Foundations for Legal Study

Legal Research: Tools for Practice

Gallagher Law LibrarySeptember 16, 2014

Goals• Acquaint you with Law Library resources• Learn how to read a legal citation• Learn how to retrieve documents from legal

research databases• Find Library books to help you prepare for

class

University of Washington Gallagher Law Library Website

http://lib.law.washington.edu/

Start Here!

Our Online Resources

• Access is often restricted to UW students“UW Restricted”

– Some require your UW NetID & Password

– Some require individual passwords• Bloomberg Law, LexisNexis & Westlaw

http://lib.law.washington.edu/

Let’s Tour …

• LexisNexis• Westlaw• Bloomberg Law

http://lib.law.washington.edu/

Legal Citations

http://gallagherlawlibrary.blogspot.com/2012/08/bluebook-technologies.html

Common Pattern• Name or Title of Something• Volume #• Abbreviation of Source• Page #• (date)

Case Citation Format

Ganno v. Lanoga Corp., 119 Wash. App. 310, 316, 80 P.3d 180, 182 (2004).

General Case Citation FormatGanno v. Lanoga Corp., 119 Wash. App. 310, 316,

80 P.3d 180, 182 (2004).Party 1 v. Party 2: Ganno v. Lanoga Corporation

Volume Number: 119 Reporter Name: Wash. App.

Page Number & Pinpoint Page Number: 310, 316Parallel Cite: 80 P.3d 180Year of Decision: (2004)

Use the citation to find a print volume ….

Dubs likes the Gallagher Law Library too!

… or retrieve the document online

Find a Case Online

Let’s find ….

Ganno v. Lanoga Corp., 119 Wash. App. 310, 80 P.3d 180 (2004).

Enter: 119 Wash. App. 310 or 80 P.3d 180

Start here: http://lib.law.washington.edu/

Law Review Article Citation Format

Scott Hershovitz, Harry Potter and the Trouble with Tort Theory, 63 STAN. L. REV. 67 (2010).

Find an Article Online• Let’s find …

Scott Hershovitz, Harry Potter and the Trouble with Tort Theory, 63 STAN. L. REV. 67 (2010).

Start here: http://lib.law.washington.edu/

Some articles are NOT on Bloomberg LAW, Lexis, or Westlaw

• Use the Law Library Catalog and search by journal or publication title

• Use HeinOnline (excellent source of law review articles)

Preparing for Class: Study Tools

• Legal Dictionaries• Hornbooks• Nutshells• Commercial Outlines• Legal Encyclopedias

Black’s Law DictionaryWhat’s a certified

question?

Black’s Law Dictionary

Can we find the definition of

“certified question” using

Westlaw Next?

http://lib.law.washington.edu/

Hornbooks

Nutshells

Briefly, how do torts relate to environmental law?

Commercial Outlines

What are the elements ofprivate nuisance?

Legal Encyclopedias

• Corpus Juris Secundum (CJS)• American Jurisprudence (AmJur)• Washington Practice

http://lib.law.washington.edu/

Finding Books & Materials in the Law Library

• Law Library Catalog: http://lib.law.washington.edu

• A Browser’s Guide to the Reference Area

Let’s find …The Law of Torts written by Joseph W. Glannon (2010).

• What is the location of this study aid?• How can we find more books on this

topic?

http://lib.law.washington.edu/

Let’s find …Use the Law Library Catalog http://lib.law.washington.edu/ to find contracts study aids

• Hint: Do a keyword search for contracts study aids – don’t forget the “s” in aids!)

• Sorted by: Relevance• Where can you access Advice to a 1L from a

law professor podcast?

CALI• Over 950 law school lessons and

podcasts covering 35 topics– Web site: www.cali.org– Free e-books from CALI eLangdell;

http://elangdell.cali.org/ – Many 1L course topics!

• Register at www.cali.org with UW School of Law Authorization Code

Training!

– Bloomberg Law, Lexis & Westlaw • Check training calendars• Watch for email

Need help? Ask a Reference Librarian!

Visit the Reference OfficeCall # 206-543-6794Email by clicking on

http://lib.law.washington.edu/questions.html

Schedule an individual appointmenthttp://tiny.cc/askGallagher

Time for a (virtual) tour !