7.4 Best Practices for Efficient Electronic Legal Research

Electronic legal research is a game-changer for lawyers. It's faster and more comprehensive than traditional methods, letting you find relevant cases and statutes in minutes. But to really rock it, you need to know the best practices for efficient searching.

Mastering electronic research techniques can save you tons of time and hassle. We'll cover systematic approaches, smart use of research tools, cost-saving strategies, and how to stay on top of new developments. These skills will make you a legal research ninja.

Systematic Approach to Legal Research

Breaking Down the Research Process

Top images from around the web for Breaking Down the Research Process

• 

  Connecting Research to the Process | ENGL 1010 Electronic Version View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Research Process - Jump Start Your Research! - Research Guides at Vanderbilt University View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Home - Research help - Research Guides at Clackamas Community College View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Connecting Research to the Process | ENGL 1010 Electronic Version View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Research Process - Jump Start Your Research! - Research Guides at Vanderbilt University View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Breaking Down the Research Process

• 

  Connecting Research to the Process | ENGL 1010 Electronic Version View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Research Process - Jump Start Your Research! - Research Guides at Vanderbilt University View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Home - Research help - Research Guides at Clackamas Community College View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Connecting Research to the Process | ENGL 1010 Electronic Version View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Research Process - Jump Start Your Research! - Research Guides at Vanderbilt University View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Break down the research process into a series of logical steps to maximize efficiency and effectiveness
  • Identify key issues
  • Select appropriate databases
  • Construct effective search queries
  • Evaluate search results
• Develop a research plan before beginning the research process
  • Helps researchers stay focused
  • Avoids unnecessary searches
  • Ensures all relevant sources are consulted

Effective Search Techniques

• Use Boolean operators, proximity searches, and field searching to quickly locate relevant documents and minimize irrelevant results
  • Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) combine search terms
  • Proximity searches find words within a specified distance of each other
  • Field searching limits results to specific parts of a document (title, author, date)
• Prioritize search efforts based on the hierarchy of legal authority
  • Start with primary sources (cases, statutes, regulations)
  • Move on to secondary sources (treatises, law review articles)
• Regularly review and refine search strategies throughout the research process
  • Adapt to new information
  • Ensure the most relevant sources are being identified

Documenting the Research Process

• Document the research process to avoid duplicating efforts and provide a record for future reference
  • Record search terms used
  • Note databases consulted
  • Summarize key findings
• Documenting helps researchers:
  • Retrace their steps if needed
  • Identify gaps in their research
  • Communicate their process to others (supervisors, colleagues, clients)

Research Management Tools for Efficiency

Organizing and Tracking Research

• Use folders to organize documents by topic, jurisdiction, or other criteria for easy location and review
• Set up alerts to notify researchers when new documents matching specific search criteria are added to a database
  • Ensures researchers stay up-to-date on the latest developments in their area of research
• Use annotations and highlighting tools to mark up documents with notes and comments
  • Identifies key passages
  • Helps recall important information later

Collaborative Research Tools

• Utilize collaborative research tools to facilitate teamwork and knowledge sharing among multiple researchers
  • Shared folders
  • Document tagging
• Collaborative tools can:
  • Reduce duplication of efforts
  • Ensure all team members have access to the same information
  • Facilitate communication and coordination among researchers

Tracking Progress and Identifying Gaps

• Research management tools help researchers track their progress by providing a record of:
  • Searches conducted
  • Documents reviewed
  • Notes taken throughout the research process
• Regularly review and update research folders and annotations
  • Identifies gaps in knowledge
  • Reveals areas where additional research may be needed

Cost-Saving Strategies in Electronic Research

Selecting Cost-Effective Subscription Plans

• Familiarize yourself with the pricing models and subscription options offered by different legal research services
  • Ensures selection of the most cost-effective plan for specific needs
• Take advantage of discounted or free access to certain materials offered by legal research services
  • Primary law
  • Select secondary sources

Conducting Preliminary Research with Low-Cost Resources

• Minimize costs by conducting preliminary research using free or low-cost resources before turning to more expensive subscription-based services
  • Government websites
  • Academic databases
• Utilizing advanced search techniques and filters can help researchers quickly locate relevant documents
  • Minimizes time spent on each search
  • Reduces overall usage costs

Considering Alternative Pricing Options

• Consider flat-rate or transactional pricing options offered by some legal research services
  • Can be more cost-effective for researchers who need to conduct extensive searches or access a large number of documents
• Regularly review usage data and search history
  • Identifies areas where the research process can be streamlined
  • Helps reduce costs

Current Awareness in Electronic Legal Research

Staying Informed about New Features and Content

• Regularly review release notes and product updates provided by preferred legal research services
  • Stays informed about new features, content, and enhancements
• Attend training sessions, webinars, and conferences hosted by legal research providers
  • Learns about new tools and techniques for effective electronic research

Engaging with the Legal Research Community

• Participate in professional organizations and online communities focused on legal research
  • Provides opportunities to network with other researchers
  • Stays up-to-date on emerging trends and best practices
• Read legal research blogs, newsletters, and other publications
  • Discovers new resources, search strategies, and tips for maximizing research efficiency

Reassessing Research Workflows and Tools

• Periodically reassess research workflows and tools
  • Identifies areas where new technologies or approaches could be leveraged to improve outcomes
• Seek feedback from colleagues, librarians, and other legal professionals
  • Provides valuable insights into alternative research methods and resources that may not have been considered