Some readers may be more familiar with Lexis+ (formerly LexisNexis Advance) and its guidance system, Search Advisor. Lexis+ users can find documents based on topics, but there is currently no associated numbering system. Not a Westlaw subscriber yet? Learn more about Westlaw`s legal research. Therefore, the Western key number system relies on the interpretation of opinion by the legal writers, not the opinion itself, to determine the key figures we use in our legal research. The West key number system, which has proven successful in printing, has been added to Westlaw. The first step in using the key number system is to find an applicable key number. The Westlaw homepage link to “Key Numbers” allows you to navigate by topic level. You can also display a link under autosuggest content pages when you start typing key numbers in the search bar at the top of the screen. WestSearch Plus on Westlaw Edge provides superior search suggestions directly from the search box and then provides the most relevant text for your legal query without having to dive into a list of results. 7. legal.thomsonreuters.com/en/products/westlaw/editorial-enhancements. Fortunately, the research concepts and best practices remain the same.
We use the same theories and processes to find information in a digital space that we once used when we viewed a shelf of heavy legal reports and summaries. One such concept is Thomson Reuters` Key West numbering system. This article provides a brief reminder on how to use the West Key Number System in its digital form. The goal of any legal researcher is to find the best way to focus on a specific legal problem and quickly find concrete cases. But given the huge amount of information available on the Internet, is it really possible to quickly find the perfect case? Even if you are able to quickly find a relevant case, can you be sure that there is no other case that is more suitable? Surprisingly, the answer to both questions is yes. The best way for a lawyer to ensure that they are relying on arguments that reflect the true nature of the law is to use KeyCite on Westlaw and Westlaw Edge. Legal research has evolved over time. In the 70s, 80s and 90s, lawyers used analog resources such as physical journalists and summaries for their legal research. Today, most of these lawyers rely heavily on online digital platforms, while many new lawyers have never used an analog resource in their legal research. Once you`ve narrowed down the results, you`ll get a limited number of results, which should be exactly right for the legal question you`re looking for. Remember never to quote comments from lawyers and editors, be careful in the time you spend researching client issues, and contact your friendly neighborhood law librarian if you have questions about legal research.
After all, they know the best tips and tricks for legal research. In the 1970s, West Publishing introduced Westlaw.3 It was one of the first digital legal research platforms. While West Publishing retained its analog resources, it continued to expand its digital summaries. John B. West founded West Publishing more than 100 years ago to create a unified system for reporting court decisions.1 It was so effective that West`s method of reporting was used to create the first national reporting system. LOCATE cases where similar legal concepts and principles are discussed The key number system was the first of its kind when it was developed by West Publishing over 100 years ago. A Master Classification System of the United States The key number system allows our copywriters to organize cases according to appropriate legal issues and topics. Our Key Number Digest books help legal researchers quickly and efficiently find relevant case law on the stacks and shelves of huge legal libraries. Few analog tools have made the transition to our digital world better than key figures, and using key figures on Westlaw can quickly perform complex legal research tasks. Use one of the following methods to use West`s key number system, which is integrated with KeyCite on Westlaw and Westlaw Edge. 2. Thomson Reuters, “Can You Trust Your Legal Research Technology?” legal.thomsonreuters.com/en/insights/articles/can-you-trust-your-legal-research-technology.
Sometime after the creation of the National Reporter System, West Publishing introduced the West Key Number System to help researchers classify problems in cases into key topics and numbers. This primary classification system is still in use today.2 The key numbering system, sometimes referred to as “The Index to American Law,” uses both subjects and a numbering system to form a universal classification system.5 This numbering system forms the basis of the key system. You can also select a hyperlink key number or, optionally, a hyperlink to multiple instances where each title is cited. The following screenshot shows Introductory Note 2 of Pearson v. Dist. Ct., eighteenth jud. Dist., Cnty. d`Arapahoe, 924 p.2d 512 (colo. 1996). 1.
Westlaw, Resources for Conducting Research, lscontent.westlaw.com/images/banner/documentation/ResearchResources.pdf. This is perhaps the most commonly used method to search the West key number system. Through copywriters, Westlaw Edge provides top notes on cases, statutes, regulations and more. These headings are usually at the top of the page for cases and secondary sources. These titles connect a theme to the West key number system. In the late 1990s, Thomson Legal Publishing acquired West Publishing.4 This acquisition facilitated the continued growth of Westlaw`s offering. Another option is to search in natural language or Boolean. On the results page, the list of filters is displayed on the left. Simply select “Key Numbers” to limit your search to a specific topic in the West key number system.
Finally, you can search for key numbers across all Westlaw content by performing a simple search using the global search box on the homepage. You will see a link to the key numbers in the gray bar on the left after performing a search. Clicking on these links takes you to the West Key Number System content page. If you refine by topic, you will eventually arrive at a list of top notes that correspond to a specific summary of key figures in printed form. From there, you can search or refine by jurisdiction as needed. There are currently more than 450 topics, each representing a broad categorization of the law. These fields are then divided into subheadings that are assigned an individual key number. There are currently over 100,000 key numbers.6 Once you have selected a key number, you can search using the box on the left, or you can search in another jurisdiction using the Edit link under the Key Number heading at the top of the page.
If you find a relevant title in a case or secondary source, you can simply click on the key number to find more resources that match that key number. This is especially useful if you already know a historical case. You can find more material on a topic that confirms the position or informs you that something may have changed. The process of adding case topics and key numbers is quite tedious. In fact, John B. West`s West Publishing had to hire attorney-in-chief editors to categorize published opinions that were published in West`s journalists and abstracts, and this practice continues to this day.7 Legal writers review opinions, add top notes, and assign key numbers. They also determine the categories and create the notes with the top notes that we find so useful. The topics are then divided into sub-themes and provided with key numbers. For more Westlaw tips, visit our training and support page. The current version of Westlaw is Westlaw Edge. There are four ways to use the West key number system in Westlaw Edge: To search for a topic, type “to” followed by the title or topic number in parentheses. For example, “to (alternative dispute resolution)” or “to(25T)”.
Using the title instead of the key number results in more results because it contains results where the title is anywhere in the top notes.
