Introduction to Online Legal Research  (Westlaw and Lexis)
Professor Callister


Session: Fall - Spring
Working with databases with tables of contents.Using clip and alert services to stay current.Keeping track of your searches.Practice problems for the Fall Session of Westlaw and Lexis instruction.
Segment and restricted field searching.Natural language search on both Lexis and Westlaw.How to find similar documents using Lexis More Like This searching.How to searcher for similar cases using West Key Numbers.How to check status with Shepards and KeyCite.
Westlaw:  Key Number Searches 
Comparison to Lexis "More Like" Searching		  
  Past Page   W1  
Next Page
Taking advantage of  its Topic and Key Number system, Westlaw also has a method for finding similar cases.

The table below compares Lexis' "More Like" searching and Westlaw's "Key Number" searching.
 
Lexis "More Like This"
Westlaw:  Key Number Searching
Search 
by . . .
 Natural language algorithm (computer- weighted term-matching with results ranked by relevancy) Controlled vocabulary (West editors using West's Topic and Key Number system)
Evaluation
 Positives
  • Works with anything (e.g., law journals, cases, statutes, secondary materials).
  • Works best with newer legal subjects or where terminology is rapidly changing or evolving.
  • Results are ranked by relevancy (with the most closely related documents at or near the top).
Negatives
  • For traditional legal subjects, Lexis' algorithmic system may overlook important, related cases which a West editor would have identified as relevant.
  • With respect to case law, West's Topic and Key Number taxonomy has been an influential force in shaping legal thought.  In contrast, natural language and "more like" searching are relatively new and untried tools in the field of legal research.
 Positives
  • Ties into the West case digest system.
  • Works best with traditional legal subjects that fit well into West's taxonomy.
Negatives
  • Does not work as well with newer legal subjects that have not yet found a place in West's taxonomy (e.g., cyber and sports law).
  • Only works with case law, and only with case law that has been published in the West reporter system.

© 2002, Paul D. Callister