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WESTLAW Search Shortcuts
Dorraine Zief Law Library
WESTLAW Search Shortcuts
Prepared by Senior Reference Librarian Lee Ryan
Contents
Introduction
Here are shortcuts for performing some of the most common functions and searches
on WESTLAW -- for example, checking citations, retrieving documents by citation,
searching for cases by name, conducting quick California or Federal case law
searches, and searching selected, frequently-used WESTLAW databases. At the
bottom of this page there is also a form for connecting to
any known WESTLAW database, no matter how obscure.
In order to use these shortcuts, you must be an authorized WESTLAW user and
have your own WESTLAW password. (Information on using WESTLAW and LEXIS at the
University of San Francisco Law Library may be found at http://www.usfca.edu/law_library/lxwl.html.
Researchers not affiliated with USF can find WESTLAW
subscription information on WESTLAW's web site.)
For each type of search, after you enter your citation or search terms you
will then be connected directly to WESTLAW on the web. You'll be asked to log
on, then WESTLAW will perform your search and display the results. To return
to this page, sign off WESTLAW and then use the "back" button on your
browser.
If you'd like to connect to WESTLAW directly without using these shortcuts,
go to http://lawschool.westlaw.com/
(for the legal education community) or http://lawschool.westlaw.com/
(for all other subscribers).
[This page is based on code for customizing
Intranets from West Group's WESTLAW
Integration Solutions.]
[Return to Contents]
Check Citations
This form lets you check the status of your case using KeyCite. Just enter
the citation and click KeyCite. (Choose "History Only" to do
a quick check of the status of your case. Choose "Full" to show a
more comprehensive list of cases and documents on WESTLAW that cite your case.)
[Return to Contents]
Find a Document by Citation
This form lets you retrieve any document from WESTLAW using its citation. Just
enter your citation in the blank, and click Find.
[Return to Contents]
Find a Case by Party Name
This link takes you to a form where you enter the party name(s) and narrow
your search by jurisdiction. After you fill in the form, click Search.
Then, sign on to WESTLAW. After you sign on, WESTLAW will run your search and
display any results.
Search for a Case by Title
[Return to Contents]
Quick California Case Search
This form lets you perform a search in the California Cases (Reported) (CA-CSR)
database on WESTLAW. Select a "terms and connectors" or "natural
language" search, type your search terms, and click Search. Then,
sign on to WESTLAW. WESTLAW will perform the search and display your results.
[Return to Contents]
Quick Federal Case Search
This form lets you perform a search in the ALLFEDS (Federal cases after 1944)
database on WESTLAW. Select a "terms and connectors" or "natural
language" search, type your search terms, and click Search. Then,
sign on to WESTLAW. WESTLAW will perform the search and display your results.
[Return to Contents]
Search Selected Federal Case Databases
The pull-down menu below lists selected WESTLAW databases for Federal case
law. First, select any of these databases. Then, select a "terms and connectors"
or "natural language" search, enter your search terms, and click Search.
Once you have signed on to WESTLAW, your search will appear in a search box.
To run it, click "search" again. (If you are already signed on to
WESTLAW your results will be displayed right away.)
(For California law, see Selected California Cases, Statute
& Regulation Databases, below.)
(To see if WESTLAW offers a database not listed below, consult the Westlaw
Database Directory.)
[Return to Contents]
Search Selected Federal Statute/Regulation Databases
The pull-down menu below lists selected WESTLAW databases for Federal statutes
and regulations. First, select any of these databases. Then, select a "terms
and connectors" or "natural language" search, enter your search
terms, and click Search. Once you have signed on to WESTLAW, your search
will appear in a search box. To run it, click "search" again. (If
you are already signed on to WESTLAW your results will be displayed right away.)
(For California law, see Selected California Case, Statute
& Regulation Databases, below.)
(To see if WESTLAW offers a database not listed below, consult the Westlaw
Database Directory.)
[Return to Contents]
Search Selected Secondary Legal Materials
The pull-down menu below lists some useful secondary materials on WESTLAW.
First, select any of these databases. Then, select a "terms and connectors"
or "natural language" search, enter your search terms, and click Search.
Once you have signed on to WESTLAW, your search will appear in a search box.
To run it, click "search" again. (If you are already signed on to
WESTLAW your results will be displayed right away.)
(For California materials, see Selected California Secondary
Materials, below.)
(To see if WESTLAW offers a database not listed below, consult the Westlaw
Database Directory.)
[Return to Contents]
Search Selected California Case, Statute & Regulation
Databases
The pull-down menu below lists some useful California case, statute and regulation
databases on WESTLAW. First, select any of these databases. Then, select a "terms
and connectors" or "natural language" search, enter your search
terms, and click Search. Once you have signed on to WESTLAW, your search
will appear in a search box. To run it, click "search" again. (If
you are already signed on to WESTLAW your results will be displayed right away.)
(To see if WESTLAW offers a database not listed below, consult the Westlaw
Database Directory.)
[Return to Contents]
Search Selected California Secondary Materials
The pull-down menu below lists some useful California secondary material databases
on WESTLAW. First, select any of these databases. Then, select a "terms
and connectors" or "natural language" search, enter your search
terms, and click Search. Once you have signed on to WESTLAW, your search
will appear in a search box. To run it, click "search" again. (If
you are already signed on to WESTLAW your results will be displayed right away.)
(To see if WESTLAW offers a database not listed below, consult the Westlaw
Database Directory.)
[Return to Contents]
Search Selected News Sources
The pull-down menu below lists some useful news databases on WESTLAW. First,
select any of these databases. Then, select a "terms and connectors"
or "natural language" search, enter your search terms, and click Search.
Once you have signed on to WESTLAW, your search will appear in a search box.
To run it, click "search" again. (If you are already signed on to
WESTLAW your results will be displayed right away.)
(To see if WESTLAW offers a database not listed below, consult the Westlaw
Database Directory.)
[Return to Contents]
Search Career/Job-Search Databases
The pull-down menu below lists some career/job-search databases on WESTLAW.
First, select any of these databases. Then, select a "terms and connectors"
or "natural language" search, enter your search terms, and click Search.
Once you have signed on to WESTLAW, your search will appear in a search box.
To run it, click "search" again. (If you are already signed on to
WESTLAW your results will be displayed right away.)
(To see if WESTLAW offers a database not listed below, consult the Westlaw
Database Directory.)
[Return to Contents]
Search for a relevant WESTLAW Database
This form lets you search to see if there is WESTLAW database for the publication
or type of materials you need. Enter a natural language search and click Search.
After you sign on to WESTLAW your search results will be displayed.
[Return to Contents]
Choose & Search Any WESTLAW Database
This form lets you search any WESTLAW database you choose. First, enter the
identifier (name) of the database. Then enter your search and click Go.
After you sign on to WESTLAW, your search will run and WESTLAW will display
your results.
(To see what databases WESTLAW offers, consult the Westlaw
Database Directory.)
[Return to Contents]
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