Internet Legal Research for Professor Mika’s Legal Writing

Class

Feb. 28, 2012

Limitations of Google

Invisible Web - Search Engines can not type or think

Limitations of Google

• Too many results

• Results not geared for lawyers

Limitations of Google

Desired content NOT on the free web:

•Older cases

•Secondary Sources: Ojur, Forms, etc.

Benefits of Lexis/WL

CoverageSecondary sources Better Search Mechanisms - /s, /pEditorial features – headnotes, annotationsAggregate Info Trustworthiness

Benefits of Internet v. Lexis/WL

Free

Can be quicker/easier

Internet v. Lexis/Westlaw

Some info exclusive to InternetMunicipal Ordinances Some Court FilingsNew case/regulation (within one day)New topics/issues

What’s on the Free Web

All US Supreme Court Cases

Reported Federal Appellate 1882-, Fed District 1932-

Some Unreported Fed

State cases: Reported 1950-, unreported varies -1990s-

What’s on the Free Web

Statutes & Regulations- federal and states

LOTS more!

Internet Portals

Library Home Page – Legal Research on the Web

Cornell Legal Information Institute (LII)

ALSO

Findlaw

Lexis Communities

Use LEGAL Search Engines

• Cornell University Legal Research Engine

• LexisWeb

• List of Search Legal Engines

Ohio Search Engine

• https://www.law.csuohio.edu/lawlibrary/ohiosearch

Dragnet by NY Law School

• http://www.nyls.edu/library/research_tools_and_sources/dragnet

Search Engines

Clustering search engines: Yippy, Ask.com

Metasearch engines: Dogpile, Yippy

Government Search Engines: USA.gov, Fdsys, Metalib

Internet Wayback Machine

Search Engines

Learn search syntax

Google.com – click link or wheel for advanced search

Click on Advanced Search Tips to see operators

AND (default) OR (capitalized) “”Quotes for phrase. - to remove words or phrases. ~ searches synonyms * wildcard to replace word(s) (to * or * ) No truncation sue AROUND(3) brown Fields: intitle:, site:, inurl: define: finds definitions

Google Operators

Case law

Google Scholar – state reported 1950-, fed circuit/ district 1923-

Ohio Supreme Court – Ohio reported & unreported (oldest 1992)

Legal Research on the Web - Cases

• Search = “birth certificate” marriage transsexual OR transgender OR “sex change”

• Why don’t we get the Nash case, a 2003 unreported Ohio case?

Limit to Ohio

• Demo Ohio Supreme Court case search

Jureeka

• Firefox/Chrome add-on

• Retrieve by citation toolbar

• Fed, Ohio Official Reports, Ohio Web Cites, ORC, OAC

• On web documents (html), Jureeka links legal citations

Finding Dockets, Pleadings, Motions

LLRX or Resources for Online Court Dockets to find dockets

Some dockets have full text documents ex. Ohio – Montgomery & Summit Counties, federal

PACER – Federal Court dockets On Westlaw/Lexis – more search

capability

Forms

Forms and Practice Materials Resource Guide

Practical Law Company – free to law students

Evaluating Web Sites

Credibility: author; possible bias, accuracy. 

Currency / Updating, CoverageWriting Quality Ease of use – Design, navigation,

searchability, help Stability

Forms and Sample Contracts

Who publishes the site? A legal publisher? bar association?

Does the site sell forms?Who wrote the form?Use with caution, tailor to your facts

“Business Contracts” and Court Forms Free. Others cost $.

Web Sites to Know

Thomas.gov – Federal Legislative History, Pending Bills

Fed’l Govt. – FDSysE-CFR - most up to date Code of

Federal Regulations A-Z Index of U.S. Government Depts. &

Agencies

More Websites to Know

Ohio Supreme CourtMunicipal Ordinances

Conclusion

Use Free Web, but be aware limitations in coverage, currency, searching ability, reliability

Go beyond Google: Use free legal databases, legal search engines and portals

eHandout

https://www.law.csuohio.edu/lawlibrary/ehandout/alternatives2012