Post on 04-Jan-2016
Internet Legal Research for Professor Mika’s Legal Writing
Class
Mar. 1, 2011
Outline
Internet v. Lexis, WestlawLegal Portals and Search EnginesFree Case Law/Primary Sources FormsEvaluating Web Sites
Internet v. Lexis/Westlaw
Internet is Free. No charges to clientsSome info exclusive to Internet
Municipal Ordinances Some Court FilingsNew case/regulation (within one day)New topics/issues
Internet v. Lexis/WL
Benefits of Lexis, WL:Coverage. Internet, Ohio cases back to
1950Better Search MechanismsEditorial features – headnotes, annotationsSecondary sources – treatisesAggregate Info Trustworthiness
What’s on the Free Web
All US Supreme Court CasesReported Federal Appellate 1882-, Fed
District 1932-Some Unreported FedState cases: Reported 1950-, unreported
varies -1990s-Statutes & Regulations- federal and
states LOTS more!
Internet Portals
Library Home Page – Legal Research on the Web
Cornell Legal Information Institute (LII) FindLaw
Use LEGAL Search Engines
• Cornell University Legal Research Engine
• LexisWeb
• List of Search Legal Engines
Search Engines
Clustering search engines: Yippy, Ask.com
Metasearch engines: Dogpile, Yippy
Internet Wayback Machine Learn search syntax
Case law
Google Scholar – state reported 1950-, fed circuit/ district 1923-
Ohio Supreme Court – Ohio reported & unreported (oldest 1992)
LexisOne – Last 10 yrs, Lexis searchingLegal Research on the Web - Cases
• Search = “birth certificate” marriage transsexual OR transgender OR “sex change”
• Why don’t we get the Nash case, a 2003 unreported Ohio case?
Limit to Ohio
Google Advanced Operators
• AROUND –ex. constitution AROUND(5) "home rule“
• ~ searches for synonyms and related words ex. ~constitutionality - searches for constitutional, unconstitutional, etc.
• * placeholder for a word. Ex. sexual * abuse picks up “sexual misconduct abuse”, “sexual child abuse”, etc.
• Demo Ohio Supreme Court case search
Finding Dockets, Pleadings, Motions
LLRX or Resources for Online Court Dockets to find dockets
Some dockets have full text documents ex. Ohio – Montgomery & Summit Counties, federal
PACER – Federal Court dockets On Westlaw/Lexis – more search
capability
Forms
Forms and Practice Materials Resource Guide
Practical Law Company – free to law students
Evaluating Web Sites
Credibility: author; possible bias, accuracy.
Currency / Updating, CoverageWriting Quality Ease of use – Design, navigation,
searchability, help Stability
Forms and Sample Contracts
Who publishes the site? A legal publisher? bar association?
Does the site sell forms?Who wrote the form?Use with caution, tailor to your facts
The Invisible Web
Search Engines not index entire webSearch engines cannot type or think. “Invisible Web” includes information stored
in databases and password restricted information
Accessing Invisible Web
Find databases via directories or search engines (search for a subject term and the word “database”), or ask a librarian.
Bookmark databases you find See Web Searching guide
Invisible Web Example
Traffic tickets. Try a search on Google and pipl.com to find traffic tickets for John Ferris of Vandalia, Ohio.
Web Sites to Know
Thomas.gov – Federal Legislative History
Fed’l Govt. – FDSysE-CFR - most up to date Code of
Federal Regulations A-Z Index of U.S. Government Depts. &
Agencies
More Websites to Know
Martindale Hubbell Law Digest Ohio Supreme CourtMunicipal Ordinances
Conclusion
Use Free Web, but be aware limitations in coverage, currency, searching ability, reliability
Go beyond Google: Use free legal databases, legal search engines and portals
eHandout
https://www.law.csuohio.edu/lawlibrary/ehandout/alternatives2011