Extra! Extra!Extra! Extra!Legal Research on the GoLegal Research on the Go

Answers to Legal Questions Answers to Legal Questions on a News Deadlineon a News Deadline

Constance Ard, Law Librarian

Greenebaum Doll & McDonald

Louisville Kentucky

502-587-3721 or csa@gdm.com

Today’s HeadlinesToday’s Headlines

Staying Informed Staying Informed • Meeting the challenge of information Meeting the challenge of information

overloadoverload Identifying sourcesIdentifying sources

• Finding Quality & Reliability; EfficientlyFinding Quality & Reliability; Efficiently Journalist Friendly PathfindersJournalist Friendly Pathfinders Real LifeReal Life

• Applying theory to your real deadlines, Applying theory to your real deadlines, demands and resourcesdemands and resources

Staying InformedStaying Informed

Law.comLaw.com• news, e-mail delivery, broad coverage news, e-mail delivery, broad coverage

with a legal focuswith a legal focus Gigalaw.comGigalaw.com

• Articles, news feeds, discussion listsArticles, news feeds, discussion lists LLRX.comLLRX.com

• Better for librarians but useful to anyone Better for librarians but useful to anyone interested in trends in the legal fieldinterested in trends in the legal field

How journalists can get the story without blowing their top

Identifying SourcesIdentifying SourcesHow to find quality, reliable experts on a How to find quality, reliable experts on a DeadlineDeadline

Findlaw.comFindlaw.com WexisWexis

• Westlaw Reference Attorneys and Expert Westlaw Reference Attorneys and Expert FilesFiles

• Lexis Customer Support and Expert FilesLexis Customer Support and Expert Files LawOffice.comLawOffice.com Librarian colleaguesLibrarian colleagues

• Law librarians share well--especially with Law librarians share well--especially with News librariansNews librarians

Wexis: Customer Service Wexis: Customer Service StarsStars

Westlaw Reference Westlaw Reference AttorneysAttorneys• 1-800-REF-ATTY1-800-REF-ATTY

LexisLexis• 1-800-543-68621-800-543-6862

Both services provide Both services provide search assistance and search assistance and guidance of a guidance of a supreme quality as supreme quality as well as useful tools on well as useful tools on their websitestheir websites

Law Librarian ColleaguesLaw Librarian ColleaguesWhere to find the “Hidden Where to find the “Hidden Element”Element”

Virtual ChaseVirtual Chase• This site This site

maintained by maintained by Genie Tyburskie Genie Tyburskie offers a wealth of offers a wealth of resources & a resources & a daily updatedaily update

Ask Law LibrarianAsk Law Librarian• Gives the basics of Gives the basics of

the fieldthe field

LLRX.comLLRX.com• A community of A community of

librarians librarians contributing to the contributing to the knowledge base knowledge base updated twice a updated twice a monthmonth

SLA & AALL SLA & AALL • Directories are Directories are

available from both available from both organizationsorganizations

Virtual ChaseVirtual Chase

LexisOne.comLexisOne.com

Legal Information Institute--CornellLegal Information Institute--Cornell

Washburn University School of LawWashburn University School of Law

ALSO.COMALSO.COM

PathfindersPathfindersGetting In-depth Info on a Getting In-depth Info on a

DeadlineDeadline

Practical ApplicationsPractical ApplicationsI’ve got to find this ___, aka “needle I’ve got to find this ___, aka “needle

in a haystack!!!” NOW!!!in a haystack!!!” NOW!!!

A few pointers from a law librarian’s position

•Stay calm and focused

•Ask the requestor three questions

•What’s the deadline?

•What format do want it delivered in

•What’s the purpose

•Plan your strategy

Real EstateReal EstateFinding Public RecordsFinding Public Records

Problem: John Smith bought a house Problem: John Smith bought a house for $3 million last July. What’s the for $3 million last July. What’s the address?address?

Solution: Use NetOnlineSolution: Use NetOnline

http://www.netronline.comhttp://www.netronline.com

You can check home sales by address, You can check home sales by address, neighborhood or price range and date.neighborhood or price range and date.

LitigationLitigationWhere and How to SearchWhere and How to Search

Problem: Problem: Environmental Claims and Suits Environmental Claims and Suits against the military for pilot trainingagainst the military for pilot training

Solutions: Solutions: Never underestimate the Never underestimate the power of a News search or the results of power of a News search or the results of a Google search. More formal searches a Google search. More formal searches can be done on Westlaw and Lexis. Limit can be done on Westlaw and Lexis. Limit your search to a specific jurisdiction and your search to a specific jurisdiction and its even easier.its even easier.

Finding a CaseFinding a CaseIn the pursuit of justice, In the pursuit of justice,

while justice is being pursuedwhile justice is being pursued

Problem:Problem: Find the complaint and answer Find the complaint and answer and the docket for the lawsuit.and the docket for the lawsuit.

BACKGROUND: BACKGROUND: James v. xyz.com filed last James v. xyz.com filed last summer in Federal District Court. It involves summer in Federal District Court. It involves James, who posted on xyz.com about ABC James, who posted on xyz.com about ABC Company. The company was blasted under a Company. The company was blasted under a pseudonym. ABC subpoenaed XYZ.com’s pseudonym. ABC subpoenaed XYZ.com’s records for the true name. James was an records for the true name. James was an employee who was then fired .employee who was then fired .

Election, electionElection, electionCandidates RecordsCandidates Records Reflect their true Reflect their true stance on issuesstance on issues

Problem:Problem: How to find out what a candidate really How to find out what a candidate really

does when in the power seat of a judge?does when in the power seat of a judge? What’s the judge’s record for appeals?What’s the judge’s record for appeals? Solution:Solution: Caselaw search shows his opinionCaselaw search shows his opinion Search on Lexis in Appeals court: Search on Lexis in Appeals court:

prior-history(name)prior-history(name)

Costs of ProsecutionCosts of Prosecution

ProblemProblem• What is the average cost of the prosecution of What is the average cost of the prosecution of

a death penalty case?a death penalty case? SolutionSolution

• Legal news searchLegal news search• Search the State Government site, attorney Search the State Government site, attorney

general etc. for studies done within the stategeneral etc. for studies done within the state• Search the US Courts site or the Dept. of Search the US Courts site or the Dept. of

JusticeJustice• General Google SearchGeneral Google Search

Legislative HistoryLegislative History

ProblemProblem• When was tax increment financing When was tax increment financing

made legal by the Texas Legislature?made legal by the Texas Legislature? SolutionSolution

• Find the statute, check the “History.” Find the statute, check the “History.” For more details on Legislative For more details on Legislative histories see specific Legislative histories see specific Legislative Research bodies of individual states. Research bodies of individual states. TX has an online guide.TX has an online guide.

Finding CasesFinding CasesSourcesSources

Cases in progressCases in progress• Docket sheets, Docket sheets,

news stories news stories (including legal (including legal news)news)

• Court Express, Court Express, • PacerPacer• CasestreamCasestream• Individual court Individual court

sitessites

Finalized casesFinalized cases• Lexis, Westlaw, Lexis, Westlaw,

and othersand others• LOISLAW, LOISLAW, • Versuslaw, Versuslaw, • National Law National Law

LibraryLibrary• Individual Court Individual Court

Sites.Sites.

Finding CasesFinding CasesSearch StrategiesSearch Strategies

Lexis, Westlaw, use the smallest Lexis, Westlaw, use the smallest database possible if you’re looking for database possible if you’re looking for cases on a particular topiccases on a particular topic

Loislaw, Versuslaw, and the National Law Loislaw, Versuslaw, and the National Law Library offer affordable pricing, be wary Library offer affordable pricing, be wary of coverage and usability.of coverage and usability.

Individual court sites are great Individual court sites are great • Search by party name or docket numberSearch by party name or docket number• Browse by date.Browse by date.

Legal Research KeysLegal Research Keys

Google provides great starting place Google provides great starting place even leading to specialty sites like even leading to specialty sites like Virtual Chase and Governmental Virtual Chase and Governmental documentsdocuments

Use Lexis customer serviceUse Lexis customer service Stay calm, use colleagues, Stay calm, use colleagues,

pathfinders, and the legal news sites pathfinders, and the legal news sites to get startedto get started