Internet Legal Internet Legal Research Research

Bridge the Gap Bridge the Gap 20052005Kerry Fitz-GeraldKerry Fitz-Gerald

Seattle University Law Seattle University Law LibraryLibrary

Search Engine v. DirectorySearch Engine v. Directory How Search Engines Really WorkHow Search Engines Really Work Important WebsitesImportant Websites Essential Research GuidesEssential Research Guides

A Word of WarningA Word of Warningwww.dhmo.orgwww.dhmo.org

Westlaw syntax

Directory or Search Directory or Search EngineEngine

A A DirectoryDirectory is a list of sites, is a list of sites, categorized organized into topicscategorized organized into topics

A A Search EngineSearch Engine is a tool that is a tool that enables you to search for terms or enables you to search for terms or terms contained within websitesterms contained within websites

How Search Engines How Search Engines WorkWork

HardwareHardware SpiderSpider IndexerIndexer Query ProcessorQuery Processor

Boolean Search Boolean Search LanguageLanguage

ANDAND anywhere in the same document or fieldanywhere in the same document or field

““phrase words”phrase words” phrasephrase

OR OR At least one of the termsAt least one of the terms

BUT NOTBUT NOT Term may not appear in documentTerm may not appear in document

Google Govt

Boolean search operators Boolean search operators on Googleon Google

AND......default (no special language AND......default (no special language needed)needed)

OR..... OROR..... OR NOT…. NOT…. -- Must include word….. +Must include word….. + Must include phrase….. “phrase”Must include phrase….. “phrase”

Google Advanced SearchGoogle Advanced Search

Which Search Engine is Which Search Engine is Best?Best?

GoogleGoogle DogpileDogpile TeomaTeoma VivisimoVivisimo

Primary Legal ResearchPrimary Legal Research

Google Uncle SamGoogle Uncle Sam FirstGovFirstGov GPO AccessGPO Access ThomasThomas U.S. Supreme U.S. Supreme

CourtCourt Federal CourtsFederal Courts

Access WashingtonAccess Washington Washington State Washington State

LegislatureLegislature Washington CourtsWashington Courts MRSCMRSC

Google Uncle SamGoogle Uncle Samsearches only .gov .mil sitessearches only .gov .mil sites

Research DirectoriesResearch Directories

Search SystemsSearch Systems Association of Professional Researchers Association of Professional Researchers

for Advancementfor Advancement FindLawFindLaw Municipal Codes Library (LexisNexis)Municipal Codes Library (LexisNexis) Legal Information Institute from Legal Information Institute from

CornellCornell ASIL Guide to Foreign and ASIL Guide to Foreign and

International LawInternational Law EISIL Electronic Information System EISIL Electronic Information System

for International Lawfor International Law

Internet Legal Internet Legal Research Research

Bridge the Gap Bridge the Gap 20052005Kerry Fitz-GeraldKerry Fitz-Gerald

Seattle University Law Seattle University Law LibraryLibrary