1. Advanced Legal Research for Seminar Papers
Michelle Trumbo
Reference & Outreach Services Librarian

2. Scholarly Writing States an original thesis not merely opinion
Cites the most relevant and authoritative scholarly literature and primary authority
Supports arguments by analyzing the applicable literature and primary sources
explain, discuss, concur, distinguish, dispute, synthesize
Key aspects of scholarly writing….helpful to keep in mind as you develop potential topics to write about.

3. Overview Research Guides Other Law-Related Databases
HeinOnline [link]
Bloomberg Law [link]
GMU Database Portal
Library Catalog & inPrimo
E-Journal Finder
Google Scholar

4. The Actress and the Embryos
Sophia Vergara & Nick Loeb litigation.
Fall in love > freeze embryos together > break-up > PROBLEMS develop
She wants to keep them frozen indefinitely
He wants the right to have them implanted in a surrogate so that he can have children
It’s a mess
Litigation ensues
Something about the influence of medical/scientific advances in the field of fertility treatment and its impact on traditional family law (custodial) issues….embryonic rights?

5. A good great place to start…

6. Advanced Legal Research for Seminar Papers
Research Guides

7. Research Guides
Help you identify good sources—especially current awareness sources—in your area of interest:
GMU Guides
Internet search: legal research guide <insert subject> (LMGTFY)
Georgetown Legal Research Guides

9. Give example of guide

10. Law-Related Databases
Advanced Legal Research for Seminar Papers
Law-Related Databases

12. Popular Online Resources
Academic Search Complete
Bloomberg Law
Business Source Complete
EconLit
Google Scholar
HeinOnline
Indexes (Index to Legal Periodicals & Books; IFLP)
inPrimo
JSTOR
ProQuest (Congressional, Legislative Insight, Research Library)
(beyond Westlaw & Lexis Advance)

13. Law-Related Databases
link from library homepage: “Find Books, Articles, & Databases”
use shortcut for popular resources or browse alphabetical list
always use these links (except for BLAW, WL, & LA) to access resources so you connect through the GMU proxy server

14. HeinOnline Multiple search options Impact indicators Diverse Content
Boolean operators must be in Caps (AND, OR)
Search specific libraries or across all libraries
Impact indicators
Law Journal Library provides “cited by” link
Sort results by number of times cited
Diverse Content
More than 50 topical collections
Includes government documents, historical, and secondary materials

15. HeinOnline: Advanced Search
DEMO: embryo AND “parental rights” (text search)

16. HeinOnline: Results
Cited by and Accessed – get you directly into other articles relevant to your topic and an “at-a-glance” indication of the influence/impact a particular article has had.
Default sort is Relevance. You can re-sort by date, title, most cited author, etc.
Post-search filtering on left. Geography, date range, and other options.

17. Bloomberg Law: Practice Centers

18. Bloomberg Law: Practice Centers

19. Books & Treatises > More > keyword search: frozen embryo

20. Bloomberg Law: BNA Law Reports
Healthcare > Health Law Reporter > Search Report, Keywords: embryo; filter by: past year > 2 results

22. Advanced Legal Research for Seminar Papers
GMU Database Portal

24. GMU Database Portal Search alphabetically or by subject area.
E.g., Health Sciences

25. Cross-references related categories of databases that may be helpful.
Most useful databases (as determined by subject specialists) in the category appear first, followed by other relevant resources.

26. LibrarY CatalOG & inPrimo
Advanced Legal Research for Seminar Papers
LibrarY CatalOG & inPrimo

27. Catalog & inPrimo
The Library catalog searches for books in our library.
You cannot conduct thorough research for a paper without reviewing available print materials to see whether a book has been written on your topic.
inPrimo
Searches our catalog and much more, including articles, news, the internet, other libraries’ catalog.
Offers unique results.
Worth the time to search.

28. inPrimo Library Catalog articles databases news digital collections
inPrimo = discovery tool

29. Catalog & inPrimo

30. inPrimo
E.g., search inPrimo for embryo AND law > filter to Library: Law
Post-search filters
# of Results
Online Access

31. Finding the location of print material in the catalog
e.g., The law and ethics of medicine : essays on the inviolability of human life > Locations tab > Law Library – 3rd Floor, note call #

32. Catalog:Tips Remember the library catalog isn’t Google
No auto-spell correct or “do you mean”
Only searching words that are contained in the catalog record, not a full-text search
Use subject and call number searches in addition to keyword searching
Find subject headings from known items
Browse call numbers to find related items

33. Catalog: Item Record

34. Catalog: Subject Browse

35. Advanced Legal Research for Seminar Papers
E-Journal Finder

36. E-Journal Finder
If you know the journal title, use that to search. The E-Journal Finder will allow you to link through to an electronic version of the journal. Then, browse to find your article.

37. Advanced Legal Research for Seminar Papers
Google Scholar

39. Google Scholar
Searches scholarly literature in multiple disciplines, and court opinions
Explore related works, citations, authors, and publications
Advanced search
Accessible after entering search from drop down menu
Can link to GMU library resources
Settings >Library Links > search for: George Mason (2, choose both)

40. Google Scholar

41. Advanced Legal Research for Seminar Papers
Wrap-up

42. Effective Academic Research
Use a variety of resources
Each database has unique data, algorithms, and rankings
Search for both print and digital information
Develop strong keywords
Learn from each source you find to expand terms and find “terms of art”
Use several search strategies
Keyword, subject, links to cited/citing sources, call numbers (in catalog)
Be VERY CLEAR on your professor’s expectations

43. Helpful Books on Reserve
Elizabeth Fajans. Scholarly Writing for Law Students: Seminar Papers, Law Review Notes, and Law Review Competition Papers.  
Law Library – RESERVE KF250.F
Eugene Volokh, Academic Legal Writing: Law Review Articles, Student Notes, and Seminar Papers, and Getting on Law Review. (5th edition)
Law Library - RESERVE KF250 .V
**Older editions of both texts are on the 3rd floor.**

44. We’re here to help! Reference Hours No appointment req’d
In person, by , or on the telephone
No appointment req’d
Check staff directory on law library homepage for contact information
Reference Hours
M-Th: 9 am to 9 pm
Fri: 9 am to 5 pm
Sun: 2 pm to 9 pm
The reference librarians have extensive experience in legal, business, and general research.  Most of us have a J.D. and a Masters in Library Science. 
Please call ( ),   an individual librarian, or stop by with questions (First Floor Library, Room 141). We can save you a lot of time.