Yale Law School

Lillian Goldman Law Library

Fifth Hour Legal Research / Fall 2014

1
Brief Research

I. Start Research Using a Secondary Source

Legal Encyclopedia (WLN)

All Content / Secondary Sources / Texts and Treatises: Select American Jurisprudence 2d or
Corpus Juris Secondum



ALR / American Law Reports (WLN)

Why start with an ALR? Contains cases statutes from all jurisdictions and an outline of your topic.

Same path as above, use:
ALR Index: index terms = voting > Voting Rights Act
Search Box: Enter search terms = voting rights identification requirements

Treatises: Constitutional Law

Why start with a treatise? Contains a more in depth analysis and research references (Topics and
Key Numbers, ALRs, etc.)

IV. Locating And Using Case Law

Use the Annotations from the Statute.
Use the Headnotes (see page 5 of Introduction Outline):

Headnotes:
Added by the commercial editors of reporter
Pull out the narrow issues of law in each case
West Headnotes = Topic (of law) + Key Number (number assigned to the narrow point of law)
+ Squib or Summary of the narrow issue of law or

Yale Law School
Lillian Goldman Law Library
Fifth Hour Legal Research / Fall 2014

2



Use reference in secondary material (contained in footnotes of ALRs and legal encyclopedias).
Confirm that you have good law by citating (uusing Keycite/Shepards)

One good case to find other case using:
1. Headnotes
2. Citating (using Citing References)
3. Authorities cited within (Table of Authorities)
4. Use terms to construct searches

V. Learn More & Find Help

See a Law Librarian. Your Small Group Librarian is available for small group meetings or
appointment. Email or drop by.
Legal Research Tutorials: YLS Inside Site > Legal Research Skills
Tutorial on Formatting Your Brief: YLS Inside Site > Legal Research Skills
Legal Research Guides: http://library.law.yale.edu/research-guides
Yale Treatise Finder, http://library.law.yale.edu/research/treatise-finder
See more resources on the Introductory Guide.

Yale Law School
Lillian Goldman Law Library
Fifth Hour Legal Research / Fall 2014

3


Using One Good Case








1. Flag:
a. Indicates status of case: Is it still good law?
b. Yellow Flag indicates there is some negative treatment or history. And you must
understand what this means?
2. Negative Treatment
a. Cases that say something negative about your case
i. Distinguished
ii. Declined to Extend
iii. Questioned
iv. Overruled
b. Pay attention to cases that distinguish and decline to extend.
3. History
a. What happened to this case (Grutter) as it progressed through the Court system
4. Citing Reference
a. List other documents (cases, secondary sources, etc.) that cite Grutter
b. Use Citing References to the find similar cases and build your body of case law for
research

Flag
Negative
Treatment


History
Citing References
Yale Law School
Lillian Goldman Law Library
Fifth Hour Legal Research / Fall 2014

4



Using Headnotes



Parts of a Headnote:

Takes you into this point of law in the Case.


Constitutional Law:
1. Topic
a. Corresponds to the narrow point of law
b. Created by West Editors
c. Part of the West Digest System, outline of the law



Key Numbers:
a. Number assigned to the narrow point of law by the West Editors.
b. Click in the number farthest from the key to get cases with similar points of law.
Remember to adjust the jurisdiction.
c. All numbers that follow the K are considered key numbers.