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Index
Preface
Acknowledgments
PART I · THE UNITED STATES LEGAL SYSTEM
INTRODUCTION: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LEGAL RESEARCH
Chapter 1· The Federal and State Systems: Three Branches of Government
A. The Legislative Branch: Statutes
B. The Executive Branch: Regulations
C. The Judicial Branch: Caselaw
1. Structure of the Federal Court System
2. Structure of State Court Systems
D. Primary Authority vs. Secondary Authority
E. Summary of Key Points
F. Review Questions on Three Branches of Government
Chapter 2 · Binding and Nonbinding Legal Authorities
A. Constitutions, Statutes, and Regulations
B. Cases from Federal and State Courts
1. Controlling Jurisdiction vs. Controlling Law
2. Doctrine of Stare Decisis
3. Two-Step Approach to Binding Caselaw
C. Summary of Key Points
D. Review Questions on Binding and Nonbinding Authorities
Chapter 3 · The Publication Process for Cases and the Anatomy of a Case
A. Where to Find Cases: Print Reporters and Online
B. West's National Reporter System
1. Federal Cases
2. State Cases
C. Unpublished and Non-Precedential Cases
D. Deciphering Case Citations
1. Citations to Reported Cases
2. Citations to Unpublished Cases
E. Dissecting Parts of a Case Found on Westlaw and Lexis Advance
1. Caption of a Case
2. Synopsis and Case Summary (“Editorial Summaries”)
3. Headnotes of a Case
4. Judges and Opinion
5. Illustrations of Parts of Cases Found on Westlaw and Lexis Advance
F. Summary of Key Points
G. Review Questions on Cases and Reporters
Chapter 4 · The Publication Process for Statutes and the Anatomy of a Statutory Code
A. Federal Statutes: From Bill to Law
B. Federal Statutes: Forms of Publication
1. Slip Laws and Session Laws
2. Codes
3. Comparison Between Public Laws (Session Laws) and Codified Statutes
C. State Statutes: From Bill to Law
D. State Statutes: Forms of Publication
1. Session Laws
2. Codes
E. Deciphering Statutory Citations
F. Summary of Key Points
G. Review Questions on Statutes and Codes
PART II · EIGHT STEPS FOR RESEARCHING COMMON LAW ISSUES
INTRODUCTION: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RESEARCHING THE COMMON LAW
Chapter 5 · Step 1: Create a Research Plan
A. The Research Plan
1. Review the Client's Facts, and Identify the Governing Law
2. Identify the Legal Issues and Keywords
3. Identify the Binding and Most Relevant Authorities
4. Consider the Appropriate Research Tools to Use
5. Identify Any Constraints
B. Summary of Key Points
C. Review Questions on Research Plans
D. Practice Completing a Research Plan
Chapter 6 · Step 2: Research Every Unfamiliar Legal Issue with Secondary Sources
A. Three Reasons to Research with Secondary Sources
B. Major Categories of Secondary Sources
1. Legal Encyclopedias
2. Model or Pattern Jury Instructions
3. Treatises and Practice Manuals
4. American Law Reports (A.L.R.)
5. Legal Periodicals
C. Identifying and Retrieving Secondary Sources
1. Two Excellent Methods to Find Secondary Sources on Westlaw and Lexis Advance
2. Four Additional Methods to Find Secondary Sources When Searching on Westlaw and Lexis Is Ineffective
3. Two Methods to Find Secondary Sources in Print
D. Navigating Within a Particular Secondary Source
1. Navigating Sources in Print
2. Navigating Sources Online
E. Updating Secondary Sources
1. Updating in Print
2. Updating Online
F. Print Research: Four Reasons to Know It
G. Summary of Key Points
H. Review Questions on Secondary Sources
I. Practice Researching with Secondary Sources
Chapter 7 · Step 3: Research Cases by Topic
A. Finding Cases by Topic with West's Key Number System
1. Creation and Organization of the Key Number System
2. Four Steps for Using West's Digest System in Print
3. Navigating the Key Number System on Westlaw
B. Finding Cases by Topic on Lexis Advance
1. Creation and Organization of the LexisNexis Legal Topic Digest
2. Methods for Finding Cases on Lexis Advance
C. Other Caselaw Classification Systems
D. Summary of Key Points
E. Review Questions on Classification Systems
F. Practice Researching with Classification Systems
Chapter 8 · Step 4: Use a Reliable Citator to Find Relevant Cases and to Confirm Their Validity
A. Three Reasons to Use Citators
B. Finding Relevant Cases with Shepard's and KeyCite
1. Filtering by Jurisdiction and Court
2. Filtering by Depth of Treatment and Discussion
3. Filtering by Legal Issue and Headnotes
4. Filtering by Keywords
C. Confirming the Validity of Cases with Shepard's and KeyCite
D. Understanding the Persuasive Value of a Case with Shepard's and KeyCite
E. Limitations of Citators
F. Summary of Key Points
G. Review Questions on Citators
H. Practice Researching with Citators
Chapter 9 · Step 5: Perform Keyword Searches in the Relevant Caselaw Databases
A. Introduction to Keyword Searching
B. Two Keyword Search Options on Westlaw and Lexis Advance
1. Natural Language Searches
2. Terms and Connectors (Boolean) Searches
C. Mechanics of Performing Keyword Searches on Westlaw and Lexis Advance
1. Selecting a Caselaw Database
2. Searching by Fields or Segments
3. Filtering and Sorting Search Results
4. Sample Path for Keyword Searching
D. Summary of Key Points
E. Review Questions on Keyword Searching
F. Practice Performing Keyword Searches
Chapter 10 · Step 6: Expand Your Research Within the Controlling Jurisdiction, If Necessary
A. Return to Step 2 (Secondary Sources)
B. Review a Restatement of Law
C. Return to Step 4 (Citators) and Step 5 (Keyword Searching)
D. Summary of Key Points
E. Review Questions on Expanding Research
F. Practice Expanding Your Research
Chapter 11 · Step 7: Research Cases from Outside the Controlling Jurisdiction, If Necessary
A. Return to Step 2 (Secondary Sources) and Review the American Law Reports to Find Out-of-State Cases
B. Return to Step 3 (Cases by Topic) to Find Out-of-State Cases
C. Return to Step 4 (Citators) to Find Out-of-State Cases
D. Use a Citator for a Restatement of Law
E. Summary of Key Points
F. Review Questions for Out-of-State Research
G. Practice Researching Out-of-State Cases
Chapter 12 · Step 8: Use a Reliable Citator to Re-Confirm the Validity of Each Relevant Case
PART III · TEN STEPS FOR RESEARCHING STATUTORY ISSUES
INTRODUCTION: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RESEARCHING STATUTES
Chapter 13 · Step 1: Create a Research Plan
A. Comparison of Research Plans for Common Law and Statutory Issues
B. Review Questions on Research Plans
C. Practice Completing a Research Plan
Chapter 14 · Step 2: Research Every Unfamiliar Legal Issue with Secondary Sources
A. Effective Types of Secondary Sources for Statutory Issues
1. Jury Instructions for Statutes
2. Continuing Legal Education Materials
3. Looseleaf Services
B. Summary of Key Points
C. Review Questions on Secondary Sources
D. Practice Researching with Secondary Sources
Chapter 15 · Step 3: Find All Relevant Statutes
A. Types of Statutes to Research
B. Advantages of Researching with Annotated Codes
C. Methods for Researching Federal and State Statutes in Print
1. Consult an Index
2. Browse the Table of Contents
3. Review Annotations for Cross-Referenced Statutes
4. Consult a Popular Name Table
5. Summary of Hypothetical on the Americans with Disabilities Act
D. Methods for Researching Federal and State Statutes on Westlaw and Lexis Advance
1. Consult an Electronic Index and Table of Contents
2. Review Annotations and Consult an Electronic Popular Name Table
3. Perform Keyword Searches
E. Researching Federal and State Statutes on Cost-Effective Online Platforms
F. Locating Secondary Sources for Statutes
G. Researching with Print Codes: Three Reasons to Know It
H. Summary of Key Points
I. Review Questions on Researching Statutes
J. Practice Researching Statutes
Chapter 16 · Step 4: Confirm the Validity of Each Relevant Statute, Determine Each Statute's Effective Date, and Identify All Amendments
A. Westlaw and Lexis Advance: Updating Statutes
1. Use KeyCite or Shepard's to Confirm the Validity of Each Statute
2. Check the Effective Date for Each Relevant Statute, and Review the Text of Amendments
3. Check the Currency of the Online Code
B. Casemaker and Fastcase: Updating Statutes
C. Print Code: Updating Statutes
D. Summary of Key Points
E. Review Questions on Updating Statutes
F. Practice Updating Statutes
Chapter 17 · Step 5: Read All Relevant Statutes Critically
A. Consider a Statute's Context
B. Examine a Statute's Plain Meaning
C. Summary of Key Points
D. Review Questions on Reading Statutes
E. Practice Reading Statutes
Chapter 18 · Step 6: Research and Update Administrative Regulations, and Find Cases That Have Interpreted Them
A. Federal Regulations: Overview and Forms of Publication
1. Federal Register
2. Code of Federal Regulations
B. Federal Regulations: Researching on Westlaw and Lexis Advance
1. Review Secondary Sources
2. Review Annotations in a Statutory Code
3. Use Shepard's or KeyCite
4. Consult an Electronic Index
5. Browse the Table of Contents
6. Perform Keyword Searches
C. Federal Regulations: Updating on Westlaw and Lexis Advance
D. State Regulations
E. Finding Cases Interpreting Regulations
F. Summary of Key Points
G. Review Questions on Administrative Regulations
H. Practice Researching and Updating Administrative Regulations
Chapter 19 · Step 7: Research Cases from the Controlling Jurisdiction That Have Interpreted Relevant Statutes
A. Review Case Annotations
1. Annotated Statutory Codes in Print
2. Annotated Statutory Codes on Lexis Advance and Westlaw
3. Statutory Codes on Casemaker and Fastcase
B. Use a Reliable Citator Like KeyCite (Westlaw) or Shepard's (Lexis) to Find Cases
C. Search a Relevant Caselaw Database
D. Summary of Key Points
E. Review Questions on Interpretive Cases
F. Practice Researching Interpretive Cases
Chapter 20 · Step 8: Research the Legislative History of Relevant Statutes, If Necessary
A. Types of Federal Legislative History
1. Legislative Bills
2. Hearing Materials
3. Committee and Conference Reports
4. Floor Debate Materials
5. Presidential Messages and Statements
B. Researching a Federal Legislative History
1. Compiled Legislative Histories
2. Compiling a Legislative History on Your Own
C. Researching a State Legislative History
D. Summary of Key Points
E. Review Questions on Legislative History
F. Practice Researching a Legislative History
Chapter 21 · Step 9: Research Comparable Statutes and Cases from Other Jurisdictions, If Necessary
A. Researching Primary Authorities Outside Your Jurisdiction
1. Researching Comparable Statutes
2. Researching Cases Interpreting Comparable Statutes
B. Summary of Key Points
C. Review Questions for Out-of-State Statutory Research
D. Practice Researching Out-of-State Statutes and Interpretive Cases
Chapter 22 · Step 10: Use a Reliable Citator to Re-Confirm the Validity of Each Relevant Authority
Appendix A · Table 1: Binding vs. Nonbinding Cases
Appendix B · Table 2: Choosing the Best Authority
Appendix C · Research Action Plan Form
Index
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