A step-by-step guide
Utilize secondary sources to understand your memo's issue
Your professors are right. A secondary source is a great place to find your pinnacle case that can easily launch your research. This quick video will show you how secondary sources can help you understand your issue and even lead you to key cases.
Review the seminal cases for your issue to identify your rules
Now that your secondary sources provided references to seminal cases on your issue, it's time to dig into those cases to understand your rules, how courts apply them and leverage that "one good case" to find even more relevant cases.
User Guide
How to retrieve and search for cases
Video Lesson
How to find and use treatises and practice guides
Video Lesson
How to use folders to organize your research
Leverage jury instructions to outline your memo
You understand your issue, you've found seminal cases and you know what rules apply. It's time to start outlining your memo and Jury Instructions are a great way to do that. They give you the order of operations for both your elements and defenses while describing them in layman's terms.
Video Lesson
How to create a research outline
Video Lesson
Essential tools for drafting a memo
Secondary Source
Causes of Action
Encyclopedia
Deepen your research to support your analysis
- Smart Searching
- Expand Sources
- Spot Missed Issues
Smart Searching
Westlaw has a number of ways to help you help you search.
Beyond classic the plain language search you may be accustomed to, Westlaw offers many search tools to help you find what you really need. answers! You can leverage search suggestions from your main search box, craft powerful Terms & Connectors searches, or drill straight to your unique cause of action, facts and point of law with Precision Research.
Expand Your Sources
Westlaw connects each case to a universe of sources.
One good case will get you many on Westlaw and that is crucial to supporting your analysis. Citing References bring you everything on Westlaw that has cited your case. Key Numbers index legal issues and allow you to search across jurisdictions. While features like More Like This and Cited With allow you to follow common threads between cases.
Spot Missed Issues
Folder Analysis connects cases by key issues.
Ever notice the little folder icon sprinkled throughout Westlaw? They might seem innocuous, but your research folders unlock a powerful tool, Folder Analysis. When you add enough cases to your folder, Folder Analysis will identify common issues between them and highlight cases and issues you might have missed.
Use Smart Search Terms
Identify basic components of your problem to maximize your research by selecting "smart search terms"
Wrap up your memo and check for any omissions
Afraid you might have missed some key authority? Want to double check your quotes and make sure your sources are still valid? Now that you've crafted your memo, use Quick Check as second set of eyes to check for research issues you may have missed.
Continue building your skills with research certifications.
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Fuel Your Research with Key Numbers - Bonus Entries
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Statutes on Westlaw - Bonus Entries
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US Constitution (seriously!)
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- 14th Amendment; Due Process
Key Numbers on Westlaw - Bonus Entries
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Searching on Westlaw - Bonus Entries
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Find helpful tools and gadgets.
Because neurodivergent people often need visual prompts or sensory tools, it is helpful to figure out what works best for you. Maybe you need a quiet fidget to use under your desk in class to help you focus. Maybe you need to incorporate the use of timers throughout your day. If you struggle with time blindness, you can use hourglasses to help you visualize time. Perhaps you struggle with extraneous sounds and need to use noise-cancelling headphones. More and more tools and gadgets are being made for neurodiverse individuals that can help you throughout law school.
Find the best time to be productive.
Society can dictate when you are supposed to be most productive. See the traditional 9-5 work schedule. However, that model does not always work best for neurodiverse individuals. Some people are not morning people, and that is fine. Figure out when you have the most energy during your day to be your most productive self.
Identify your organizational system.
Find one system to use for organization and don’t change it. Trying too many organizational systems can become overwhelming. If your phone calendar works best, use that. If you are a list person, write all the lists. If you are a planner person, find the coolest one to use throughout the school year.
Write everything down.
It would be nice to think that you can remember every task or deadline, but let’s be honest, that’s probably not true. Write down every deadline, every task, meeting, assignment, important date, etc. in the organizational system that you use.
Figure out your maximum focus time.
Just like you can only put so much gasoline in a car, most neurodiverse individuals only have so much room in their focus tank. Figure out how long you can truly focus and apply yourself to a task before you need a break. That amount of time is typically shorter for neurodiverse individuals. If you can only truly focus for 20 minutes, study for 20 minutes, take a break, and then come back for another 20 minutes.
Find Your Friends
You may have started law school with your mind full of horror stories. Throw them out the window. Most of the people you attend law school with are genuinely kind and helpful people. Try to find a group or a couple of people that you can trust and lean on when necessary. Your law school friends can help you stay on task, body double, and even provide notes on the days you may be struggling. These friends can be one of your greatest assets throughout your law school journey.
Be Honest with Your Professors
Only discuss your neurodivergence with your professors to the extent that you are comfortable. If there are things you are concerned about related to your neurodivergence, it can be beneficial to make your professors aware at the beginning of the semester. Whether you are worried about cold calling or need a topic broken down, most professors love opportunities to discuss their area of law! They can’t know that you may need help if you don’t let them know. This is especially important if you aren’t successful in getting accommodations from your school’s Disability Services.
Trust Your Methods
As a neurodivergent student, you may not fit the traditional mold of all the things a law student is “supposed to do” in order to be successful. You have been in school for years, and now is the time to trust yourself and not be afraid to be an “outside of the box” law student. There is no harm in trying new study methods, but never fear going back to your personal basics. If you need help figuring those out, see if your law school has a learning center or faculty member that can assist you.
Outlining with Jury Instructions
If you’re not sure how to outline your memo, jury instructions can help by explaining a cause of action, outlining the essential elements of a claim and providing relevant primary law all in one spot.
- On your Westlaw Precision home screen, click on Secondary Sources and then Jury Instructions.
- On the Jury Instructions page, use the Jurisdiction filter to select your desired jurisdiction.
- Search for your cause of action. (Ex. elements of libel in Federal Jury Practice & Instructions)
- Open your relevant jury instruction and don't forget to check the related notes.
- To see more instructions, check out the table of contents to your left or click on View Full TOC.
