Lexis.comLexis.com: :
Advanced Legal ResearchAdvanced Legal Research
Mar. 2005, Taiwan
By Jensen Wang
For educational purposes only
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Retrieval and Application of Legal MaterialRetrieval and Application of Legal Material
AGENDA OF PRESENTATIONAGENDA OF PRESENTATION
1. Objective of Legal Research1. Objective of Legal Research 2. Definition of Scope of Research 2. Definition of Scope of Research
3. Skills on Search and other Functionalities 3. Skills on Search and other Functionalities
4. Exact Search 4. Exact Search
5. Conceptual Search5. Conceptual Search
6. Questions & Answers6. Questions & Answers
Objective of Objective of LegalLegal Research Research
Step One: Identification of objectiveStep One: Identification of objective
• Finding authorities
• Searching filing information
• Analysis of legal issues
• Updating and monitoring
• Specific Research
e.g. Arbitration, Discrimination, Freedom of Expression
Finding AuthoritiesFinding Authorities
Finding Authorities
Authorities includes primary and secondary legal sources:
Primary sources – legislation, cases, treaties, rules and releases
Secondary sources – journals, commentaries, text-books and news.
Lexsee – Citation Search
Analysis of Legal IssuesAnalysis of Legal Issues
Legal Analysis
1. Case Analysis / Shepard’s
2. Topical Search – Search Advisor
3. Academic Discussion on some new legal problems (Journals)
4. Keyword Search on a specific issues – Terms & Connectors
Updating & MonitoringUpdating & Monitoring
Eclipse – the technology of automatic regular search
1. Eclipse on law – all the laws enacted against international terrorism
2. Eclipse on cases – cases involving Inter-American Convention on International Commercial Arbitration
3. Eclipse on wire news – statements of President Chen Shui-bian
4. Eclipse on journals – article of Prof. Elena Kagan
5. Eclipse on legal topic –enforcement of arbitral awards
Specific ResearchSpecific Research
Specific Research: (examples)
1. Whether choice-of-law clauses in an international commercial contract is enforceable by the Court ?
( Reference: Batchelder v. Nobuhiko Kawamoto, 147 F.3d 915 )
2. Whether the President of U.S. has the authority to detain a suspected terrorist by military order? Can the suspect file a habeas petition to the Court to challenge the order?
(Reference: Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 124 S. Ct. 2711 )
Definition of ScopeDefinition of Scope
Step Two: How to define the scope of research?Step Two: How to define the scope of research?
Width – Jurisdictions
e.g. Comparative study on legal principles between New York and California
Depth – coverage (time and contents)
e.g. Search all federal case law and state regulations for 10 years
Search TechniquesSearch Techniques
Step 3 – Find the search templates and be trained with Step 3 – Find the search templates and be trained with appropriate skills to conduct the research effectively.appropriate skills to conduct the research effectively.
Basic Skills:
1. Access
2. Find the path to the relevant databases
3. Exact Search - Use Citation to find the document
4. Conceptual Search – Use Terms & Connectors
5. Expansion of Search to other jurisdictions – More Like this
Lexis.com
www.lexis.com
Search Terms
Terms & ConnectorsNatural Language
Segment Search
Date Restriction
Search TechniquesSearch Techniques
The Techniques Required and be illustrated on online demo:
1. Navigation method
2. Customization
3. Database Selection and Combination
4. Exact Search by Get A Document
5. Conceptual Search by Keywords
6. Natural Language / Terms & Connectors
7. Focus and Expanded Search
8. Eclipse
Exact Search TechniquesExact Search Techniques
Segment Search by defining the nature of information:
Title (Illusion and Reality in the Compensation of Victims of International Terrorism)
Name (Alejandre v. Republic of Cuba)
Author (Myres S. McDougal)
Cite (112 Yale L.J. 1625)
Court (Supreme Court of the United States)
Judge (Marshall)
*The above can be improved by Terms & Connectors
ConceptualConceptual Search Techniques Search Techniques
Natural Language:
Free-style Search by relevance
Like searching in Yahoo!
Terms & Connectors:
Exhaustive Search – giving definite results
AND OR
W/S W/P
W/N ATLEAST
Keyword Search TechniquesKeyword Search Techniques
Problem of English keyword search:
1. Difference Forms e.g. negligent, negligence, negligently
Using “!” - negligen!
2. Plurals & Singulars e.g. damages or damage
Using “Plural” – Plural(damage)
Using “Singular” – Singular(damage)
3.Short Forms e.g. ERA
Using “Allcaps” – Allcaps(ERA)
Terms & Connectors
Rule 11 /p sanction
Circumstances /s mitigat!
e.g. mitigation, mitigating, mitigated, mitigate
Terms & Connectors
Atleast10(liquidated damages)
Allcaps(ERA)
“Equal Right Amendment” not the English word era
Exact Search TechniquesExact Search Techniques
Improvement on Segment Search:
Title (Compens! w/s Victims and (Terrorism or Terrorist attack))
Name (Alejandre and Republic of Cuba)
Author (Myres w/3 McDougal)
Cite ((112 or 113) w/2 Yale w/2 1**5)
Court (Supreme Court or Court of Appeal)
Judge (Marshall or White or Wilkins!)
Search Techniques - StepsSearch Techniques - Steps
Whether the principle of res judicata is modified in criminal cases in U.S. especially in the first degree murders?
Keywords extraction:
• Principle or rule or common law
• Res judicata
• Modified or Modification or Modify
• Criminal or Crime
• Murder
• First Degree or 1st Degree
Search Techniques - StepsSearch Techniques - Steps
Whether the principle of res judicata is modified in criminal cases in U.S. especially in the first degree murders?
Formulation Method:
(Principle or rule or common law) w/s Res judicata and Modif! w/p Core-terms (Criminal or Crime) and Murder
w/s (First Degree or 1st Degree)
Verification
Step 4 – Verification
There are several methods to verify the results before making conclusion:
1. Shepard’s (for US cases)
2. Case Analysis (for commonwealth cases)
3. Eclipse
4. Cross-checking with secondary sources
5. Appropriate consultation
Start of Online DemonstrationStart of Online Demonstration
1. Whether choice-of-law clauses in an international commercial contract is enforceable by the Court ?
( Reference: Batchelder v. Nobuhiko Kawamoto, 147 F.3d 915 )
2. Whether the President of U.S. has the authority to detain a suspected terrorist by military order? Can the suspect file a habeas petition to the Court to challenge the order?
(Reference: Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 124 S. Ct. 2711 )