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Westlaw. Also, getting librarians to do it for me under the guise of "omg, i'm so confused/bad at this" in a voice as that suggests that I'm so frustrated I might combust--but reality I'm lollzing and playing games on my phone. I'm totally fucked for work this summer. so thank you for this thread.trudat15 wrote:Please. I suck at this.
Westlaw Next.Guchster wrote:Westlaw. Also, getting librarians to do it for me under the guise of "omg, i'm so confused/bad at this" in a voice as that suggests that I'm so frustrated I might combust--but reality I'm lollzing. I'm totally fucked for work this summer. so thank you for this thread.trudat15 wrote:Please. I suck at this.
I only use Westlaw Next when I have to do the research myself. A librarian almost had an aneurysm when I told her I had used it as a starting point. Old people like doing stuff the hard way--that old witch called me and my classmates mindless monkeys for using it, when she called us out in research class for it. But she always finds shit that I miss with her research skills that I do not possess, so maybe if I learn those skills I can be a better Westlaw Next searcher.ph14 wrote:Westlaw Next.Guchster wrote:Westlaw. Also, getting librarians to do it for me under the guise of "omg, i'm so confused/bad at this" in a voice as that suggests that I'm so frustrated I might combust--but reality I'm lollzing. I'm totally fucked for work this summer. so thank you for this thread.trudat15 wrote:Please. I suck at this.
who caresOnePostWonder wrote:I've heard Next is stupid expensive.
We've been advised not to use WestLaw Next because of this. It's so expensive that a lot of firms don't use it. If it's all you know how to use, you might be unlucky and end up at a firm that doesn't have it, which would suck.dood wrote:who caresOnePostWonder wrote:I've heard Next is stupid expensive.
dood wrote:who caresOnePostWonder wrote:I've heard Next is stupid expensive.
This. If you know how to use terms and connectors well, you can perform really narrow searches and pinpoint what you are looking for.kalvano wrote: If that fails, using the "search for a word within so many words of another word" function of Westlaw is really useful.
Thanks for the google tip. So awesome.kalvano wrote:Google is the correct answer. It searches so many databases, you can often find either the answer or a good starting point.
If that fails, using the "search for a word within so many words of another word" function of Westlaw is really useful.
what are your favorite terms & connectors to use, and how do you use them.Judge Philip Banks wrote:This. If you know how to use terms and connectors well, you can perform really narrow searches and pinpoint what you are looking for.kalvano wrote: If that fails, using the "search for a word within so many words of another word" function of Westlaw is really useful.
Yep. Using /n one is really useful. Also /p or /s which will find words in the same paragraph or sentence, respectively (e.g., "marijuana /p "traffic stop"" will find paragraphs where those two phrases appear together). Also, narrowing down what database you are searching in is a basic thing that can easily be forgotten. This is all stuff for WL classic, and although I am not sure how to do these narrow searches in WLNext, I still prefer WLNext because it has other features that make it easier to use (highlight/note is a big one for me).kalvano wrote:The connector I use most often is limiting how far away words can be. So if I'm trying to find out if the mere odor of weed is enough to give rise to probable cause for a vehicle search, I'd search for something like "marijuana /20 "traffic stop" ". That way, it will only return results with the phrase "traffic stop" within 20 words of "marijuana". You can add as many numerical limitations as you like. I think I used 5 the other day. It really helps to narrow down your results to useful stuff.
kalvano wrote:The connector I use most often is limiting how far away words can be. So if I'm trying to find out if the mere odor of weed is enough to give rise to probable cause for a vehicle search, I'd search for something like "marijuana /20 "traffic stop" ". That way, it will only return results with the phrase "traffic stop" within 20 words of "marijuana". You can add as many numerical limitations as you like. I think I used 5 the other day. It really helps to narrow down your results to useful stuff.
My summer job will require me to use westlaw classic, so I needz to learn how to do this without getting formally reprimanded for bankrupting my firm.Judge Philip Banks wrote:Yep. Using /n one is really useful. Also /p or /s which will find words in the same paragraph or sentence, respectively (e.g., "marijuana /p "traffic stop"" will find paragraphs where those two phrases appear together). Also, narrowing down what database you are searching in is a basic thing that can easily be forgotten. This is all stuff for WL classic, and although I am not sure how to do these narrow searches in WLNext, I still prefer WLNext because it has other features that make it easier to use (highlight/note is a big one for me).kalvano wrote:The connector I use most often is limiting how far away words can be. So if I'm trying to find out if the mere odor of weed is enough to give rise to probable cause for a vehicle search, I'd search for something like "marijuana /20 "traffic stop" ". That way, it will only return results with the phrase "traffic stop" within 20 words of "marijuana". You can add as many numerical limitations as you like. I think I used 5 the other day. It really helps to narrow down your results to useful stuff.
nygrrrl, besides this /n /s /p, what are the first things you do in a basic westlaw classic search?nygrrrl wrote:kalvano wrote:The connector I use most often is limiting how far away words can be. So if I'm trying to find out if the mere odor of weed is enough to give rise to probable cause for a vehicle search, I'd search for something like "marijuana /20 "traffic stop" ". That way, it will only return results with the phrase "traffic stop" within 20 words of "marijuana". You can add as many numerical limitations as you like. I think I used 5 the other day. It really helps to narrow down your results to useful stuff.
/n is my favorite. Also, like Kalvano I run a Google search right off the bat. Sounds crazy, but there is a TON of info out there for free that will give you the key words you need (or party names) to start a targeted search.Guchster wrote:nygrrrl, besides this /n /s /p, what are the first things you do in a basic westlaw classic search?nygrrrl wrote:kalvano wrote:The connector I use most often is limiting how far away words can be. So if I'm trying to find out if the mere odor of weed is enough to give rise to probable cause for a vehicle search, I'd search for something like "marijuana /20 "traffic stop" ". That way, it will only return results with the phrase "traffic stop" within 20 words of "marijuana". You can add as many numerical limitations as you like. I think I used 5 the other day. It really helps to narrow down your results to useful stuff.
Same here (but district court externship) and they apparently don't have WLNext, so I am trying to get more acquainted with classic. (typed as I am using WLNext for memo as we speak :/ )Guchster wrote: My summer job will require me to use westlaw classic, so I needz to learn how to do this without getting formally reprimanded for bankrupting my firm.
It seems obvious, and maybe most people remember to do this, but I've seen some people just search in all feds or all states or whatever, instead of choosing a circuit or specific state to narrow results. Or another obvious thing is to try to find the narrowest database in the directory to search within, rather than using the home page search box, or even AmJur or [insert state]Jur. That is, if you have a more specific idea of what you are looking for.Guchster wrote: Hmm... this is very helpful. I've dabbled with /p and /s and i like them a lot. It seems I need to up my game with /n.
Now, when you say correct database, what are particular check boxes I should pay attention to.
Wow. Did you not see my previous post, dumbass?sundance95 wrote:dood wrote:who caresOnePostWonder wrote:I've heard Next is stupid expensive.