, pointing to topic and key number 23

24 Go directly to Topic & KN (Westlaw Next) Topic is Picture from list of 400 topics, showing list of numbers next to each topic I can search this Topic in a case law database by turning it into its number:. 24

25 Go directly to topic & KN (Westlaw Next) Search a case law database with your Topic number: ( ) and Key Number ( ): Picture from Westlaw Next, showing search of topic number and key number (as one search string) in a case law database 25

26 I found a case classified under Topic number and KN. Picture from Westlaw Next, showing case found with the topic number and key number above 26