Legal Research Orientation
A Presentation by Melanie Knapp, Legal Research Instructor
AUGUST 11, 2018
OverviewResearch in LRWA I
U.S. Legal System and Sources of Law
Registering for Bloomberg Law, Lexis, and Westlaw
TWEN walk‐thru
Study Aids & Other Resources
Research in LRWA I
Research weeks: lecture + research breakout session with librarians◦ Dates are 9/21, 10/5, 10/12, and 10/19◦Mandatory research assignments completed in‐class during the breakout sessions◦ Optional hands‐on training on Lexis and Westlaw – week of 9/24
Must bring laptop for research weeks!For research weeks in LRWA I you will need to bring a laptop to class.◦ Tablets, pads, and phones will not work◦ If you cannot complete a research assignment because your device is not capable, you will not receive credit for the assignment.
◦ If you need an exception for unusual circumstances, please contact your instructor.
Similarly, for your ICW exercises, tablets, pads, and phones will not work.◦ Use your laptop or the library’s computer lab
U.S. Legal System and Sources of Law
The U.S. Constitution establishes our government with three branches. In turn, each branch makes law.
The U.S. Constitution establishes the United States, separates powers between the states and the federal government, and defines the scope of authority for each of the three federal branches. Each branch of the federal government makes law.
U.S. Constitution
Legislature
Administrative Agencies
Executive Judiciary
U.S. Federal Government Structure
U.S. Constitution
Legislature
Administrative Agencies
Executive Judiciary
Sources of Law from each Branch
Regulations
Judicial decisions/opinions
(“case law”)
Presidential Orders and Proclamations
Statutes (“laws”)
Legislature
Congress creates statutes (“laws”).
§ Statutes are published chronologically in U.S. Statutes at Large.
§ Afterwards, codified (arranged by subject) and published in the United States Code. e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 924
Administrative Agencies
Agencies (e.g., EPA) create regulations.
§ Published daily in the Federal Register
§ Later arranged by subject and published in the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.)
Judiciary
Courts write opinions (or “case law”).
§ Case opinions are published in reporters
§ You will read selected, edited opinions in your case books for class
Federal court structure
State court structure
Supreme (or Superior)
Court
Appeals Courts
Trial Courts & Specialized Courts
The exact hierarchy and court names vary by jurisdiction but, generally, follow this structure:
For specific information on a particular U.S. jurisdiction’s structure you can go to http://courtstatistics.org.
Types of legal authority
Primary authority◦ Constitutions◦ Statutes◦ Regulations◦ Court decisions
Secondary authority◦ Books about the law◦ Articles in law reviews or law journals
(graphic by Michelle Hook Dewey)
Interaction of Source & Authority
Mandatory Authority Persuasive Authority
Primary Sources(constitutions, statutes, court
decisions, regulations)
Within the jurisdiction; from a
higher courtOutside the jurisdiction
Secondary Sources(anything that is not primary
authority, usually commentary)Never Yes, but persuasiveness
varies
Secondary Authority
You will also find secondary authority – information about the law – in the library and online.
Secondary authority appears in books, online services, and in articles in law journals (or law reviews).
Registering for Bloomberg Law, Lexis, and Westlaw
Follow the instructions on the cards in your orientation packets.You can register online from any computer.Use these graduation dates: 1D: 20211E: 2022Transfers and LLMs: please use an accurate date
Librarians will train you to use these services in LRWA I and II, during the research weeks.
Accessing TWEN
Use the Quick Linksdropdown to get to Westlaw/TWEN directly from the Law School’s website: https://law.gmu.edu.
Adding courses
(after signing in at www.lawschool.westlaw.com)
Click on TWEN Add your courses
Adding courses
(after signing in at www.lawschool.westlaw.com)
Click on TWEN Add your courses
Add LRWA I: Introduction to Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis (Main Page)
AND don’t forget to add your WF page!
Search for your course by name or professor (e.g., LRWA or FitzGerald)
Check To See If Your Professor Is Using TWEN
Contracts
• Boardman• Pi• Buckley
Economics for Lawyers
• Garoupa• Mungan• Stevenson• Cooper
LRWA
• FitzGerald• + WF
Property
• Claeys• Mossoff
Torts
• Cecot• Chiang• Krauss• Leider
West Study Aids Subscription
Access at: www.lawschool.westlaw.com
See West Study Aids https://law.gmu.edu/library/guides/west_studyaids
for more information.
Register Your Study Aids SubscriptionThe first time you click on the Study Aids, you will have to register your account.
◦ Username is your gmu.edu email address◦ Password can be the same password you use for WestlawAfter that, clicking through will be seamless◦ i.e., you won’t need to sign‐in again
You can also directly access the study aids at https://subscription.westacademic.com.
West Study Aids Subscription
Find a topic: can browse all subjects or keyword search
West Study Aids Subscription• This is an excerpt from Torts in a
Nutshell.• You can highlight, take notes, write
comments. They are saved forever.• You can print unlimited pages from the
browser view of a book. In the eReaderthat supports highlighting and note taking, you can print up to 90% of any book, though not in a single session. Within any session you can print up to 5% of a book.
• You pay for printing.• Mobile App available from Apple App
Store or Google Play
CALI Lessons
CALI Lessons at www.cali.org Lessons First Year Legal Research
CALI code is in your Orientation packet or see the Reference Office
Free Printing from Lexis
Lexis has dedicated printers in the library◦ First floor, near Reference Office◦ Third floor, outside computer lab 351
Alternative, print at home (at your own expense)◦ “attached printer”
Consider online notes, annotations, and folders to avoid printing and for other databases that don’t offer free printing!
Reference LibrariansDifficult research assignment? Don’t know where to look or how to begin? We are available to help you!
Contact Us:
–In‐person at the Law Library or by phone at (703) 993‐8076. Check our hours on the Law Library’s homepage at https://law.gmu.edu/library.
–Also available by email at [email protected] or you can email Ashley, Esther, Geraldine, or John directly using the Law Library Directory at https://law.gmu.edu/library/staff.