WESTLAW: SIGNING ON
Upon subscribing to Westlaw, the researcher is assigned a Client Identification and Password. Once entered, simply click on “Go” or press Enter.
It is possible for the computer to “remember” the password on your computer so you don’t have to retype it every visit. Simply check the box next to “Save this password.”
Depending on the subscription, it is possible to enter information about the client on whose behalf the researcher is working. This information may then be printed out or sent monthly to the firm so the client may be accurately billed for any online research done on his or her behalf.
One especially useful feature of Westlaw is called “Tracking.” It is possible to revisit or continue with previous searches that the subscriber has conducted. This can save much time, and of course, money.
WESTLAW: SEARCHING
The “Welcome to Westlaw” screen will provide three shortcuts:
Find If you have a citation, or even the title to a case without a citation, simply fill in the blank with that information a click on “Go.” Westlaw will take you directly to the citation.
KeyCite The KeyCite tool has two primary functions. It will validate the authority, and it will broaden the scope of research by providing related authorities. Simply type a citation in the blank box and click on “Go.”
Search The researcher must choose a database in which to search. For specific state law, type the two state abbreviation followed by either a “-cs” (for case law) or “-st” (for statutes).
Example: NY-CS would search for New York state cases. For federal databases, type “CTA” and the desired circuit number. Example: CTA4 would search within the 4th Federal Circuit. For U.S. Supreme Court cases, type SCT. You can also type “allstates” for all state databases, or “allfeds” for all federal databases. Click on the Database Wizard link provided below the Search tool for more databases. Once a database is selected, click “Go” to enter a search query.
WESTLAW: ENTERING YOUR QUERY
The search query is the key to online research. Notice the four boxes on the above page.
Terms and Connectors box
The researcher types in a search query. A query is a group of terms collected together with devices called “Connectors.” This is the primary box used on this page. The boxes below serve as aids in creating a query.
Connectors/Expanders box
This box provides a selection of devices to connect various terms or to expand individual terms.
Fields box
While not required, it is possible to search only in a specific field of an opinion, such as the headnotes or only within the opinion.
Dates box
It is also possible, but not required, to search within a specified time period.
WESTLAW: SEARCH RESULTS
If Westlaw locates any cases responding to your query, those cases will appear in chronological order, the most recent appearing first. The search results will appear within the results frame on the lower left part of the page. The case will appear in the main frame on the right. When viewing cases, Westlaw and Lexis provide the following functions:
Term and Page Modes:
If you press Enter, or click on the Term button below the main frame, the computer will advance to the first term from your query that appears within the document. To advance a page at a time, scroll down within the document.
Document Buttons:
Click on the Doc button below the main frame to view the next document or the previous document.
Print Doc:
Click on the Print Doc button below the main frame to obtain a hard copy of that document. Be aware that under some subscriptions, there may be additional charges for printing documents. Also, time spent online during printing may be billed.
WESTLAW: VALIDATION RESEARCH
Validating Authority:
Westlaw and Lexis use different online validators. Westlaw will validate an authority with the KeyCite system; Lexis utilizes Shepard’s.
There are two ways to utilize the KeyCite function in Westlaw:
KeyCite Box on the Welcome Screen
In Westlaw, the researcher may type in a known citation in the KeyCite box on the “Welcome to Westlaw” page after initially signing in.
Click on the KeyCite Tab
The researcher may also click on the KeyCite tab towards the top of the page, at any time. The above page will appear. The researcher simply fills in the citation that needs validating, and clicks Enter.
WESTLAW: VALIDATION RESULTS
Once again, Westlaw will provide relevant citations in the results frame on the bottom left corner of the page, with the case itself being displayed in the main frame on the right. If the researcher clicks on a case in the results frame, that case will appear in the main frame. In the above example, the history citations are shown first. If the researcher was to page down within the “results frame” she or he would eventually find the treatment citations as well.
KeyCite Flags
Notice the flag next to the title in the case above. It indicates that the case may have been viewed negatively by other authorities.
Yellow Flags (possibly affecting the cited case)
In Westlaw, a yellow flag cautions that other authority may have treated your case negatively. The researcher should click on the flag to reveal how the citing case affects the cited case.
Red Flags (invalidates the cited case)
A red flag indicates the authority being flagged is no longer valid. Click on any flag to find the authorities that have negatively affected that case.
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