legal.thomsonreuters.com Open in urlscan Pro
2600:9000:2490:7600:1b:b66f:bac0:93a1  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Skip to content
 * Global directoryGlobal directory

 * Product loginsProduct logins
 * Contact usContact us
 * 
 * 

Our Privacy Statement & Cookie Policy

All Thomson Reuters websites use cookies to improve your online experience. They
were placed on your computer when you launched this website. You can change your
cookie settings through your browser.

 * Privacy Statement
 * Cookie Policy

Ok to continue
Thomson Reuters
LEGAL
Clear

SearchLoading



 * Products
   
   
   Products
   
   
   TOP PRODUCTS
   
    * Westlaw
    * Practical Law
    * Panoramic
    * CLEAR
    * Law books
    * All products
   
   Featured
   
   LAW FIRM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
   
   3E is a SaaS practice and financial management platform that connects all
   critical areas of a law firm to streamline tasks and provide timely
   information.
   Learn more
   
 * Solutions
   
   
   Solutions
   
   
   SOLUTIONS
   
    * Streamline legal research
    * Legal guidance
    * Investigate and mitigate risk
    * Simplify litigation
    * Fast-track drafting and contracts
    * Regulation & compliance management
    * All solutions
   
   Featured
   
   SMALL LAW FIRM SOFTWARE AND SOLUTIONS
   
   Practice law, manage your law firm, and grow your practice with our complete
   suite of products.
   Learn more
   
 * Insights
   
   
   Insights
   
   
   INSIGHTS
   
    * Articles
    * White papers
    * Case studies
    * Blog
    * Featured insights
   
   
   POPULAR TOPICS
   
    * Artificial intelligence
    * Big data
    * Data privacy
    * Legal operations
    * Legal news
    * Law firm management

 * Support center
   
   
   Support center
   
 * Try and buy
   
   
   Try and buy
   

Efficiency


BEST PRACTICES TO RAISE THE BAR ON LEGAL RESEARCH WITH WESTLAW EDGE

January 23, 2020 · 5 minute read

Share
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Linkedin
 * Email

January 23, 2020 · 5 minute read

Share
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Linkedin
 * Email

Processes, trends, and expectations are always in flux, and technology so often
drives the changes. Sometimes those changes can turn nearly impossible tasks
into ones that are now feasible. When that happens, a refresh of your routine is
in order. So, whether you’re new to legal research or looking to stay on top of
your game, here are some modern best practices for legal research every attorney
should implement.


1. START WITH A QUICK SCAN OF RELEVANT LAW

There’s a lot of law out there. Reading all of it is simply impossible. Today’s
lawyer in-the-know also turns to synopses, descriptions, and filters to get a
rapid look at the summary and holdings of a case. These tools help winnow out
information that is perhaps related, but not necessarily relevant to your
research. Saving precious time spent digging deep into what could be a dead end.


2. GET INSIGHT INTO CHANGES IN THE LAW

The importance of dealing with up-to-date information is obvious. But looking
past mere awareness of current law, attorneys must take steps to ensure that
they know how it differs from previous versions. Without that context, it’s easy
to misunderstand the current state of the law, and what impact it has on your
case. Fortunately, a historical view is easy with modern legal research tools
such as Statutes Compare and Regulations compare which highlight changes for
quick insights into the past and present.


3. ELIMINATE INVALID CITATIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

Building your case on solid footing is essential to clients. Doing so in a
timely fashion is essential to your bottom line. Top attorneys will use every
tool in their kit to get to work efficiently while maintaining (or improving)
the quality of their work. KeyCite flags in Westlaw Edge immediately indicate
whether anything has been negatively treated in a case so you don’t have to
navigate to the full document. It’s the assurance you need, right within your
search results.


4. USE AI TO SEE BEYOND THE OBVIOUS ISSUES

Legal AI technology has unlocked insights that lawyers of the past could never
see. For example, whether a case may be implicitly undermined based on its
reliance on an overruled or otherwise invalid prior decision. So, while checking
your work with KeyCite was previously good enough, in the years to come, you can
count on a new level of scrutiny on your citations. Ideally, you will be the
first to find those at-risk citations and not your opposing counsel or judge.


5. STRESS-TEST YOUR WORK BEFORE GOING PUBLIC

In the same vein, AI-powered legal research tools have enabled attorneys to
check their work with far more rigor than was previously possible. Using
technology like Quick Check on Westlaw Edge, attorneys are now putting their
legal briefs and documents through the wringer in the safe confines of the
office, before sending them out into the world. Just like spell check, the new
best practice is a simple step that saves you from potential embarrassment – or
worse.


6. USE DATA AND HISTORY TO PLAN YOUR STRATEGY

Think of it this way: The “Moneyball” season when updated data sets
revolutionized major league baseball was 18 years ago. Have you updated your
approach to analytics and strategy yet? With modern access to a trove of data,
Litigation Analytics and Precedent Analytics place real-world information at
your fingertips. Make use of this newly-accessible historical record, to
discover what made cases like yours succeed, or fail, in the past.


7. OPTIMIZE YOUR WORKFLOW

Working smarter, not harder isn’t exactly a groundbreaking idea, but so many of
our days are lost to repetition and rebuilding. The best legal research tools
make this easy for you. Consider saving frequently-run search queries or taking
advantage of the ability to re-run filters from your past using Westlaw Edge.
Similarly, familiarize yourself with the “notes” icon in your documents to
remind yourself of where you left off.

While these actions may not completely change your day, when it comes to
optimizing your own ways of working, little changes do add up over time and
become the standard for legal research. One sure-fire way to stay at your best
is to remain open to new ways of working and to the innovative legal research
tools that enable them.

 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Linkedin
 * Email

 * Artificial Intelligence
 * Efficiency
 * Technology


THE STANDARD FOR LEGAL RESEARCH

Access accurate legal research and comprehensive content on Westlaw for as low
as $97/month.

View plans today


ACT QUICKLY WITH CONFIDENCE

Let our 300 expert attorney-editors keep you up to date on ever-changing laws

Learn more


GET INSIGHTS IN YOUR INBOX

Sign up for a monthly newsletter designed for legal professionals like you

Sign up




RELATED POSTS


HOW LEGAL WORKFLOW AUTOMATION TURNS THOUSANDS OF TASKS INTO ONE

May 23, 2023 · 5 minute read

Share
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Linkedin
 * Email


5 WAYS CFOS CAN TACKLE LAW FIRM CASH FLOW PROBLEMS — AND GET PAID FASTER

May 16, 2023 · 5 minute read

Share
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Linkedin
 * Email


FUND FORMATION: HOW YOUR LAW FIRM CAN DRIVE NEW REVENUE

May 15, 2023 · 5 minute read

Share
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Linkedin
 * Email


MORE ANSWERS


HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP TO BOOST BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY

April 13, 2023 · 5 minute read

Share
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Linkedin
 * Email


OVERCOMING FRAUD SCHEMES AND A BACKLOG OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS

February 16, 2023 · 5 minute read

Share
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Linkedin
 * Email


THE RISKS OF A DISCONNECTED AML/CDD PROCESS

September 22, 2022 · 5 minute read

Share
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Linkedin
 * Email

Clear

SearchLoading


 * Legal products
   * Westlaw
   * Practical Law
   * Practical Law Connect
   * CLEAR
   * Law Books
   * See all products
 * Solutions
   * Legal research
   * Legal know-how
   * Management and growth
   * Litigation
   * Drafting and contracts
   * Risk and investigation
 * Insights
   * Latest
   * Case studies
   * Artificial intelligence
   * Big Data
   * Data privacy
   * FinTech
 * Support
   * Support center
   * Reference attorneys
   * Legal notices
   * About us
   * Contact us
 * Connect
   * Facebook
   * Twitter
   * LinkedIn
   * YouTube

Thomson Reuters
 * Cookie policy
 * Terms of use
 * Privacy statement
 * For CA: Do Not Sell My Info.
 * Copyright
 * Accessibility