Legal Research: Where To Start?

Legal Research: Where To Start?

When you receive a research assignment in law school or from another attorney, the task of starting your legal research can be daunting. Here are a few simple ideas on where to start your legal research process.

Legal Research: Where To Start?

1. Gather Your Thoughts.

Sometimes the best starting point to legal research is crystalize the issue presented and what you are looking for before you dive into researching for the answer. The clearer you are, the quicker and better your search will be.

Ask yourself these important questions:

1. What is the relevant jurisdiction(s)?
2. What is/are the important issue(s)?
3. Which phrases/terms are important to this issue?

Additionally, try to form a research plan so you know when to finish researching the issue.

2. Use A Search Engine.

An early step in any legal research should be to type the legal issue you are researching in to your favorite search engine, such as Google, and see what comes up! Sometimes, you can find interpretations and references to your topic, making your research much easier. If anything, running a search online can give you some ideas on what to look for, or lead you to other sources.

However, make sure to double check the information you find online, especially if it is something from a possibly unreliable source such as Wikipedia. But, by looking at the citing references, any source can be helpful in furthering your research.

3. Search In A Research Database.

The next step should be looking at Westlaw, Lexis Advance, or a comparable search database, depending on which your firm uses, or which you prefer. All databases should produce the same results, but it never hurts to cross reference different databases or run the same search terms.

It is helpful to start with a broad search and narrow as needed. Inserting “terms and connectors” in the search engine will be helpful in narrowing any legal research topic.

• Here is a link to Lexis Advance’s terms and connectors.
• Here is Westlaw’s terms and connectors. 

For Westlaw users: The “Citing References” direct you to other law that is relevant to the case/statue at issue. For Lexis Advance users: “Citing Decisions” can lead you to more references on the case or statute.

If you are not starting with a case or statute, secondary sources are a useful place to start because there could already be something written on your topic, and the sources used there can lead you to caselaw.

Watch out for more tips and strategies from JD Advising on legal writing, research, and editing; resume and interviewing tips; working for a firm; and, starting a law firm.

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