Top 5 Tips for Legal Researchers

Today we offer some tips for improving your legal research.

1. Boolean Operators
Most people have at least some understanding of Boolean operators, but we suggest becoming more familiar with them so they become almost second nature. Most legal databases will vary slightly in their format, so check the "Help" or "Search Tips" links on the database you're using for the exact format. Here we have highlighted HeinOnline's Boolean format:

• AND - evidence AND admissibility Search results will have BOTH of these terms
• OR - brief OR evidence Search results will have either of these terms, not necessarily both
• NOT - evidence NOT briefs Results will have the word evidence only when the term brief is not mentioned in the document
• " " - "love canal" Search results will have this exact phrase
• ( ) - (watershed OR "water rights") AND planning Use parentheses to combine multiple Boolean operators in one. Search results will have planning and either watershed or water rights.

2. Connectors
Connectors are a step up from Boolean operators. Use Connectors to search for groups of words instead of just single terms. Here we have highlighted Westlaw's Connectors format:

• /n - n represents any number up to 255. William /3 Hearst will return all of the following: William Randolph Hearst; William H Randolph Hearst; Hearst, William Randolph or any other combination where William and Hearst are within three terms of each other
• +n - another variation, but this connector ensures the first term will precede the next: pay +3 television will return pay television; pay per view television but not television for pay
• /p and /s - /p returns terms that are in the same paragraph, /s in the same sentence. For example: sanction /s frivolous, will return results where sanction and frivolous are mentioned in the same sentence. You can also use +p and +s to determine where terms will be located in the same segment.

Again, these will vary slightly depending on which database you use, so be sure to check for the exact format before you get started. You can almost always find the correct format by looking for a "Help" or "Search Tips" link on the database. And contact the law library if you need help!

3. Advanced Search

In library school we used to joke, "Friends don't let friends use basic search." The advantage of Advanced Search is that you can narrow your search from the very beginning. You instantly limit your results to full text availability, specific jurisdiction, format or specify whether you're searching for a title, author, or keyword. Almost any database will have an Advanced Search option. Try it out next time you're having a hard time finding what you're looking for!

4. Check your resources

Often we find that people are only using one database for their research, and therefore only seeing the results of one subscription. Take advantage of the State of Oregon Law Library's varied resources to see what else is available. Try HeinOnline or Loislaw for a new perspective and see the great resources these databases have to offer.

5. Ask a law librarian!

Possibly the most important tip on this list! Your friendly law librarians are very familiar with what the law library has to offer and how to search the databases. We've helped many people and may know the answer to your question right away because someone else has asked something similar. We are more than happy to help get your research started, locate that hard to find resource, answer the unanswerable question, or offer suggestions for more resources. Not to mention, we would just like to get to know you! So come by, bring your most challenging question, or just say hello. We look forward to meeting you!

Happy researching!