Contents
1. INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL RESEARCH
A. Introduction to the legal system
B. Introduction to the process of legal research
C. Overview of print and electronic sources of legal authority
D. Introduction to legal citation
E. Overview of this text
2. GENERATING SEARCH TERMS
A. Generating search terms based on categories of information
B. Expanding the initial search
3. SECONDARY SOURCE RESEARCH
A. Introduction to secondary sources
B. Researching secondary sources in print
C. Researching secondary sources electronically
D. Citing secondary sources
E. Sample pages for print secondary source research
F. Checklist for secondary source research
4. CASE RESEARCH
A. Introduction to cases
B. Researching cases in print
C. Researching cases electronically
D. Citing cases
E. Sample pages for researching cases using a print digest
F. Checklist for case research
5.RESEARCH WITH SHEPARD'S CITATIONS AND OTHER CIATORE
A. Introduction to citators
B. Using Shepard's Citations in print for case research
C. Checking citations electrionically
D. Shepard's for additional types of authority
E. Sample pages for Shepardizing a case in print
F. Checklist for case research with Shepard's Citations and other citatirs
6. STATUTORY RESEARCH
A. Introduction to statutory law
B .Researching statures in print
C. Researching statures electionically
D. Citing statutes
E. Sample pages for print statutory research
F. Checklist for statutory research
7. FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE HISTORY RESEARCH
A. Introduction to federal legislative history
B. Researching federal legislative history in print
C. Researching federal legislative history electronically
D .Citing federal legislative history
E. Sample pages for federal legislative history research
F. Checklist for federal legislative history research
8. FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE LAW RESEARCH
A. Introduction to federal administrative law
B. Researching federal regulations in print
C. Researching federal regulations electronically
D. Citing federal regulations
E. Sample pages for federal administrative law research
F. Checklist for statutory administrative law research
9. SUBJECT-MATTER SERVICE RESEARCH
A. Introduction to subject-matter services
B. Researching subject-matter services in print CD-ROM and Internet formats
C. Subject -matter research in LexisNexis and Westlaw
D. Citing Subject -matter services
E. Sample pages for print subject -matter services research
F. Checklist for subject-matter services research
10. ELECTRONIC LEGAL RESEARCH
A. Introduction to electronic legal research
B. Conducting effective electronic legal research
C. Additional electronic research resources
D. Citing authority obtained from electronic legal research
E. Sample pages for electronic legal research
F. Checklist for electronic legal research
11. DEVELOPING A RESEARCH PLAN
A. Introduction to research planning
B. Creating a research plan
C. Finding help
D. Sample research plans
E. Research checklists
APPENDIX A SELECTED INTERNET RESEARCH RESOURCES