Post on 24-Dec-2015
Distance Learning, Internet Legal Distance Learning, Internet Legal Research, and the FutureResearch, and the Future
A CLE Program during
Cornell Law Alumni Reunion
Claire M. Germain
Edward Cornell Law Librarian
and Professor of Law
cmg13@cornell.eduFriday, June 9th, 2000Friday, June 9th, 2000
Context of Legal Research TodayContext of Legal Research Today
Inflation of InformationInflation of Legal IssuesDifficulty of Distinguishing Domestic
from Foreign and International in a Global Setting
Pressures on Law Firms
Advice for Successful Internet Advice for Successful Internet ResearchResearch
A Thoughtful Approach to Legal Research
Concrete Examples
How to Become Empowered
Principles of Efficient Research
You are representing a bank in South Carolina that learns it now has to provide information on account holders who are delinquent in paying their child support. You know that there is a recent federal law that mandates each state must come up with a procedure by which they will help identify these parents.
Sample SearchSample Search
Research Strategy?
Evaluation of a Web SourceEvaluation of a Web Source
Characteristics of Superior Information Sources– What is the source?– Is this source reliable?– Is it up-to-date?– Is this the official, final version of a text? Can you
cite this to a court?– What is the cost? Time is money!
Sample SearchSample Search
Sample Search: Sample Search: U.S. and State CodesU.S. and State CodesCornell Law Library‑Print:
• The official code is the United States Code (U.S.C., KF 62 .A2), located in alcove 7 of the Reading Room and on the first floor. It does not have case annotations‑‑e.g., references to cases interpreting a statute.
Sample Search: Sample Search: U.S. and State Codes (cont.)U.S. and State Codes (cont.)Cornell Law Library‑Print (cont.):
• There are two annotated, commercially published, U.S. Codes:
– United States Code Annotated (U.S.C.A., KF 62 1927 .W51), located in alcove 7 of the Reading Room and on the first floor; and
– United States Code Service (U.S.C.S., KF 62 1972 .L42), located in alcove 7‑8 of the Reading Room and on the first floor.
Sample Search: Sample Search: U.S. and State Codes (cont.)U.S. and State Codes (cont.)On the Internet:
The (unannotated) U.S. Code is available at
• Cornell's Legal Information Institute (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/) and
• The House of Representatives website (http://uscode.house.gov/usc.htm)
Sample Search: Sample Search: U.S. and State Codes (cont.)U.S. and State Codes (cont.)On LEXIS and WESTLAW:
• On LEXIS, the U.S.C.S. is available. – In classic LEXIS, choose the genfed library, uscs file. – On the web (http://www.lexis.com/research), go to
the source directory, select "Federal Legal ‑ U.S.", then "United States Codes Service (USCS) Materials."
• On WESTLAW, the U.S.C.A. is available in the USCA database.
Sample SearchSample Search
LEXIS/WESTLAW versus the LEXIS/WESTLAW versus the “Free” Internet“Free” Internet
One-stop Shopping
LEXIS/WESTLAW versus the LEXIS/WESTLAW versus the “Free” Internet“Free” Internet
Sophisticated DatabasesFully-indexed Content
Powerful Search EnginesValidating Your Search:
– Shepard’s– Keycite
Reliability
Low Cost Services: Loislaw, Versuslaw, Low Cost Services: Loislaw, Versuslaw, etc.etc.
Alternative for solo practitioners or small law firms
Full-text cases and statutes for all 50 states
Not equivalent to LEXIS-NEXIS or WESTLAW
No citator service
Free Internet SourcesFree Internet Sources
Lots of useful information for the practice of law
Federal and state governmental resources
Good place for current information, news, facts, statistics, people, and events
Worldwide coverage
International and Foreign Law on International and Foreign Law on the ’Netthe ’Net
Understanding a foreign legal system
Comparative law methodology– How to read a case in civil law– faux amis
• The perils of translation
Cornell Law Library Cornell Law Library International ResourcesInternational ResourcesForeign and International Law GuideCountry Guides
Mirror SitesInternational Court of JusticeInternational Labor Organization
Cornell Law Library Cornell Law Library International ResourcesInternational Resources
Legal Research PrinciplesLegal Research Principles
Considerations when making choices
Evaluate– not only the end product, but– the way in which information is
retrieved, and– the context in which the research is
performed
Free-text Searching versus Free-text Searching versus Classified ArrangementsClassified Arrangements
Free-text works best for factual research, but not always with best results
West’s Digest and Synopsis advantage
LEXIS’ Core Concepts
Information versus ResearchInformation versus Research
Access to information is different from use in your practice as a reliable source
No organized control of informationHow to know what you are missing
Favorite Web SitesFavorite Web Sites
Legal Portals
Cornell Law LibraryCornell Law Librarywww.lawschool.cornell.edu/library
Cornell’s Legal Information InstituteCornell’s Legal Information Institutewww.law.cornell.edu
FindlawFindlawwww.findlaw.com
Law.comLaw.comwww.law.com
LLRX.comLLRX.comwww.llrx.comwww.llrx.com
Favorite Web SitesFavorite Web Sites
General-- for everyday use, facts, figures, background information, etc.
Library SpotLibrary Spotwww.libraryspot.comwww.libraryspot.com
Refdesk.comRefdesk.comwww.refdesk.comwww.refdesk.com
Favorite Search EnginesFavorite Search Engines
LawcrawlerLawcrawlerwww.lawcrawler.comwww.lawcrawler.com
GoogleGooglewww.google.comwww.google.com
The FutureThe Future
Much more governmental and commercial information to come
New issues with digital informationHow to keep track of amended,
repealed provisionsHow to ensure long-term access
ConclusionConclusion
Have Fun and Have Fun and Come to our Come to our “Hands-On” “Hands-On” Session Session Tomorrow!Tomorrow!