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CALR. Jan. 27 (week 3) Westlaw Statutory Law. West—Some Basic Concepts. Key number system Key Search Keycite “databases”. [Topic and] Key Number System. West has organized all of American law into over 400 topics and multiple subtopics.
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CALR Jan. 27 (week 3) Westlaw Statutory Law
West—Some Basic Concepts • Key number system • Key Search • Keycite • “databases”
[Topic and] Key Number System • West has organized all of American law into over 400 topics and multiple subtopics. • Cases are read, statements of law extracted, assigned topic and key number and placed in headnotes. • Presentation of Topic and Key number is different in Print, Westlaw Classic and WestlawNext. • Let’s look at print, WestlawNext, Westlaw
Significant enhancements to the WestKey Number System West attorney-editors have reclassified over 300,000 headnotes, creating new Key Number System Topics ELECTION LAW (Topic 142T), EDUCATION (Topic 141E), EXTORTION (Topic 164T), and THREATS, STALKING, AND HARASSMENT (Topic 377E).
Let’s look at WestlawNext • Locate the Pruneyard Case (U.S. Supreme Court ) • Look at West Headnotes • Go to Westlaw Classic (through tools) • Use Find and Print, use find by party name, and locate West Headnotes.
Key Number System On Westlaw Classic • Let’s Browse the West Key Number Digest Outline
Key Numbers • Can be used to hyperlink from headnotes in one case to same headnote in a different case • Can be used as a basis for a KeySearch
KeyCite • Equivalent of Shepards • Used to make sure it’s good law and to find other cases • Cases have “flags” to alert you.
Databases within Westlaw • Several smaller searchable databases are located within Westlaw Classic and WEstlawNext. • Let’s take a look at Westlaw Classic First • Go to home page
Let’s StartDirectory • Click on View Directory (Left panel)
Click on Add a TAb • Upper right hand corner • Add Paralegal, California, Federal and 9th Circuit
Select California Tab • Explore the various databases • Let’s try a case search • Look for a case involving a touch football game (among friends) and the doctrine of assumption of the risk. I think it is a California Supreme Court Case • Use terms and connectors • Then use Natural language
Westlaw Next • Try the same case search • Let’s look at some of the features • Cite • Keycite flag • headnotes
WestlawNext(Federal Statutory Materials) • Statutes and Court Rules; • USCA—United States Code Annotated (a West publication—with annotations) • i.e. 18. U.S.C.A. § 242 (Title 18 section 242) • U.S. Constitution (annotated) • Federal Rules • USCA Materials—VIP: index, popular name table, Constitution (After you select a specific Federal tab.)
WestlawNext ( Federal Regulations) • Code of Federal Regulations • 3 C.F.R. § 102.101 • Materials: Federal Register, Index
WestlawNext (State Legislative Materials) • Statues and Code Rules (select the California link) • Regulations (Select California link)
Searching • Known Code Section: • Template • Table of Contents • Subject matter known • Index/Table of contents • Full text searching • Using fields
Full text searching--Codes • This also requires that you READ the section to see how it answers your question • Let’s try it: Can a dry cleaner charge more for a woman’s shirt than for a man’s in California?
Local • County: Find county Web site for ordinances • www.sccgov.org
Lexis: California Legislative Material • California Tab
LEGISLATIVE INTERNET RESOURCES • Federal • State • Local
Federal • www.law.cornell.edu/ • U.S. Codes • Find the definition of murder • U.S. Constitution • Find the 13th Amendment • Code of Federal Regulations • The Homeland Security Agency • Federal Rules of Evidence • Hearsay defined • Federal Rules of Civil Procedure • Discovery: Duty of disclosure
Federal • http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys • Legislative process • Codes • Define conspiracy • Find 18 U.S.C. § 242 • Congressional bills • Spam Act • Congressional Materials • Congressional record • Internet taxation • Public Laws • Spam
STATE • http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/ • State Constitution: • Bill information • California statutes • CCR • http://ccr.oal.ca.gov/ (do not use www) • California Code of Regulations: regulations that have been formally adopted by state agencies • Agencies have quasi legislative and judicial power, e.g., to suspend a license and/or fine • “quasi” means almost but not quite
Local • www.sanjoseca.gov/