CALI Lessons are interactive, computer-based lessons, written by law faculty and librarians.
Legal Research 101: The Tools of the Trade
(1 hr)
Legal Research Methodology
(1hr)
Introduction to Secondary Resources
(40 - 50 min)
How to Find Case Law Using the Digests
(1 hr)
Updating/Validating Case Law Using Citators
(45 min)
Finding Statutes
(45 min)
Hold 'em, Fold 'em, Walk Away or Run: When to Stop the Search
(45 min)
Complete List of all Legal Research Lessons
Need the CALI authorization code for Florida State? Contact Amy Lipford.
The customer support departments for the major legal information vendors can assist students with ID issues, printing problems and offer searching help. All are available 24/7.
Bloomberg Law:
1-888-560-BLAW
LexisNexis:
1-800-45-LEXIS
Westlaw:
1-800-850-WEST
Legal Research in a Nutshell by
Finding and using legal resources effectively is an essential skill for lawyers. This comprehensive but succinct guide covers research procedures using major online services, free Internet resources, and library materials. Several hundred websites are discussed and placed in context for effective and productive use in research. Discussion includes coverage of legislative history, administrative law, specialized and interdisciplinary resources, and research in international and comparative law. Appendices list state research guides and treatises and services by subject, and a companion website has a regularly updated list of URLs and illustrations of online and print resources. For more information and additional teaching materials, visit the companion site.
Gilbert Law Summary on Legal Research, Writing and Analysis by
This outline covers court systems, precedent, case reporting system (including regional and state reporters, headnotes and the West Key Number System®, citations, and case finding), statutes, constitutions, and legislative history, and secondary sources (including treatises, law reviews, digests, and restatements). Also discussed are administrative agencies (including regulations), Shepard's Citations®, KeyCite, legal research using computers, including Westlaw, Lexis, and other online sources, reading and understanding a case (including briefing a case), using legal source books, basic guidelines for legal writing, organizing your research, writing a memorandum of law, writing a brief, and writing an opinion or client letter.
International Legal Research in a Nutshell by
This Nutshell provides a basic introduction to international and foreign legal research for the non-specialist. It offers guidance through the unfamiliar pathways of research using international and non-US legal legal materials and demystifies the world of treaties and international case law. Since it's aimed at the non-specialist, it provides straight-forward background information on the United Nations and the European Union and includes guidance using the documents and legal materials of these institutions. There are extensive links to the rich world of Web resources, but it also describes print research tools that remain important in this field. Finally, it sets out a road map for approaching a research problem involving international, foreign and comparative law. Additional teaching materials are available for this title, and include online links to research sources noted in the book: Appendix A: Comprehensive List of Sources Appendix B: Websites Containing National Law Appendix C: Web Treaty Collections Appendix D: Planning Your Research and Organizational Tools
The Legal Research Survival Manual and Video Course by
This text and the accompanying videos provide a basic introduction to the mysteries of legal research, giving the new legal researcher the tools necessary for success. The title Legal Research Survival Manual is chosen with care. The work does not provide comprehensive coverage of legal materials, and is not designed to replace traditional legal texts. Instead, it is an easy-to-read introduction for students at the very start of their career. It is designed to be an approachable resource to launch them into the first year of law school or as a legal research refresher for those starting their first jobs or internships. The videos can be watched in conjunction with the book or separately. Video topics include: Structure of US Court System How Cases Came to be Published The Parts of a Judicial Opinion How to Read a Judicial Opinion Overview of the Online Systems Hints for Online Case Searching Citators and How They Can Save You Bluebook Citation and You Legislation--What You Need to Know Administrative Law and Legislative History Secondary Sources Research Strategy
A Short and Happy Guide to Advanced Legal Research by
Legal research can be costly for students and practitioners in two ways: time and money. A SHORT & HAPPY GUIDE TO ADVANCED LEGAL RESEARCH identifies available free and fee-based legal research options as good, cheap and/or fast. This book can streamline the process of legal research involving any subject matter and during any stage of civil litigation. An overview of the litigation analytics and artificial intelligence features available from Bloomberg Law, Lexis Advance, and Westlaw Edge is also included, in the likely event you graduated from law school before 2019. Ann Walsh Long is the Head of Research & Digital Collections/Assistant Professor of Law at the Lincoln Memorial University School of Law. Ann has also worked at the Environmental Protection Agency's Headquarters Library and in four "Big Law" firms. As a former law firm librarian, Ann taught hundreds of summer and new associates how to conduct cost-effective legal research, and advised firms on how best to recover those costs from clients.
Principles of Legal Research by
Principles of Legal Research provides comprehensive yet concise coverage of research methods in both online and printed resources. It has been thoroughly updated to explain the latest features of the major legal research platforms as well as dozens of other free and subscription websites. In this expanded and reorganized edition, an introductory survey of research strategies is followed by discussion of major secondary sources, treatment of the sources of U.S. law created by each branch of government, chapters on specialized resources for litigation and transactional practice, and an overview of international and foreign law. Other new features include a deeper look at search algorithms and executive branch lawmaking. Sample illustrations are included throughout, and an appendix lists hundreds of major treatises and topical services by subject.
Sum and Substance Audio on Legal Research by
In this 3.25 hour audio lecture, Professor Robert C. Berring will lead you step-by-step through every topic in legal research. The information and ideas you struggled with previously are now brought to life simply and succinctly. These audio lectures are time saving, convenient and effective.
Black's Law Dictionary, 11th Edition
Available on Westlaw (password required) or in print.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary, 3rd Edition
Available via LexisNexis (password required) or in print.
A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage
Available in print.
Bieber's Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations
Available in print.
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