online legal research: tools, tips and tricks
DESCRIPTION
Major online research options are reviewed, including tips for leveraging various databases, like FastCase. 6/14/14 presentation for the Missouri Bar Solo & Small Firm Conference.TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Online Legal Research:
Tools, Tips + Tricks*Jared D. Correia, Esq.
Assistant Director/Senior Law Practice Advisor
Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance Program
The Missouri Bar2014 Solo & Small Firm Conference#MOSOLO14June 11-14, 2014Branson Convention Center
![Page 2: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
![Page 3: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
“
”
Give us the TOOLS, and we will do the job.
Tom Menino, former Mayor of Boston
![Page 4: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
The Big Boys
Westlaw
Lexis
![Page 5: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Alternative Subscription Services Bloomberg Law
Lois Law
Versus Law
Fastcase/Casemaker
HeinOnline
![Page 6: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
What ARE You Paying For?
Databases
Features
Interface
![Page 7: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
What AREN’T You Paying For? Paid Services (Patron access)
FastCase (Missouri Bar access)
Google Scholar
Public Library of Law
WashLaw Web
Legal Information Institute (Cornell)
![Page 8: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Federal Resources Regulations
eCFR
FDSys
Regulations.gov
Congress
Congress.gov (formerly ‘Thomas’)
Federal Register
Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Courts
Oyez
RECAP
Agencies
LSU Libraries Federal Agency Directory
UVA’s Federal Administrative Decisions and Other Actions
![Page 9: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
More Directed Resources Law Reviews + Journals
Subscription Feature
University Law Review Project
CEO Express
Library of Congress: Law Review Online
Research Guides
Cornell Law School Legal Research Engine
Zimmerman’s Research Guide
International + Foreign Law
Law Library of Congress
Legal Information Institute: Global Portal
United Nations Treaty Series
Electronic Information for International Law
![Page 10: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
There’s An App for That . . .
Legal Research + Scholarship Westlaw Next, Lexis Advance,
Bloomberg Law, HeinOnline, FastCase
dLaw, OpenRegs
Legal News + Information ABA Journal, The National Law
Journal, The American Lawyer JDSupra’s Legal Edge, Legal News
Reader iSCOTUS Now
![Page 11: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Whither Legal Subscription Services? Niche practices are becoming more popular and are
increasingly complex.
There are a lot of free resources out there, especially for enterprising lawyers, especially for specific resource sets.
Will free, niche databases swallow subscription legal services?
No, because we pay for features = ease of use, too.
But, the open source legal research community, the reality of modern practice and the web savvy of modern attorneys will combine to continue to force subscription service providers to change the way they do business.
![Page 12: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
“
”Just the TIP(S).
Sterling Archer, ISIS agent
![Page 13: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Finagling
![Page 14: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
![Page 15: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
![Page 16: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
![Page 17: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
![Page 18: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
![Page 19: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
![Page 20: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
![Page 21: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
![Page 22: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
![Page 23: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
![Page 24: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
![Page 25: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
![Page 26: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
![Page 27: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
![Page 28: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Three More Quick FastCase Tips
Cut + Paste Brief into Search Box; FastCase will find cited cases . . . usually
All of the Boolean Search Terms for Westlaw + Lexis work in FastCase
‘Show Search Tips’ tool features most common searches for each operator; they’re clickable
![Page 29: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
FastCase is FasterAlgorithm v Al Gorythm
![Page 30: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
“
”
TRICKS and treachery are the practice of foolsthe wise, that don’t have enough brains to be honestwork smarter, not harder.
(paraphrasing) Benjamin Franklin, wanted the turkey for the national bird
![Page 31: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Basic Research Tip #1
Know Your (Database) Limitations
![Page 32: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Basic Research Tip #2
BOO-lean To You!
![Page 33: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Basic Research Tip #3
Start Free; Finish Expensive
![Page 34: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Basic Research Tip #4
Recreate the Wheel; Maintain the Wheel
![Page 35: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Basic Research Tip #5
Going Mobile
![Page 36: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
THANK YOU!Jared D. Correia, Esq.
Assistant DirectorSenior Law Practice Advisor
Massachusetts Law Office Management Assistance Program
www.masslomap.org/blogwww.attorneyatwork.com/author/jaredcorreia
www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia@jaredcorreia
![Page 37: Online Legal Research: Tools, Tips and Tricks](https://reader033.vdocuments.us/reader033/viewer/2022061114/545d25eaaf7959cd098b49c4/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
*For assistance in the creation of this presentation, I am indebted to:
-Ed Walters and Josh Auriemma, both of FastCase-Ellen Delaney, of Suffolk University Law School’s John Joseph Moakley Law Library