Topic and Key Numbers Research

Using the Print Digests to Find Relevant Cases

• You have found a case with a relevant headnote and assigned key number

• Go to a print digest set covering the appropriate jurisdiction and find the volume covering that topic, then find the specific key number

• All headnotes (digest paragraphs) from all cases discussing the point of law assigned to that key number are listed along with citations to the cases

Using a key number found in a case

Using the Print Digests to Find Relevant Cases

Browse the topic list at the beginning of any Key Number digest volume to select a relevant topic.

Topic Analysis

Using the Print Digests to Find Relevant

Cases

Each topic in a digest set has an Analysis section, providing both broad and detailed outlines of the topic.

Topic Analysis

Broad analysis

Detailed analysis

• Many legal topics overlap in subject content.

• At the beginning of every new topic in the print digest, there are scope notes that explain which subjects are included and which are excluded.

• The Subjects Excluded list directs you to the digest topic under which those subjects are covered.

• These lists also appear in the Scope information on Westlaw.

Topic Analysis

Subjects Included and Subjects ExcludedLists in the Digests

Using the Print Digests to Find Relevant CasesDescriptive

Word Index

Each digest set includes a Descriptive Word Index. Specific words and phrases lead to relevant key numbers.

Using the Print Digests to Find Relevant Cases

DescriptiveWord Index

Most descriptive words fall into one of five categories of elements common to every case:

• Parties or facts

• Places and things

• Issues or basis of action

• Defenses

• Relief sought

• Example: John Landlord failed to replace a light bulb in the hallway of one of his apartment buildings. Jane Tenant failed to see a step and fell down a flight of stairs. She is suing John for damages.

• You might start by checking in the Descriptive Word Index under landlord, tenant, negligence, apartment, common area, or premise liability. At least one of these entries will probably lead you to key numbers in cases that discuss the same or similar issues.

Descriptive Word Index

West’s Analysis of American Law

West’s Analysis of American Law list all the topics and the specific key numbers with the title given to each key number

• Constitutional Law, Topic No. 92 90.1—Particular Expressions and Limitations (1.2) Election regulations • This publication also contains Subjects Included and

Subjects Excluded sections for each topic.

Using Key Numbers to Find Relevant Cases on Westlaw

• After conducting a word search on Westlaw, you find a relevant case with an on-point headnote.

• You can use the key number assigned to this headnote to retrieve other cases discussing the same point of law.

This is the most common way of finding relevant key numbers on Westlaw.

Using a key number found in a case

By clicking a relevant keynumber or the Most Cited Cases link, you can run a key numbersearch through a database …

…and retrieve all headnotes assigned to that key number, creating a Custom Digest.

Using a key numberfound in a case to create a Custom Digest.

92k90.1(1.2) Most Cited Cases

• A Custom Digest contains the digest paragraphs assigned to that key number in the selected jurisdiction.

• Each headnote links to its corresponding case.

• You have created a Custom Digest of all headnotes assigned to 92k90.1(1.2) in the Eighth Circuit.

Using Key Numbers to Find Relevant Cases on Westlaw

• Access the Key Numbers and Digest service using the More drop-down list on the toolbar.

Using the topic list to create a Custom Digest

Key Numbers & Digest

• Scroll down the list of topics until you find one you want to explore..

Using Key Numbers to Find Relevant Cases on Westlaw

• Click the plus symbols to expand the topics and see subheadings. Expand subheadings if necessary.

• When you find a relevant key number, type it into text box or check the box beside it and click GO …

Using the topic list to create a Custom Digest

Search 92K90.1(1.2)

Using Westlaw to Find Relevant Cases

• You can run a key number search in the headnote database of your choice.

• You can restrict by date or add terms for a customized result.

Using the topic list to create a Custom Digest

Add Terms

Date

Databases

A Westlaw Search Using a Key Number

• When you have a topic and key number, simply enter it as

your query:

92k90.1(1.2)

The “k” makes this a unique term. You will retrieve only documents containing the key number term.

• In either a• case law (reporter) or • headnote (digest) database

• Using Terms and Connectors searching

Westlaw Search for Relevant Key Numbers and Cases

• Known topic but unknown key number:

to(92) /p campaign /s contribut! /s speech

• Unknown topic and unknown key number:

di(campaign /s contribut! /s speech)

• in either a• case law (reporter) or • headnote (digest) database

• using Terms and Connectors searching

Question

Which of the following statement(s) is true?

1. The most common method for using a key number to find cases is to work from a key number in a relevant case.

2. The Descriptive Word Index is a Westlaw dictionary service.

3. There are no similarities between the print digests and the Westlaw headnote databases.

4. Both 1 and 3.

Question

Which of the following statement(s) is true?

1. The most common method for using a key number to find cases is to work from a key number in a relevant case.

2. The Descriptive Word Index is a Westlaw dictionary service.

3. There are no similarities between the print digests and the Westlaw headnote databases.

4. Both 1 and 3.