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?