Browse modules

Part I · Foundational Legal Research

  • 1 Foundations of Legal Authority
    • Chapter overview →
    • How Law Is Made — A 1L Primer
    • Hierarchy of Authorities
    • Applying the Hierarchy
  • 2 Introduction to Legal Research Platforms
    • Chapter overview →
    • Database Interface Explorer
    • Using Databases for Legal Research
    • Database Practice
  • 3 The Question Method of Legal Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • Reverse-Engineering the Question
    • Notice of Claim — Research Sandbox
    • The Research Subway Map
    • Working the Chain — Forward & Reverse
    • Type the Question
  • 4 Secondary Sources Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • The Types of Secondary Sources
    • How to Read a Secondary Source
    • How to Use a Secondary Source
    • Secondary Sources Practice
  • 5 Case Law Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • Cases as a Web of Answers
    • How to Read a Case
    • Run the Citator
    • Case Law Practice
  • 6 Statutes Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • The Life of a Statute
    • How to Find a Statute
    • How to Read a Statute
    • Statutes Practice
  • 7 Regulations and Administrative Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • How to Find a Regulation
    • How to Read a Regulation
    • Regulations Practice
  • 8 Researching Across Sources
    • Chapter overview →
    • Tracing the Law Across Sources
    • Following the Question Trail
    • Across Sources Practice
  • 9 Narrowing and Closing Out Your Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • Building a Precision Search
    • Knowing When to Stop
    • Diagnose the Broken Search
    • Mixed Review — The Diagnostic Moves

Part II · Advanced Legal Research

  • 10 Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Legal Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • Duties Behind the Research
    • Catch the Fabricated Citation
    • The Duty Calls
  • 11 Dockets and Court Document Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • Read the Docket
    • Pull the Right Paper
  • 12 Legislative History Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • Trace the Bill
    • Weigh the History
  • 13 Advanced Administrative Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • Beyond the Rule
    • Weigh the Agency Materials
  • 14 Practice-Specific Research Strategies
    • Chapter overview →
    • Same Cycle, Different Parameters
    • Pick the Parameters
  • 15 GenAI and Legal Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • How the Machine Guesses
    • Verify the AI’s Work
    • Right Tool, Right Question
  • 16 The NextGen Bar Exam and Legal Research
    • Chapter overview →
    • Five Skills, Mapped
    • The Closed Universe
  • 17 Research for Legal Scholarship
    • Chapter overview →

Why It Matters

  • § Why Good Research Matters

Appendices & Glossary

  • A How to Read a Secondary Source
  • B How to Read a Case
  • C How to Read a Statute
  • D How to Read a Regulation
  • G Glossary — Flashcards

Toolkit & Resources

  • T Toolkit & Resources — Templates & Checklists
  • ? How to Navigate the Modules