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It’s 5 p.m. and a partner at your firm asks you to research an unfamiliar topic of law. What do you do?
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You’re not sure about the search terms and sources to use for a particular research topic. Where do you start?
You can discover essential legal sources, learn more about diverse topics, pinpoint relevant content and save time with the LexisNexis® Search by Topic. It’s easy and efficient. All you have to do is select a topic that most closely matches what you’re looking for, and we’ll do the rest for you.
Just What You’re Looking For
Traditionally, attorneys begin searches in LexisNexis by choosing a source and entering search terms and date parameters. With LexisNexis Search by Topic, you instead start by choosing from a list of 42 pre-defined topics. From there, you drill down into finer subtopics until you find exactly what you’re looking for. You get significant control over the size of the research net being cast―whether you need to search broad topics (e.g., family law), mid-level topics (parental duties and rights) or very narrow topics (termination of parental rights based on the incarceration of a parent).
Once you’ve found the topic that best addresses your issue, you will be prompted for three additional pieces of information:
Jurisdiction: You can select multiple jurisdictions, including federal.
Sources: Check your selections from a list of the sources most relevant to your search. You can even search multiple content types simultaneously—this is a feature exclusive to Search by Topic.
Search terms: This is optional. Run the search with or without a search term—it’s your choice.
Example
2. Select the Search tab and the by Topic or Headnote secondary tab.
3. Select Civil Procedure and then Class Actions.
4. Click the + sign to expand the hierarchy and click Opt-Out Provisions.
5. In the Jurisdiction pull-down menu, select California.
6. Click the checkboxes to select sources such as:
CA Civil Procedure Cases
CA Cases, Administrative Decisions & Attorney General Opinions, Combined
California Class Actions Practice and Procedure*
California Forms Of Pleading and Practice – Annotated*
California Points & Authorities*
Deskbook on the Management of Complex Civil Litigation*
Federal Litigation Guide*
Matthew Bender® Practice Guide: California Pretrial Civil Procedure*
Matthew Bender® Practice Guide: Federal Pretrial Civil Procedure in California*
Moore's Federal Practice – Civil*
Torts: Mealey's Combined Reports*
US & Canadian Law Reviews, Combined
California State Complex Litigation Briefs and Motions
7. Click OK – Use Selected.
8. Click Search.
*Exclusive to LexisNexis
Even without entering any search terms, you’ll find full analytical coverage with decision points, exceptions, practice tips and factors to be considered, as well as numerous California cases, highly relevant and recent law reviews, briefs, petitions, and Mealey’s™ Litigation Reports covering this topic.
Helpful Tips
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If you don’t want to browse the topic list, you can type in your own search term in the “find a legal topic” box.
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Once you open a topic list, the + button will open additional subtopics in the hierarchy.
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If you’re unsure of what a topic includes, you can click on the "i" button and get a pop-up window with the definition.
Other Sample Searches You May Want to Try: