How to Use Westlaw Database
If you looking to search through thousands of law articles, cases, court briefs, administrative options and regulations then the Westaw legal database is all you need. It is a great resource for law students and lawyers who need to research problems of law or who need to seek legal advice for a case they are currently working on. It comes in quite handy and saves a lot of time for lawyers as they already have limited time for each case or an argument. There are a number of ways to use Westlaw database.
Things Required:
– Westlaw password
– Access to a computer
– Subscription to Westlaw
Instructions
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1
Search for a document
Find an official document. If you already have a published or unpublished source for the case you are looking forward to or know the name of the parties, you can save ample time and money by pressing “Find” and entering the names or citation. After you have done this step, Westlaw database will take you automatically to the document you are looking for. Then choose a database of your choice. Press on “Directory” to access the list of all the available databases. From there you can view the legal materials which are organised by subject matter, court jurisdiction and state. Select the database that you feel is most likely to contain the document or details you are searching. If you go to the wrong database then go back and look for the relevant one again. -
2
Do some research
In order to use Westlaw database, you have to be aware of how to look for a specific document. When you get into the database you selected in the previous stage, carry out a search only at finding the relevant details you want. This database lets you search by “terms and connectors” and also by natural language. -
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Further instructions
You should make use of Keycite. While you are in a document, you will come across a coloured symbol right next to the document’s name. Press on that symbol to Keycite the document. This will get you a list of a number of sources that have either overturned, distinguished, followed or only cited to that particular document. This is an effective source to be sure that the regulation or case you searched is still thought of as good law.
