Internet Legal Research for Professor Mika’s Legal Writing Class Feb. 28, 2012
Jan 13, 2016
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