UofL Libraries: Legal Skills &amp; Study: Legal Research

Research Guides

Basic Legal Research by Amy E. Sloan
Call Number: KF240.S585 2018
ISBN: 1454894016
Publication Date: 2018
Shelf range: Reserve Section
Clear, step-by-step instruction in the basics of legal research.
Internet Legal Research on a Budget by Carole A. Levitt; Judy K. Davis
Call Number: KF242.A1 D38 2020
ISBN: 9781641056069
Publication Date: 2020
Identifies the best free or low-cost resources online & explains how to use them for legal research.
Kentucky Legal Research by Hilyerd; Metzmeier; Ensign
Call Number: KFK1275 .H55 2017
ISBN: 9781611637076
Publication Date: 2017
Shelf range: Reserve Section
Develops an understanding of basic skills & techniques for finding Kentucky and federal law. A convenient, comprehensive reference guide to Kentucky legal resources.
Legal Research in a Nutshell by Kent Olson
ISBN: 9781636590639
Publication Date: 2021
Shelf range: Reserve Section

Covers research procedures using major online services, free Internet resources & library materials.

Kurt X. Metzmeier Louisville Bar Briefs
A collection of research columns published in the Louisville Bar Briefs by librarian Kurt Metzmeier.
Using the Law Library: A Guide for Educators - Part I: Untangling the Legal System
Article by librarian William Hilyerd providing a guide to understanding the American legal system & finding key materials.
Using the Law Library: A Guide for Educators - Part II: Deciphering Citations & Other Ways of Locating Court Opinions
Article by librarian William Hilyerd providing a guide to understanding citations & finding cases.
Using the Law Library: A Guide for Educators - Part III: Oh, Statute (or Regulation), Where Art Thou?
Article by librarian William Hilyerd providing a guide to finding statutes & regulations.
Using the Law Library: A Guide for Educators: Part IV: Secondary Sources to the Rescue
Article by librarian William Hilyerd providing a guide to major legal secondary sources, with tips to find background on relevant laws.
Using the Law Library: A Guide for Educators Part V: Finding Legal Materials by Topic
Article by librarian William Hilyerd providing a guide to basic search strategies & how to apply them.
Using the Law Library: A Guide for Educators - Part VI: Working With Judicial Opinions and Other Primary Sources
Article by librarian William Hilyerd providing a guide to the types of judicial opinions & their component parts. Highlights ways of identifying whether a legal document is current.

Is is worthwhile to take the time to understand the search systems and functionality in the legal research databases you use most often.

For information about legal research certifications offered by some database vendors, see the certifications tab in this guide.

Search Strategies: Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg Law
UofL Law Library guide to searching Westlaw, Lexis & Bloomberg Law databases.
Bloomberg Law Help
Guides to searching, browsing, and materials.
HeinOnline Help & Training
A Knowledge Base of guides, videos & articles about using the database effectively.
Lexis Support & Training
Videos & guides on search basics, sources, Shepard's, and more.
ProQuest Congressional Guide
E-learning modules, webinars, and other information.
Westlaw Knowledge Center
Students can earn certifications in essential and advanced legal research, or complete individual modules to review specific research skills.

Productive Researcher Portal
Includes a selection of "Free Productivity Tools" useful for researchers.
Microsoft Office 365
Select OneNote to save notes, webpages & screen clips.
[Free for UofL students, faculty & staff.]
CamScanner
Creates high quality document scans using your phone or tablet's built in camera. Quickly take pictures of documents to refer back to later in your research.
[Free with premium service available.]
Evernote
Save notes, track tasks, and clip information found online. Makes saved information accessible across any device.
[Free with premium service available.]