internet legal research for professor mika’s legal writing class feb. 28, 2012
TRANSCRIPT
Internet Legal Research for Professor Mika’s Legal Writing
Class
Feb. 28, 2012
Limitations of Google
Invisible Web - Search Engines can not type or think
Limitations of Google
• Too many results
• Results not geared for lawyers
Limitations of Google
Desired content NOT on the free web:
•Older cases
•Secondary Sources: Ojur, Forms, etc.
Benefits of Lexis/WL
CoverageSecondary sources Better Search Mechanisms - /s, /pEditorial features – headnotes, annotationsAggregate Info Trustworthiness
Benefits of Internet v. Lexis/WL
Free
Can be quicker/easier
Internet v. Lexis/Westlaw
Some info exclusive to InternetMunicipal Ordinances Some Court FilingsNew case/regulation (within one day)New topics/issues
What’s on the Free Web
All US Supreme Court Cases
Reported Federal Appellate 1882-, Fed District 1932-
Some Unreported Fed
State cases: Reported 1950-, unreported varies -1990s-
What’s on the Free Web
Statutes & Regulations- federal and states
LOTS more!
Internet Portals
Library Home Page – Legal Research on the Web
Cornell Legal Information Institute (LII)
ALSO
Findlaw
Lexis Communities
Use LEGAL Search Engines
• Cornell University Legal Research Engine
• LexisWeb
• List of Search Legal Engines
Ohio Search Engine
• https://www.law.csuohio.edu/lawlibrary/ohiosearch
Dragnet by NY Law School
• http://www.nyls.edu/library/research_tools_and_sources/dragnet
Search Engines
Clustering search engines: Yippy, Ask.com
Metasearch engines: Dogpile, Yippy
Government Search Engines: USA.gov, Fdsys, Metalib
Internet Wayback Machine
Search Engines
Learn search syntax
Google.com – click link or wheel for advanced search
Click on Advanced Search Tips to see operators
AND (default) OR (capitalized) “”Quotes for phrase. - to remove words or phrases. ~ searches synonyms * wildcard to replace word(s) (to * or * ) No truncation sue AROUND(3) brown Fields: intitle:, site:, inurl: define: finds definitions
Google Operators
Case law
Google Scholar – state reported 1950-, fed circuit/ district 1923-
Ohio Supreme Court – Ohio reported & unreported (oldest 1992)
Legal 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
• Demo Ohio Supreme Court case search
Jureeka
• Firefox/Chrome add-on
• Retrieve by citation toolbar
• Fed, Ohio Official Reports, Ohio Web Cites, ORC, OAC
• On web documents (html), Jureeka links legal citations
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
“Business Contracts” and Court Forms Free. Others cost $.
Web Sites to Know
Thomas.gov – Federal Legislative History, Pending Bills
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
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/alternatives2012