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Extra! Extra! Legal Research on the Go

Extra! Extra! Legal Research on the Go. Answers to Legal Questions on a News Deadline. Constance Ard, Law Librarian Greenebaum Doll & McDonald Louisville Kentucky 502-587-3721 or csa@gdm.com. Today’s Headlines. Staying Informed Meeting the challenge of information overload

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Extra! Extra! Legal Research on the Go

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  1. Extra! Extra!Legal Research on the Go Answers to Legal Questions on a News Deadline Constance Ard, Law Librarian Greenebaum Doll & McDonald Louisville Kentucky 502-587-3721 or csa@gdm.com

  2. Today’s Headlines • Staying Informed • Meeting the challenge of information overload • Identifying sources • Finding Quality & Reliability; Efficiently • Journalist Friendly Pathfinders • Real Life • Applying theory to your real deadlines, demands and resources

  3. Staying Informed How journalists can get the story without blowing their top • Law.com • news, e-mail delivery, broad coverage with a legal focus • Gigalaw.com • Articles, news feeds, discussion lists • LLRX.com • Better for librarians but useful to anyone interested in trends in the legal field

  4. Identifying SourcesHow to find quality, reliable experts on a Deadline • Findlaw.com • Wexis • Westlaw Reference Attorneys and Expert Files • Lexis Customer Support and Expert Files • LawOffice.com • Librarian colleagues • Law librarians share well--especially with News librarians

  5. Wexis: Customer Service Stars • Westlaw Reference Attorneys • 1-800-REF-ATTY • Lexis • 1-800-543-6862 • Both services provide search assistance and guidance of a supreme quality as well as useful tools on their websites

  6. Virtual Chase This site maintained by Genie Tyburskie offers a wealth of resources & a daily update Ask Law Librarian Gives the basics of the field LLRX.com A community of librarians contributing to the knowledge base updated twice a month SLA & AALL Directories are available from both organizations Law Librarian ColleaguesWhere to find the “Hidden Element”

  7. PathfindersGetting In-depth Info on a Deadline • Virtual Chase • LexisOne.com • Legal Information Institute--Cornell • Washburn University School of Law • ALSO.COM

  8. Practical ApplicationsI’ve got to find this ___, aka “needle in a haystack!!!” NOW!!! • A few pointers from a law librarian’s position • Stay calm and focused • Ask the requestor three questions • What’s the deadline? • What format do want it delivered in • What’s the purpose • Plan your strategy

  9. Real EstateFinding Public Records • Problem: John Smith bought a house for $3 million last July. What’s the address? • Solution: Use NetOnline http://www.netronline.com You can check home sales by address, neighborhood or price range and date.

  10. LitigationWhere and How to Search • Problem: Environmental Claims and Suits against the military for pilot training • Solutions: Never underestimate the power of a News search or the results of a Google search. More formal searches can be done on Westlaw and Lexis. Limit your search to a specific jurisdiction and its even easier.

  11. Finding a CaseIn the pursuit of justice, while justice is being pursued • Problem: Find the complaint and answer and the docket for the lawsuit. • BACKGROUND: James v. xyz.com filed last summer in Federal District Court. It involves James, who posted on xyz.com about ABC Company. The company was blasted under a pseudonym. ABC subpoenaed XYZ.com’s records for the true name. James was an employee who was then fired .

  12. Election, electionCandidates RecordsReflect their true stance on issues • Problem: • How to find out what a candidate really does when in the power seat of a judge? • What’s the judge’s record for appeals? • Solution: • Caselaw search shows his opinion • Search on Lexis in Appeals court: prior-history(name)

  13. Costs of Prosecution • Problem • What is the average cost of the prosecution of a death penalty case? • Solution • Legal news search • Search the State Government site, attorney general etc. for studies done within the state • Search the US Courts site or the Dept. of Justice • General Google Search

  14. Legislative History • Problem • When was tax increment financing made legal by the Texas Legislature? • Solution • Find the statute, check the “History.” For more details on Legislative histories see specific Legislative Research bodies of individual states. TX has an online guide.

  15. Cases in progress Docket sheets, news stories (including legal news) Court Express, Pacer Casestream Individual court sites Finalized cases Lexis, Westlaw, and others LOISLAW, Versuslaw, National Law Library Individual Court Sites. Finding CasesSources

  16. Finding CasesSearch Strategies • Lexis, Westlaw, use the smallest database possible if you’re looking for cases on a particular topic • Loislaw, Versuslaw, and the National Law Library offer affordable pricing, be wary of coverage and usability. • Individual court sites are great • Search by party name or docket number • Browse by date.

  17. Legal Research Keys • Google provides great starting place even leading to specialty sites like Virtual Chase and Governmental documents • Use Lexis customer service • Stay calm, use colleagues, pathfinders, and the legal news sites to get started

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