1. R 10 Tips for Research Success esearcher’s Digest
Knowing When to Stop: Reaching the End of the Research Trail R
esearcher’s Digest
10 Tips for Research Success
Joel Ngugi Expands Contracts
PLUS! Librarians: The Legal Researcher’s Best Friends
Save Time! Formbooks & Sample Clauses

2. Overview Research strategy Legal research guides
Print & online resources
The end of the rainbow

3. The Rombauer Method Preliminary analysis Search for statutes
Search for mandatory precedent
Search for persuasive precedent
Refine, double-check & update

4. Preliminary Analysis Assess what you know Consult secondary sources
Determine the jurisdiction
Develop a list of keywords & phrases
Focus on the research goal

5. Secondary Sources Sources that Analyze Describe Discuss Review
Summarize

6. The Three Bears Approach
Baby Bear
Nutshells
Study aids
Mama Bear
Hornbooks
Encyclopedias
Papa Bear
Multi-volume treatises

7. Finding Secondary Sources
Consult a legal research guide
Drafting Contracts
Search the library catalog
Current editions in Reference Area
“contracts and hornbook”
Ask a reference librarian

8. Legal Research Strategy
The Rombauer Method
Preliminary analysis
Search for statutes
Search for mandatory precedent
Search for persuasive precedent
Refine, double-check & update

9. Finding Statutes Citations from secondary sources Indexes
Tables of contents
Online searches
Terms & connectors (full-text searching)
Natural language

11. Click on link to read statute
Click on + to expand topic

12. Click on + to expand topic
Click in box(es) to search selected titles

13. Finding Statutes . . . Or Not22 10 23 32

14. Running Past Precedent
Citations in secondary sources & annotated codes
LexisNexis & Westlaw searches

15. Last Steps Refine Double-check Update
Other search terms, secondary sources
Double-check
Same answer found in more than one source
Update
Currentness of statutes
Validity of caselaw

16. Sources on Contracts
Drafting Contracts: Formbooks & Drafting Resources
Catalog search: “contracts and forms”

20. When to Say When Find the answer Cost exceeds benefit
Same answer in multiple sources
Time’s up

21. 10 Tips for Research Success
Start with a research plan
Determine the jurisdiction
Consult secondary sources
Review a research guide
Take notes

22. 10 Tips for Research Success
Identify statutes (or rule them out)
Use indexes & TOCs
Update statutes & cases
Know when to stop
Consult your friendly reference librarian

23. R 10 Tips for Research Success esearcher’s Digest
Knowing When to Stop: Reaching the End of the Research Trail R
esearcher’s Digest
10 Tips for Research Success
Joel Ngugi Expands Contracts
PLUS! Librarians: The Legal Researcher’s Best Friends
Save Time! Formbooks & Sample Clauses