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1L Legal Research Primer

Researching Statutes a Step by Step Process

Step 1: Identify a Starting Point

  • Determine the relevant jurisdiction and the title and organization of the applicable statutory compilation (Bluebook T1).
  • Identify the appropriate version. You should use the Code, rather than the session laws or slip laws, absent some extraordinary circumstance.
  • Understand whether you are using an official or unofficial/annotated or unannotated Code.

Step 2: Locate the relevant statute(s)

  • Determine the relevant jurisdiction and the title and organization of the applicable statutory compilation (Bluebook T1).
  • Identify the appropriate version. You should use the Code, rather than the session laws or slip laws, absent some extraordinary circumstance.
  • Understand whether you are using an official or unofficial/annotated or unannotated Code.

Tools and Strategies for Finding Relevant Statutes

Index Alphabetical list of topics and the sections where they can be found (print and Westlaw)
Popular Name Table Lists the short titles of statutes and identifies the sections where they can be found (print and electronic; not all codes have tables and not all statutes have popular names)
Table of Contents Lists of all provisions of a code (print and electronic)
Search Use keywords to locate provisions in a code 

Step 3: Put the statute(s) in context

  • Your goal is to understand the law, not to find a single relevant code section. Statutory analysis usually requires consideration of multiple, inter-related code provisions.
  • Check the Table of Contents and review all sections in the same chapter/subchapter of the Code.
    • Look for definitions of key terms.
    • Check for exceptions to general provisions.
  • Review cross-references and annotations.

Step 4: Update your results

  • Statutes are frequently amended, so you must confirm that they are up to date and still good law.
  • Always check the date and the currentness statement (in Lexis or Westlaw) for the statute.
    • An advantage to using is Lexis and WL is that statutes are almost always current.
  • Use Shepard’s or KeyCite (citators) to see whether cases or subsequent legislation potentially affect the validity of the statute.

Look Beyond the Code

  • Use statutory annotations to find relevant cases that interpret a particular statutory provision.  Cases will shed important light on what statutes mean.
  • Use Shepard’s and Key Cite to locate any cases, other statutes, regulations, secondary sources and other materials that cite the statute.