Extra! Extra!
Legal Research on the Go
Answers to Legal Questions on a
News Deadline
Constance Ard, Law Librarian
Greenebaum Doll & McDonald
Louisville Kentucky
502-587-3721 or csa@gdm.com
Today’s Headlines
 Staying Informed
• Meeting the challenge of information overload
 Identifying sources
• Finding Quality & Reliability; Efficiently
 Journalist Friendly Pathfinders
 Real Life
• Applying theory to your real deadlines,
demands and resources
Staying Informed
How journalists can get the story without blowing
their top
 Law.com
• news, e-mail delivery, broad coverage with a
legal focus
 Gigalaw.com
• Articles, news feeds, discussion lists
 LLRX.com
• Better for librarians but useful to anyone
interested in trends in the legal field
Identifying Sources
How to find quality, reliable experts on a Deadline
 Findlaw.com
 Wexis
• Westlaw Reference Attorneys and Expert Files
• Lexis Customer Support and Expert Files
 LawOffice.com
 Librarian colleagues
• Law librarians share well--especially with
News librarians
Wexis: Customer Service Stars

Westlaw Reference
Attorneys
• 1-800-REF-ATTY


Lexis
• 1-800-543-6862
Both services provide
search assistance and
guidance of a supreme
quality as well as useful
tools on their websites
Law Librarian Colleagues
Where to find the “Hidden Element”

Virtual Chase
• This site maintained
by Genie Tyburskie
offers a wealth of
resources & a daily
update

Ask Law Librarian
• Gives the basics of the
field

LLRX.com
• A community of
librarians contributing
to the knowledge base
updated twice a month

SLA & AALL
• Directories are
available from both
organizations
Pathfinders
Getting In-depth Info on a Deadline
 Virtual Chase
 LexisOne.com
 Legal Information Institute--Cornell
 Washburn University School of Law
 ALSO.COM
Practical Applications
I’ve got to find this ___, aka “needle 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 Estate
Finding Public Records
 Problem:
John Smith bought a house for $3
million last July. What’s the address?
 Solution:
Use NetOnline
http://www.netronline.com
You can check home sales by address,
neighborhood or price range and date.
Litigation
Where and How to Search
 Problem:
Environmental Claims and Suits
against the military for pilot training
 Solutions:
Never underestimate the power
of a News search or the results of a Google
search. More formal searches can be done
on Westlaw and Lexis. Limit your search to
a specific jurisdiction and its even easier.
Finding a Case
In the pursuit of justice,
while justice is being pursued
 Problem: Find the complaint and answer
and the docket for the lawsuit.
 BACKGROUND: James v. xyz.com filed last
summer in Federal District Court. It involves
James, who posted on xyz.com about ABC
Company. The company was blasted under a
pseudonym. ABC subpoenaed XYZ.com’s records
for the true name. James was an employee who
was then fired .
Election, election
Candidates Records Reflect their true stance on
issues
 Problem:
 How to find out what a candidate really
does when in the power seat of a judge?
 What’s the judge’s record for appeals?
 Solution:
 Caselaw search shows his opinion
 Search on Lexis in Appeals court: priorhistory(name)
Costs of Prosecution
 Problem
• What is the average cost of the prosecution of
a death penalty case?
 Solution
• Legal news search
• Search the State Government site, attorney
general etc. for studies done within the state
• Search the US Courts site or the Dept. of Justice
• General Google Search
Legislative History
 Problem
• When was tax increment financing made legal
by the Texas Legislature?
 Solution
• Find the statute, check the “History.” For more
details on Legislative histories see specific
Legislative Research bodies of individual
states. TX has an online guide.
Finding Cases
Sources

Cases in progress
• Docket sheets, news
stories (including
legal news)
• Court Express,
• Pacer
• Casestream
• Individual court sites

Finalized cases
• Lexis, Westlaw, and
others
• LOISLAW,
• Versuslaw,
• National Law Library
• Individual Court Sites.
Finding Cases
Search Strategies
 Lexis, Westlaw, use the smallest database
possible if you’re looking for cases on a
particular topic
 Loislaw, Versuslaw, and the National Law
Library offer affordable pricing, be wary of
coverage and usability.
 Search individual court sites by docket or
browse their opinions by date.
Legal Research Keys
 Google provides great starting place even
leading to specialty sites like Virtual Chase
and Governmental documents
 Use Lexis customer service
 Stay calm; use colleagues, pathfinders, and
the legal news sites to get started