Research for Upper Level Writing (Chapter 7, A Short & Happy Guide to Advanced Legal Research, 2d)

Abstract

The attached excerpt includes a chapter on the most commonly recommended print and online resources for conducting research and may be used to supplement any upper level writing course or rigorous writing experience that satisfies ABA Standard 303. The chapter discusses resources to find a topic, tools for outlining and organizing research, and suggestions on editing the article.

Resources for finding a topic include circuit split charts, 50-State Surveys and State Subject Compilations, symposiums, legal trends, ProQuest Thesis and Dissertations, and how to conduct a preemption search to make certain the proposed thesis is unique. Tips and tools for creating an outline and organizing research are discussed, as well as suggestions for finding additional support for a legal argument and an explanation of the ten types of plagiarism students want to avoid.

Legal research can be costly for students and practitioners in two ways: time and money. This book compares free and fee-based legal research resources for each stage of civil litigation, including the initial case assessment; discovery and investigation resources to find information on judges, attorneys, experts, and companies; and resources to find pleadings, motions, and briefs for pretrial action. Although this book is designed for law students taking an Advanced Legal Research course with unlimited access to Bloomberg Law, Lexis+, and Westlaw Edge, it is also a valuable reference for anyone who graduated from law school prior to 2019, interested in learning about the new litigation analytics and artificial intelligence features.

This book is included in the West Academic study aid package, and if your school is a subscriber, the book is available for free to your students.

Keywords: legal research, upper level writing, ABA Standard 303, research, writing, legal research & writing, civil litigation

JEL Classification: K41