This tutorial module introduces you to creating a General Search with the LexisNexis® Quicklaw research services. Note that you'll also use similar steps to create a search on any of the Content Specific Search forms.

To start your research, enter the terms and phrases related to your research topic in the General Search Form. Use connectors such as "and" and "or" to indicate the relationship between words. For example, the search "contract and illegal" finds documents containing both words, while the search "contract or illegal" finds documents containing either word. To search for a specific phrase, such as "illegal contract", just include a space between the words.

Note that more information on using connectors is easily accessible from the search form - just select the View Connectors link.

Selecting a Source.

After entering your search terms, select the source you wish to use for your search.

To use a source from a previous search, select it from the Source drop-down list on the search form. To learn more about a source, select it in the list, then select the Information icon next to the list.

To select all sources for a content type, such as Cases, select the appropriate box on the search form.

There are other ways to select a source. You'll learn about them in the Selecting Sources module.

When you've created your search, click on the Search button on the search form to run it. The Results page displays your search results, with the number of documents found listed at the top of the page.

After reviewing your search results, you can use the Narrow Search feature to search for more specific documents within the results. Enter the additional search terms in the Narrow Your Search Here box at the top of the Results page. The Narrow Search finds a subset of your original results, based on the additional search terms. To return to your original results list, select the Results tab at the top of the page.

You can save your original search (search terms and sources) to run again in the future by selecting the Save Search link on the Results page. At the Save Search form, enter a name for the search and click on the Save button. The search is saved in your research History – just select the Saved Searches link in the History box on any Search page. You can also set up a Saved Search to run automatically on a schedule that you specify.

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