Develop the Habit: Note-Taking in Legal Research

Best of Perspectives: Teaching Legal Research and Writing, p. 66, Frank G. Houdek, ed., 2001

Perspectives: Teaching Legal Research and Writing, Vol. 4, pp. 48-52, Winter 1996

University of Washington School of Law Research Paper

5 Pages Posted: 25 May 2013

See all articles by Penny A. Hazelton

Penny A. Hazelton

University of Washington School of Law - Gallagher Law Library; University of Washington - School of Law

Peggy Jarrett

University of Washington - School of Law

Nancy McMurrer

University of Washington School of Law

Mary Whisner

University of Washington - School of Law

Date Written: January 1, 1996

Abstract

We reflect on the importance of note-taking to legal researchers. We describe some types of note-takers we have observed and then discuss some factors that shape the sort of notes one takes — for instance, the length of the project, the number of people working on it, the researcher's familiarity with the area.

A two-page handout lists Top 10 Tips for Better Note-Taking in Legal Research.

Posting this 1996 paper in 2013, we see some aspects that are dated (when we wrote it, law students and lawyers were only just starting to use laptops!), but we find that the general points are still useful.

Keywords: legal research, legal writing, law students, lawyers

Suggested Citation

Hazelton, Penny A. and Hazelton, Penny A. and Jarrett, Peggy and McMurrer, Nancy and Whisner, Mary, Develop the Habit: Note-Taking in Legal Research (January 1, 1996). Best of Perspectives: Teaching Legal Research and Writing, p. 66, Frank G. Houdek, ed., 2001, Perspectives: Teaching Legal Research and Writing, Vol. 4, pp. 48-52, Winter 1996, University of Washington School of Law Research Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2266540

Penny A. Hazelton

University of Washington School of Law - Gallagher Law Library ( email )

Seattle, WA
United States

University of Washington - School of Law ( email )

William H. Gates Hall
Box 353020
Seattle, WA 98105-3020
United States

HOME PAGE: https://www.law.washington.edu/directory/profile.aspx?ID=11

Peggy Jarrett

University of Washington - School of Law ( email )

William H. Gates Hall
Box 353020
Seattle, WA 98105-3020
United States

Nancy McMurrer

University of Washington School of Law ( email )

William H. Gates Hall
Box 353020
Seattle, WA 98105-3020
United States

Mary Whisner (Contact Author)

University of Washington - School of Law ( email )

William H. Gates Hall
Box 353020
Seattle, WA 98105-3020
United States
206-543-7672 (Phone)
206-685-2135 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: https://www.law.washington.edu/directory/profile.aspx?ID=51

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
240
Abstract Views
1,181
Rank
231,576
PlumX Metrics