QUINCY COLLEGEQUINCY COLLEGEParalegalStudies ProgramParalegalStudies Program

Legal Research & WritingLegal Research & WritingLAW-215LAW-215

E-Research: Legal Research E-Research: Legal Research Using the InternetUsing the Internet

E-Research: Legal Research E-Research: Legal Research Using the InternetUsing the Internet

In this unit, we will learn:In this unit, we will learn: The definition of Internet-related terms.The definition of Internet-related terms. Tips and strategies for conducting legal Tips and strategies for conducting legal

research on the Internet.research on the Internet. The ethical concerns regarding the use of The ethical concerns regarding the use of

the Internetthe Internet The “best of the best” sites for various The “best of the best” sites for various

legal research tasks as well as some sites legal research tasks as well as some sites for non-legal research.for non-legal research.

How to use the Internet for legal research.How to use the Internet for legal research.

Ways Legal Professionals Use Ways Legal Professionals Use the Internetthe Internet

CommunicationCommunication Court FilingsCourt Filings MarketingMarketing CommerceCommerce ResearchResearch

Start PagesStart Pages

Cornell University Law School Legal Cornell University Law School Legal

Information System (LII) Information System (LII) www.law.cornell.eduwww.law.cornell.edu

Washburn University School of Law Washburn University School of Law

www.washlaw.eduwww.washlaw.edu

FindLaw (West) FindLaw (West) www.findlaw.comwww.findlaw.com

MegaLaw MegaLaw www.megalaw.comwww.megalaw.com

CataLaw CataLaw www.catalaw.com www.catalaw.com

Nolo’s Online Law Center Nolo’s Online Law Center www.nolo.comwww.nolo.com

Home Page for Cornell University Law Home Page for Cornell University Law SchoolSchool

Home Page for Washburn University Home Page for Washburn University School of LawSchool of Law

Home Page for FindLawHome Page for FindLaw

Home Page for MegaLawHome Page for MegaLaw

Home Page for CataLawHome Page for CataLaw

Home Page for Nolo Online Law CenterHome Page for Nolo Online Law Center

Strategies and Tips for Internet Strategies and Tips for Internet Legal ResearchLegal Research

Take notesTake notes Use the history listsUse the history lists Use bookmarksUse bookmarks Do not spend too much time reading Do not spend too much time reading

the screenthe screen Be aware of gaps in the information Be aware of gaps in the information

available on the Internetavailable on the Internet Never completely rely on the InternetNever completely rely on the Internet Subscribe to a listservSubscribe to a listserv Consider disclaimersConsider disclaimers Use RSS to obtain updatesUse RSS to obtain updates

Search EnginesSearch Engines

Google www.google.comGoogle www.google.com

AltaVista www.altavista.comAltaVista www.altavista.com

Ask www.ask.comAsk www.ask.com

Lycos www.lycos.comLycos www.lycos.com

Yahoo! www.yahoo.comYahoo! www.yahoo.com

Google ScholarGoogle Scholar

Google Scholar provides a simple way to Google Scholar provides a simple way to broadly search for scholarly literature. From broadly search for scholarly literature. From one place, you can search across many one place, you can search across many disciplines and sources: peer-reviewed papers, disciplines and sources: peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, from theses, books, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other preprint repositories, universities and other scholarly organizations. scholarly organizations.

Google Scholar helps you identify the most Google Scholar helps you identify the most relevant research across the world of scholarly relevant research across the world of scholarly research. research.

URL: http://scholar.google.com/schhp?URL: http://scholar.google.com/schhp?hl=en&tab=wshl=en&tab=ws

Google Advanced ScholarGoogle Advanced ScholarSearch PageSearch Page

AltaVista Advanced Web Search PageAltaVista Advanced Web Search Page

Ask.com Search PageAsk.com Search Page

Lycos Home PageLycos Home Page

Yahoo! Home PageYahoo! Home Page

Using Boolean Logic and Other Using Boolean Logic and Other Techniques to Enhance Search Techniques to Enhance Search

StatementsStatements

Because the Because the InternetInternet is so huge, searches will is so huge, searches will often provide too many results. When creating often provide too many results. When creating search statements you should take advantage search statements you should take advantage of additional techniques to refine your search of additional techniques to refine your search results.results.

Boolean LogicBoolean Logic

Boolean logic, particularly the use of Boolean logic, particularly the use of the Boolean operatorthe Boolean operator ANDAND, is the , is the most important technique for limiting most important technique for limiting results in any database or search results in any database or search engine.engine.

Boolean Operators

Use Examples

AND + To get fewer search results

cake AND chocolate

OR To get more search results

adolescents OR teenagers

NOT - To get fewer search results

media NOT radio

The Principal Boolean The Principal Boolean OperatorsOperators

ANDAND Retrieves only records that Retrieves only records that contain both words - Combine your key contain both words - Combine your key concepts using concepts using ANDAND

NOTNOT Eliminates material you don’t Eliminates material you don’t want- Be careful not to get rid of stuff want- Be careful not to get rid of stuff you might actually needyou might actually need

OROR Retrieves matches for either term, Retrieves matches for either term, so you get more records. Use with so you get more records. Use with terms that have about the same terms that have about the same meaning in your searchmeaning in your search

NestingNesting Combine Combine ANDAND and and OROR in a single in a single

search. This technique divides your search. This technique divides your terms into units like an equation, by terms into units like an equation, by using parentheses.using parentheses.

Examples:Examples: fruit fruit ANDAND ((apple apple OROR orange orange) ) ((fruit fruit ANDAND juice juice)) ANDAND apple apple fruit fruit ANDAND ((apple apple OROR orange orange)) ANDAND juice juice ((fruit fruit ANDAND juice juice)) ANDAND ((apple apple OROR orange orange) ) ((((fruit fruit ANDAND juice juice)) ANDAND ((apple apple OROR orange orange)) AND )) AND

NOTNOT banana banana

media AND politics OR electionmedia AND politics OR election retrieves records that retrieves records that match "match "mediamedia that also match that also match politicspolitics"" OR retrieves OR retrieves

records that match "records that match "electionelection."."  

media AND (politics OR election) media AND (politics OR election) retrieves records that retrieves records that

match match mediamedia that also match either that also match either politicspolitics OR OR electionelection..

Truncation and WildcardTruncation and Wildcard

TruncationTruncation is a technique that enables a is a technique that enables a searcher to look for a word searcher to look for a word andand any of its any of its possible endings. This is sometimes called possible endings. This is sometimes called using a using a ""wildcardwildcard"" as it usually enables as it usually enables the searcher to insert a symbol as a wild the searcher to insert a symbol as a wild card at the end of a word. card at the end of a word.

This symbol instructs the computer to look This symbol instructs the computer to look for the root of the word and all alternate for the root of the word and all alternate word endings or variations of a word and word endings or variations of a word and expands your search results.expands your search results.

Truncation and WildcardTruncation and Wildcard Use a symbol (like an asterisk * , !, or ?) Use a symbol (like an asterisk * , !, or ?) at at

the endthe end of a word to replace any number of of a word to replace any number of letters (letters (truncationtruncation). ). Example: Example: teen*teen* will find results containing any of the will find results containing any of the following terms: following terms: teen, teens, teenager, teenagers, teenagedteen, teens, teenager, teenagers, teenaged

Use one or more symbols Use one or more symbols withinwithin a word to a word to replace one or more letters (replace one or more letters (wildcardwildcard))Example: Example: wom?n

will find results containing any of the will find results containing any of the following terms: woman, womenfollowing terms: woman, women

Use enough of a root word not to Use enough of a root word not to confuse the computer. Using confuse the computer. Using opera*opera* to to search for search for operationsoperations retrieves retrieves opera, opera, operant, operable,operant, operable, etc. etc.

In most search engines, and in many In most search engines, and in many databases, it is possible to search for databases, it is possible to search for a phrase, or two or more words a phrase, or two or more words appearing next to each other. The appearing next to each other. The most common method for doing this most common method for doing this is to surround the phrase with is to surround the phrase with quotation marksquotation marks..

Phrase Searching

For example:For example:

A search for A search for ""acid rainacid rain"" will look for will look for those words in the database only those words in the database only when they appear next to each when they appear next to each other. other.

Other examples:Other examples: ““May the force be with you”May the force be with you”

““Hillary Clinton”Hillary Clinton”

““presidential election 2008”presidential election 2008”

Use 6 to 8 key words Use 6 to 8 key words in your queryin your query

More keywords chosen at the More keywords chosen at the appropriate “level” will give you a appropriate “level” will give you a smaller and more focused list of hitssmaller and more focused list of hits, , greatly reducing the possible greatly reducing the possible documents returned.documents returned.

Examples: Examples: new, planet, planets, new, planet, planets, discover, solar, systemdiscover, solar, system..

Limiting and expanding a Limiting and expanding a database searchdatabase search

Many databases will offer additional methods Many databases will offer additional methods for limiting and refining search results. Some of for limiting and refining search results. Some of these limiters may include: these limiters may include: full text full text

you can search only for full text articles you can search only for full text articles peer reviewedpeer reviewed

you can search only for articles that are you can search only for articles that are considered peer reviewed considered peer reviewed

date rangedate range you can search only for articles that have you can search only for articles that have

been published during a specific time been published during a specific time periodperiod

Learning to Use the Learning to Use the Database OptionsDatabase Options

Use the Use the helphelp screens, and screens, and advanced advanced searchsearch options. options.

Remember that every database is Remember that every database is different, offering different ways to different, offering different ways to create search statements or use create search statements or use controlled vocabulary. Each database controlled vocabulary. Each database will usually provide will usually provide helphelp screens to screens to explain how to search effectively explain how to search effectively within that database.within that database.

TIP:TIP: Be aware that each database and Be aware that each database and search engine may use Boolean logic in search engine may use Boolean logic in a different way.a different way.

For exampleFor example::In In YahooYahoo and other search engines you and other search engines you can use the plus sign can use the plus sign “+”“+” as a Boolean as a Boolean “AND”“AND” or the or the “-”“-” as a Boolean as a Boolean “NOT”“NOT”..

Some search engines have pop down Some search engines have pop down lists to help. In lists to help. In YahooYahoo, a pop down , a pop down menu helps you to focus your search. menu helps you to focus your search. In In GoogleGoogle, you can use the advanced , you can use the advanced search feature.search feature.

TIP: For a basic guide to Boolean TIP: For a basic guide to Boolean Logic, see the following internet Logic, see the following internet tutorial:tutorial:

Boolean Searching on the Internet, A Primer in Boolean Logic, by Laura Cohen, January, 2008.

http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.asp

Hein OnlineHein Online

Available for remote use free of charge at Available for remote use free of charge at the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries (requires Library Card)(requires Library Card)

Offers:Offers: Nearly 1200 Journals. Comprehensive: Every Nearly 1200 Journals. Comprehensive: Every

page from every issue from every volume page from every issue from every volume English Reports, Full Reprint English Reports, Full Reprint Federal Register beginning with v.1 (1936) Federal Register beginning with v.1 (1936) Treaty Publications Treaty Publications US Statutes at Large, 1789-date US Statutes at Large, 1789-date US Supreme Court Opinions, 1754-date US Supreme Court Opinions, 1754-date PDF FormatPDF Format

Hieros-GamosHieros-Gamos

A global legal site with links to A global legal site with links to legal and non-legal sites.legal and non-legal sites.

URL: www.hg.orgURL: www.hg.org

LexisOneLexisOne

Free service offering cases, forms, Free service offering cases, forms, articles, headline legal news, links to articles, headline legal news, links to law-related sites.law-related sites.

Targeted at small law firms, also Targeted at small law firms, also offers flexibly priced legal research offers flexibly priced legal research from LexisNexis.from LexisNexis.

URL: www.lexisone.comURL: www.lexisone.com

PublicLegalPublicLegal

Web site of the Internet Legal Research Web site of the Internet Legal Research Group.Group.

Offers LawRunner, a legal research tool Offers LawRunner, a legal research tool and intelligent agent based search engine and intelligent agent based search engine interface for Google.com and its 3+ billion interface for Google.com and its 3+ billion indexed web pages, with the advantage of indexed web pages, with the advantage of being able to limit search results only to being able to limit search results only to those web pages within a particular those web pages within a particular jurisdiction for more effective legal jurisdiction for more effective legal

researchresearch.. URL: www.ilrg.comURL: www.ilrg.com

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

Check the topic entitled, “Legal Check the topic entitled, “Legal Resource Websites”, in Appendix C Resource Websites”, in Appendix C of the CD accompanying of the CD accompanying Oran’s Oran’s Dictionary of the LawDictionary of the Law for additional for additional e-research sources.e-research sources.

Anselmo Library Online Anselmo Library Online ResourcesResources

Start Page:Start Page: www.quincycollegelibrary.orgwww.quincycollegelibrary.org

Legal Studies Research Guide: Legal Studies Research Guide: www.quincycollegelibrary.org/legalstudies.htwww.quincycollegelibrary.org/legalstudies.htmlml

Lexis-Nexis AcademicLexis-Nexis Academic

TutorialsTutorials

User Guide (See Handout)User Guide (See Handout)

Zimmerman’s Research Guide: Zimmerman’s Research Guide: www.lexisnexis.com/infopro/zimmerman/www.lexisnexis.com/infopro/zimmerman/

Massachusetts Trial Court Law Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries Online ResourcesLibraries Online Resources

Start Page: http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/Start Page: http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/

With (free) Library Card, access to:With (free) Library Card, access to:

HeinOnlineHeinOnline

RetrieveLawRetrieveLaw

Academic OneFileAcademic OneFile

End ofE-Research: Legal Research E-Research: Legal Research

Using the InternetUsing the Internet

End ofE-Research: Legal Research E-Research: Legal Research

Using the InternetUsing the Internet