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How to do legal research in 3 steps

Knowing where to start a difficult legal research project can be a challenge. But if you already understand the basics of legal research, the process can be significantly easier — not to mention quicker.

Solid research skills are crucial to crafting a winning argument. So, whether you are a law school student or a seasoned attorney with years of experience, knowing how to perform legal research is important — including where to start and the steps to follow.

What is legal research, and where do I start? 

Black's Law Dictionary defines legal research as “[t]he finding and assembling of authorities that bear on a question of law." But what does that actually mean? It means that legal research is the process you use to identify and find the laws — including statutes, regulations, and court opinions — that apply to the facts of your case.

In most instances, the purpose of legal research is to find support for a specific legal issue or decision. For example, attorneys must conduct legal research if they need court opinions — that is, case law — to back up a legal argument they are making in a motion or brief filed with the court.

Alternatively, lawyers may need legal research to provide clients with accurate legal guidance . In the case of law students, they often use legal research to complete memos and briefs for class. But these are just a few situations in which legal research is necessary.

Why is legal research hard?

Each step — from defining research questions to synthesizing findings — demands critical thinking and rigorous analysis.

1. Identifying the legal issue is not so straightforward. Legal research involves interpreting many legal precedents and theories to justify your questions. Finding the right issue takes time and patience.

2. There's too much to research. Attorneys now face a great deal of case law and statutory material. The sheer volume forces the researcher to be efficient by following a methodology based on a solid foundation of legal knowledge and principles.

3. The law is a fluid doctrine. It changes with time, and staying updated with the latest legal codes, precedents, and statutes means the most resourceful lawyer needs to assess the relevance and importance of new decisions.

Legal research can pose quite a challenge, but professionals can improve it at every stage of the process . 

Step 1: Key questions to ask yourself when starting legal research

Before you begin looking for laws and court opinions, you first need to define the scope of your legal research project. There are several key questions you can use to help do this.

What are the facts?

Always gather the essential facts so you know the “who, what, why, when, where, and how” of your case. Take the time to write everything down, especially since you will likely need to include a statement of facts in an eventual filing or brief anyway. Even if you don't think a fact may be relevant now, write it down because it may be relevant later. These facts will also be helpful when identifying your legal issue.

What is the actual legal issue?

You will never know what to research if you don't know what your legal issue is. Does your client need help collecting money from an insurance company following a car accident involving a negligent driver? How about a criminal case involving excluding evidence found during an alleged illegal stop?

No matter the legal research project, you must identify the relevant legal problem and the outcome or relief sought. This information will guide your research so you can stay focused and on topic.

What is the relevant jurisdiction?

Don't cast your net too wide regarding legal research; you should focus on the relevant jurisdiction. For example, does your case deal with federal or state law? If it is state law, which state? You may find a case in California state court that is precisely on point, but it won't be beneficial if your legal project involves New York law.

Where to start legal research: The library, online, or even AI?

In years past, future attorneys were trained in law school to perform research in the library. But now, you can find almost everything from the library — and more — online. While you can certainly still use the library if you want, you will probably be costing yourself valuable time if you do.

When it comes to online research, some people start with free legal research options , including search engines like Google or Bing. But to ensure your legal research is comprehensive, you will want to use an online research service designed specifically for the law, such as Westlaw . Not only do online solutions like Westlaw have all the legal sources you need, but they also include artificial intelligence research features that help make quick work of your research

Step 2: How to find relevant case law and other primary sources of law

Now that you have gathered the facts and know your legal issue, the next step is knowing what to look for. After all, you will need the law to support your legal argument, whether providing guidance to a client or writing an internal memo, brief, or some other legal document.

But what type of law do you need? The answer: primary sources of law. Some of the more important types of primary law include:

• Case law, which are court opinions or decisions issued by federal or state courts
• Statutes, including legislation passed by both the U.S. Congress and state lawmakers
• Regulations, including those issued by either federal or state agencies
• Constitutions, both federal and state

Searching for primary sources of law

So, if it's primary law you want, it makes sense to begin searching there first, right? Not so fast. While you will need primary sources of law to support your case, in many instances, it is much easier — and a more efficient use of your time — to begin your search with secondary sources such as practice guides, treatises, and legal articles.

Why? Because secondary sources provide a thorough overview of legal topics, meaning you don't have to start your research from scratch. After secondary sources, you can move on to primary sources of law.

For example, while no two legal research projects are the same, the order in which you will want to search different types of sources may look something like this:

• Secondary sources . If you are researching a new legal principle or an unfamiliar area of the law, the best place to start is secondary sources, including law journals, practice guides , legal encyclopedias, and treatises. They are a good jumping-off point for legal research since they've already done the work for you. As an added bonus, they can save you additional time since they often identify and cite important statutes and seminal cases.
• Case law . If you have already found some case law in secondary sources, great, you have something to work with. But if not, don't fret. You can still search for relevant case law in a variety of ways, including running a search in a case law research tool.

Once you find a helpful case, you can use it to find others. For example, in Westlaw, most cases contain headnotes that summarize each of the case's important legal issues. These headnotes are also assigned a Key Number based on the topic associated with that legal issue. So, once you find a good case, you can use the headnotes and Key Numbers within it to quickly find more relevant case law.

• Statutes and regulations . In many instances, secondary sources and case law list the statutes and regulations relevant to your legal issue. But if you haven't found anything yet, you can still search for statutes and regs online like you do with cases.

Once you know which statute or reg is pertinent to your case, pull up the annotated version on Westlaw. Why the annotated version? Because the annotations will include vital information, such as a list of important cases that cite your statute or reg. Sometimes, these cases are even organized by topic — just one more way to find the case law you need to support your legal argument.

Keep in mind, though, that legal research isn't always a linear process. You may start out going from source to source as outlined above and then find yourself needing to go back to secondary sources once you have a better grasp of the legal issue. In other instances, you may even find the answer you are looking for in a source not listed above, like a sample brief filed with the court by another attorney. Ultimately, you need to go where the information takes you.

Step 3: Make sure you are using ‘good’ law

One of the most important steps with every legal research project is to verify that you are using “good" law — meaning a court hasn't invalidated it or struck it down in some way. After all, it probably won't look good to a judge if you cite a case that has been overruled or use a statute deemed unconstitutional. It doesn't necessarily mean you can never cite these sources; you just need to take a closer look before you do.

The simplest way to find out if something is still good law is to use a legal tool known as a citator, which will show you subsequent cases that have cited your source as well as any negative history, including if it has been overruled, reversed, questioned, or merely differentiated.

For instance, if a case, statute, or regulation has any negative history — and therefore may no longer be good law — KeyCite, the citator on Westlaw, will warn you. Specifically, KeyCite will show a flag or icon at the top of the document, along with a little blurb about the negative history. This alert system allows you to quickly know if there may be anything you need to worry about.

Some examples of these flags and icons include:

• A red flag on a case warns you it is no longer good for at least one point of law, meaning it may have been overruled or reversed on appeal.
• A yellow flag on a case warns that it has some negative history but is not expressly overruled or reversed, meaning another court may have criticized it or pointed out the holding was limited to a specific fact pattern.
• A blue-striped flag on a case warns you that it has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court or the U.S. Court of Appeals.
• The KeyCite Overruling Risk icon on a case warns you that the case may be implicitly undermined because it relies on another case that has been overruled.

Another bonus of using a citator like KeyCite is that it also provides a list of other cases that merely cite your source — it can lead to additional sources you previously didn't know about.

Perseverance is vital when it comes to legal research

Given that legal research is a complex process, it will likely come as no surprise that this guide cannot provide everything you need to know.

There is a reason why there are entire law school courses and countless books focused solely on legal research methodology. In fact, many attorneys will spend their entire careers honing their research skills — and even then, they may not have perfected the process.

So, if you are just beginning, don't get discouraged if you find legal research difficult — almost everyone does at first. With enough time, patience, and dedication, you can master the art of legal research.

Thomson Reuters originally published this article on November 10, 2020.

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120 Law Research Paper Topics

How to choose a topic for your law research paper:.

Business Law Research Paper Topics:

• The impact of intellectual property laws on innovation in the technology industry
• The legal implications of data breaches and cybersecurity in the business sector
• The role of corporate social responsibility in shaping business law and regulations
• The legal challenges of international business transactions and cross-border disputes
• The impact of antitrust laws on competition and market dynamics
• The legal framework for protecting consumer rights in e-commerce
• The legal implications of employee privacy rights in the digital age
• The role of business law in regulating corporate governance and preventing corporate misconduct
• The legal challenges of regulating emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain
• The legal implications of environmental regulations on business operations and sustainability
• The role of business law in promoting fair trade and preventing unfair business practices
• The legal challenges of regulating online platforms and the sharing economy
• The impact of labor laws on employee rights and workplace regulations
• The legal implications of international trade agreements and their impact on domestic businesses
• The role of business law in protecting intellectual property rights in the creative industries

Criminal Law Research Paper Topics:

• The impact of mandatory minimum sentencing laws on the criminal justice system
• The role of forensic evidence in criminal investigations and trials
• The effectiveness of rehabilitation programs in reducing recidivism rates
• The ethical implications of using plea bargaining in criminal cases
• The relationship between mental illness and criminal behavior
• The use of technology in preventing and investigating cybercrimes
• The impact of racial profiling on the criminal justice system
• The legal and ethical considerations of the death penalty
• The role of eyewitness testimony in criminal trials
• The impact of drug policies on crime rates and public health
• The legal and social implications of juvenile justice reform
• The use of DNA evidence in exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals
• The role of criminal law in addressing domestic violence
• The impact of hate crime legislation on preventing and prosecuting hate crimes
• The legal and ethical considerations of surveillance and privacy rights in criminal investigations

International Law Research Paper Topics:

• The impact of international human rights law on state sovereignty
• The role of international criminal law in addressing war crimes and crimes against humanity
• The effectiveness of international environmental law in combating climate change
• The legal implications of cyber warfare in the context of international law
• The challenges and opportunities of international trade law in the era of globalization
• The role of international humanitarian law in protecting civilians during armed conflicts
• The legal framework for the protection of cultural heritage in times of armed conflict
• The legal implications of state-sponsored terrorism under international law
• The role of international law in addressing the refugee crisis and protecting the rights of refugees
• The legal aspects of territorial disputes and the role of international law in resolving them
• The impact of international investment law on foreign direct investment and economic development
• The legal framework for the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights under international law
• The role of international law in addressing transnational organized crime
• The legal implications of the use of force in self-defense under international law
• The challenges and opportunities of international law in regulating emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons

Law Enforcement Research Paper Topics:

• The impact of community policing on crime rates
• Racial profiling and its effects on law enforcement practices
• The use of body-worn cameras in improving police accountability
• The role of technology in modern law enforcement
• The effectiveness of intelligence-led policing in preventing terrorism
• Police use of force: examining policies and training methods
• The relationship between mental health and law enforcement interactions
• The impact of social media on law enforcement investigations
• Police corruption and strategies for prevention
• The role of law enforcement in addressing domestic violence
• The use of predictive policing algorithms in crime prevention
• The challenges and benefits of implementing restorative justice in law enforcement
• The role of law enforcement in combating human trafficking
• The impact of drug decriminalization on law enforcement efforts
• The effectiveness of community-based alternatives to incarceration in reducing recidivism rates

Constitutional Law Research Paper Topics:

• The impact of the First Amendment on freedom of speech in the digital age
• Analyzing the constitutionality of affirmative action policies in higher education
• The role of the Supreme Court in shaping the interpretation of the Second Amendment
• Exploring the constitutionality of warrantless surveillance programs in the United States
• The constitutional implications of the death penalty in the context of cruel and unusual punishment
• Analyzing the constitutionality of presidential executive orders and their limits
• The constitutional rights of non-citizens and the balance between national security and civil liberties
• The impact of the Fourth Amendment on privacy rights in the era of technological advancements
• The constitutionality of restrictions on religious freedom in the United States
• Analyzing the constitutional implications of the war on drugs and its impact on individual rights
• The role of the judiciary in protecting reproductive rights and the constitutionality of abortion laws
• The constitutional implications of the use of military force and executive power in times of war
• Analyzing the constitutionality of campaign finance regulations and their impact on free speech
• The constitutional rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and the evolution of marriage equality
• The balance between national security and civil liberties in the context of surveillance and intelligence gathering

Environmental Law Research Paper Topics:

• The role of international environmental law in addressing climate change
• The effectiveness of environmental impact assessments in ensuring sustainable development
• Legal implications of biodiversity conservation and protection
• The legal framework for regulating pollution from industrial activities
• The role of environmental justice in addressing environmental inequalities
• Legal challenges and opportunities in transitioning to renewable energy sources
• The legal implications of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture
• The role of environmental law in protecting and managing water resources
• Legal frameworks for addressing marine pollution and protecting marine ecosystems
• The legal aspects of waste management and recycling
• The role of environmental law in promoting sustainable urban development
• Legal challenges in regulating and mitigating air pollution
• The legal framework for protecting indigenous rights and traditional knowledge in environmental conservation
• The role of environmental law in addressing deforestation and promoting sustainable forestry practices
• Legal implications of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, in environmental governance

Family Law Research Paper Topics:

• The impact of divorce on children’s mental health
• The role of domestic violence in child custody disputes
• Same-sex marriage and adoption rights: A comparative analysis
• The legal implications of surrogacy and assisted reproductive technologies
• Parental alienation syndrome: Legal and psychological perspectives
• The effectiveness of prenuptial agreements in protecting individual assets
• The legal rights of grandparents in child custody battles
• The impact of substance abuse on child custody determinations
• The legal and ethical considerations of international child abduction cases
• The role of family courts in protecting victims of domestic violence
• The legal implications of cohabitation and common-law relationships
• The impact of social media on divorce proceedings and child custody disputes
• The legal rights of unmarried fathers in child custody cases
• The role of child support in ensuring the financial well-being of children
• The legal and ethical considerations of assisted suicide in cases of terminal illness within families

Employment Law Research Paper Topics:

• Discrimination in the workplace: Analyzing the impact of anti-discrimination laws on employment practices
• The gig economy and its implications for employment law: Examining the legal challenges faced by gig workers
• Workplace harassment and its legal consequences: Investigating the effectiveness of anti-harassment policies
• The role of social media in employment law: Exploring the legal boundaries of monitoring employees’ online activities
• Employee privacy rights in the digital age: Analyzing the balance between employers’ interests and employees’ privacy expectations
• The impact of minimum wage laws on employment rates: Evaluating the economic effects of minimum wage legislation
• Non-compete agreements and their enforceability: Assessing the legal limitations and implications of non-compete clauses
• Workplace safety regulations and their enforcement: Examining the effectiveness of occupational health and safety laws
• The legal implications of workplace drug testing: Analyzing the balance between employers’ interests and employees’ privacy rights
• The rights of employees with disabilities: Investigating the legal obligations of employers to accommodate disabled workers
• Whistleblower protection laws and their effectiveness: Assessing the legal safeguards for employees who report wrongdoing
• The legal implications of employee surveillance: Analyzing the boundaries of workplace monitoring and its impact on employee rights
• Employment contracts and their enforceability: Examining the legal requirements and limitations of employment agreements
• The legal obligations of employers in cases of workplace violence: Investigating the duty of employers to provide a safe working environment
• The impact of technology on employment law: Exploring the legal challenges posed by automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics in the workplace

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230 Law Research Paper Topics to Write About

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When it comes to legal topics for research papers, students have plenty of options. Whether you're interested in exploring issues related to criminal, corporate, or constitutional law, there are many topics from which you can choose. The first step is the selection of a subject that you find exciting and engaging. This part will provide the foundation for excellent law research paper topics. Students need to understand law topics they can work on by exploring what a perfect legal research topic covers. In this article by our law essay writing service , we provide engaging, easy, unique, and trending legal topics to help you choose one which fits your interests. We have also classified different legal topics into their respective branches: business, banking, finance, civil rights, constitutional, corporate, criminal, international, education, immigration, entertainment, employment, family, environmental and animal laws. This post will act as a stepping stone to writing a successful paper in any of these legal fields. Let us begin by understanding legal research paper topics.

What Are Legal Research Paper Topics

Legal research paper topics focus on analyzing and interpreting laws and their historical development. The papers will look into legal issues, including constitutional, criminal, civil rights, labor, international, and environmental laws. These topics can provide an exciting and essential lens through which you can analyze and discuss various policies. Such knowledge is crucial in helping students identify changes that a country has gone through over time, develop an understanding of the legal system, and build solid arguments on legal issues. You will need to identify how to select a topic for your paper, which is why our professional paper writers suggest searching for legal topics for research paper thoroughly before you begin writing.

What Makes a Good Legal Research Topic?

Good law research paper topics can be framed around a legal issue, case study, or legislative development. You want to select an excellent legal research topic that meets the following criteria:

• Relevance: The topic should be relevant to current events, policies, or practices.
• Uniqueness: Choose a unique and interesting topic so your research will stand out from the rest.
• Manageable scope: Ensure you select an area with adequate learning resources for the intended project.
• Accessibility: Ensure that you can easily access resources related to the topic.
• Practicality: Select a topic that can be applied to real-world scenarios.
• Clarity of purpose: Identify the goal of your research and make sure your chosen topic aligns with it.
• Accountability: Choose a topic where research results can be verified and replicated.
• Sustainability: Consider the long-term implications of the chosen topic to ensure it will be relevant in the future.

How to Choose Topics in Law?

In the process of selecting law topics , it is essential to consider a personal purpose for which you are writing. For example, are you looking to inform, explore, or argue a position? Once you have identified the goal, you can choose an appropriate topic more easily.

Step 1:  Start familiarizing yourself with relevant acts and legislations as well as legal concepts through internet and library research. This will help you narrow your focus while identifying a potential topic.

Step 2:  Do extensive research to determine current legal issues related to your topic. Use various sources such as books, newspapers, magazines, websites, databases, etc.

Step 3:  Make sure you select an area or concept that is manageable in scope and has enough resources for your intended project.

Step 4:  Think of how you can make your topic more exciting or unique. Questions that should be considered include "What point of view could I take?" or "How can I approach the topic differently?"

Step 5:  Brainstorm and develop a list of possible law research topics to choose from. Once you have identified several potential issues, evaluate them based on your research to determine which topic you should select.

Properly following these steps, you can find a good law research paper topic that is interesting and relevant to the specific field. In case you require expert assistance with the writing process upon topic selection, feel free to approach our academic writing service. Our writers are well-versed in different fields, including law, and can produce outstanding studies upon ‘ write my research paper for me ’ request.

Law Research Paper Topics

Law project topics allow students to choose from matters related to legal issues. These topics are often comprehensive in scope and require extensive research for the student to make a convincing argument in their papers. Look at this list of potential law research paper topics that students can use to write their essays:

• Right of self-defense in the United States.
• Immigration regulations and their impact on society.
• Use of DNA evidence in criminal justice systems.
• Anti-discrimination regulations in different countries.
• Intellectual property rights protection in the digital age.
• Cybercrime and its impact on businesses.
• Impact of tax laws on companies.
• Freedom of expression in the media.
• Juvenile justice: a comparison across different countries.
• Corporate social responsibility and its effect on business reputation.
• Human rights versus national security.
• Use of technology in law enforcement.
• International trade and its impact on globalization.
• Social media censorship regulations.
• Human trafficking as a modern form of slavery.

Interesting Legal Topics

Different students have different interests, and legal topics are no exception. Your own ideas can be an excellent starting point for you to decide which path to take for the research. Below are some interesting law topics we have written for you to choose from:

• Worldwide legal systems: structures, history, principles, and processes.
• Legal theory and its implications in genetics.
• Legal developments in technology, including implications and trends.
• Legal concepts between countries, including similarities and differences in systems and principles.
• Legal effects in cyber security and liabilities associated with data protection.
• Legal issues related to gender equality.
• Legal developments in international human rights and legal obligations.
• Legal frameworks and regulations governing environmental protection.
• Legal issues related to corporate governance and protections for shareholders.
• Developments in labor laws , including theories of worker protection.
• Legal frameworks driving international trade and underlying economic regulation principles.
• Legal concepts related to intellectual property and rewards for innovators.
• Legal issues pertaining to constitutional regulations and implications of executive power.
• Legal developments in taxation and obligations concerning taxes imposed by the government.
• Theories developed through legal precedents and decisions from various jurisdictions.

Trending Legal Topics

Today, with changes in laws, technology, and other factors altering the legal aspect of everyday life, we find a significant number of trends that affect legal decisions. Students are looking for great topic ideas for law research paper that will help them connect their essays to everyday changes and attain a good grade. Whether it's a recent legal issue or an emerging topic law, there is plenty of material available to explore when looking for a topic to write about. Please see some current law topics that may inspire your next research paper:

• Impact of social media on legal decision-making.
• Proposals to overhaul immigration regulations.
• Drone regulations and their implications on companies' investment in technology.
• Growing influence of artificial intelligence on the legal profession.
• Digital copyright laws and their impact on innovation.
• The role of genetics in criminal justice proceedings.
• Impact of climate change on international regulations.
• Pros and cons of legalizing recreational marijuana.
• Differences between state and federal regulations regarding gun control.
• How technology is changing the legal practice.
• Privacy issues in the workplace.
• Recent changes in tax laws and their impact.
• Role of technology in criminal trials.
• Impact of social media on employment regulations.
• Growing use of alternative dispute resolution methods in the legal system.

Unique Law Research Topic

Uniqueness is everything for students in research papers since an outstanding topic can be a stepping stone to scoring high grades. If you are looking for law paper topics that will grab your reader's attention while still attracting the professor's interest, look no further. We have compiled a list of 15 unique topics for law research paper as an easy way to get you started:

• The impact of corporate social responsibility in legal settings.
• Online privacy and cybersecurity: challenges and regulations.
• Legal implications of artificial intelligence development.
• The role of cybercrime in a digital age.
• An analysis of international human rights policies.
• Environmental regulations and their implications for global sustainability.
• The importance of the fourth amendment in the United States constitution.
• An analysis of the impact of tax laws on businesses.
• The role of technology in criminal law enforcement.
• Exploring the implications of intellectual property laws.
• The use of social media and its effects on privacy rules and regulations.
• Regulations governing cryptocurrency markets.
• Data protection regulations: a global analysis.
• Drug regulations and their impact on society.
• Exploring the role of international humanitarian code in conflict resolution.

These topics will surely get you started on an intriguing research paper! With their help, you will write a captivating essay to engage and inform your readers.

Easy Legal Topics for Research Papers

Choosing easy legal paper topics can help you develop a practical as well as an efficient research paper for your studies. However, students studying law-related courses can find it challenging to pick suitable legal topics for research paper. To make this task easier, here are some issues you can choose from to write an excellent law paper:

• Should the death penalty be banned?
• Acts regulating cyber crime.
• The right to privacy and digital security.
• Legal principles of animal protection.
• The role of the U.S. justice system in protecting the mentally ill.
• The impact of international conventions on national laws.
• Freedom of expression and censorship issues.
• Defining hate speech.
• Access to authorized services for underprivileged groups.
• Is domestic violence a private matter or a public issue?
• Drug abuse among juveniles and the role of the justice system.
• Ethical issues in medical law.
• Laws affecting refugees and asylum seekers.
• Human rights violations in war-torn countries.
• Efforts by the legal system to counter cybercrime.

Best Legal Research Topics in Different Law Branches

Law has a range of branches from which students can select ideas for their papers. Legal research topics for law students can be pretty challenging, especially when your professor requires you to tackle a topic in a specific branch. Branches for law topics to use in legal research paper highlighted in this blog include laws in business, banking and finance, civil rights, constitutional, corporate, criminal, international, immigration, education, entertainment, employment, family, environmental, and animal law topics. See below for the specialized categories of law topics for essays.

Business Law Topics for Research Papers

Business law forms the foundation for modern legal studies, providing frameworks that govern businesses and corporate operations. The business law research paper topics you select should be highly relevant to business and legal frameworks. Here are some legal topics to write about:

• Different business contracts and their legal implications.
• Business strategies for protecting intangible property rights.
• The role of corporate boards in business decision-making processes.
• Code of conduct for federal employees: rights and responsibilities.
• Businesses' responsibilities in recognizing as well as enforcing collective bargaining agreements.
• Business regulations limiting companies' ability to engage in anti-competitive practices.
• Legal considerations for corporate consolidation business deals.
• Business regulations when conducting business across borders.
• The moral implications of business decisions and policies.
• The importance of business regulations for organizations and institutions.

Find more  business law topics for research paper  by browsing one more blog.

Banking and Finance Law Topics

The banking sector is crucial for our economic system, and banking laws are vital to its proper functioning. Banks and financial organizations help us store, exchange, and manage money, and students in the banking and finance law field learn the regulations governing these activities. Let us look at these ten banking and finance law research topics that you can choose from:

• The impact of new technologies on financial regulations.
• Regulatory responses to banking crises around the world.
• How usury laws affect interest rates and redit accessibility.
• An analysis of recent bank mergers and aquisitions.
• Investigating a link between financial stability and monetary policy.
• An analysis of banking secrecy laws in different countries.
• The impact of money laundering regulations on financial systems.
• How terrorism financing regulations affect bank security.
• A comparative study of consumer protection laws in banking systems.
• Examining the effects of tax havens on the global banking system.

>> View more: Financial Research Topics

Civil Rights Topics of Law

The civil rights movement and the laws that followed have had a lasting impact on our lives today. Many of these issues remain relevant, so it is essential to research civil rights topics better to understand the complexities as well as implications of civil rights. Here are ten civil rights research paper topics to help you get started:

• The civil rights movement and its legacy.
• The role of civil disobedience in civil rights reform.
• Voting rights and racial discrimination.
• Education equality through civil rights regulations.
• Limitations to civil liberties within the bill of rights.
• Civil rights protection for LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Immigration laws and civil rights violations.
• Racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
• Women's civil rights issues.
• The role of civil engagement in civil rights reform.

Constitutional Law Research Paper Topics

Constitutional law is a complex and fascinating field of study that examines how constitutional rights are enforced, interpreted, as well as applied in different jurisdictions. Provided legal essay topics are an excellent starting point. If you're looking for constitutional law topics for research papers to write about, here are some ideas to get you started:

• The role of the Supreme Court in protecting constitutional rights.
• How states can limit constitutional rights and the applicability of constitutional principles to state regulations.
• The implications of constitutional amendments on protection for vulnerable populations.
• Examine the constitutional right to privacy in relation to technology and data collection practices.
• The constitutional framework for constitutional protections of religious freedom.
• The protection of constitutional rights in the context of police searches and seizures.
• An analysis of constitutional laws regarding the right to bear arms and gun control regulations across different states.
• Examine constitutional protections for freedom of speech and the implications of hate speech laws.
• The constitutional framework for reproductive rights, including access to abortion services.
• An exploration of constitutional regulations on voting rights and electoral integrity in different jurisdictions.

Combine this area with some historical facts for example. History research paper topics  that we created for students may help. 

Corporate Law Paper Topics

Research in corporate law can provide insight into the structure that shapes corporate entities, their operations, as well as corporate accountability. Here are ten corporate law research paper topics to consider for your next research project:

• How does corporate social responsibility (CSR) affect corporate performance?
• What systems are in place to ensure corporate accountability?
• Impact of financial regulation on corporate compliance and risk management.
• The legal implications of corporate mergers & acquisitions activities.
• Role of contract laws in governing corporate agreements.
• How does corporate tax law influence corporate decisions?
• Legal protections for corporate I.P. rights.
• Types of corporate fraud and misconduct and available remedies.
• Corporate law considerations for multinational corporate entities.
• Corporate securities regulation and its implications for corporate activity.

Criminal Law Topics for Essays

Criminal law focuses on studying the implications of criminal behavior and activities. These law research paper topics list can help you find a clear direction for criminal essays. Criminologists in practice and students can choose from the list of legal topics for essay we have outlined below:

• Criminal justice reform impact on indigenous people.
• How does the justice system treat people of different backgrounds and identity?
• Impact of immigration on criminal activity.
• Cybercrime: an analysis of law enforcement practices.
• Exploring sentencing policies for juvenile offenders.
• Assessing the effectiveness of restorative justice processes.
• Defense strategies in criminal trials.
• Role of media representations in shaping perceptions of crime.
• Future of capital punishment as a deterrent for serious crimes.
• The impact of dna technologies on criminal investigations and prosecutions.

>> Read more: Criminal Justice Research Paper Topics

International Law Research Topics

You can brainstorm different legal research questions from the branch of international law to help you choose one to focus on. This field covers international agreements, organizations, dispute resolution, as well as criminal justice issues. This makes it a wide-ranging body of research with many potential areas of study. Here are ten international topics for research papers to consider:

• The impact of globalization on international trade.
• How do international organizations contribute to peacekeeping and conflict resolution?
• How the law of the sea affects maritime disputes.
• How do international regulations protect global environmental resources?
• Organizations' role in establishing international legal norms.
• Legal obligations ensuring fair international trade.
• Laws and their role in addressing international criminal activity.
• Challenges arising from attempts to enforce international law in the developing countries.
• What is the importance of international law?
• Laws providing international protection to refugees.

Immigration Law Topics for Research Paper

Globalization has helped create a diverse population in many countries but intensified immigration. Exploring the following law research paper ideas will help you pick a good topic for your paper. Here are ten immigration law research paper topics to get you started:

• Immigration law and human rights.
• Challenges of establishing immigration regulations in the U.S.
• Immigration policy role in fighting terrorism.
• Unauthorized immigrants' impact on local economies.
• Refugee protection under international law .
• Family-based immigration policies.
• Challenges faced by immigrant students in K-12 education.
• The legality of immigration detention.
• Rights and responsibilities of undocumented workers.
• Impact of immigration regulations impact on national security.

Education Law Topics for Legal Research Papers

The legal field of education examines issues related to educational institutions as well as students themselves. It covers student rights, teacher/staff responsibilities, disciplinary procedures, school safety, harassment, and funding. You will definitely find education law fascinating after reading through these topics, which also gives you a chance to choose one topic that interests you most. Here are ten legal writing topics to explore in this field:

• The legal rights of school administrators and teachers.
• Student legal rights in disciplinary actions.
• Legal requirements for special education students.
• Parental legal rights and responsibilities in school matters.
• Legal aspects of student privacy issues in classrooms and online.
• Legal issues related to the use of technology in schools.
• Legal issues related to school safety and security.
• Legal implications of religious expression in public schools.
• Legal aspects of the No Child Left Behind act.
• Legal requirements for student access to educational resources.

There is one more blog in our library that will provide you with more ideas in this field. Browse different research questions on education and come up with something interesting. 

Entertainment Law Research Topics

Entertainment law covers the connection between entertainment, intellectual property rights, and business. Students need to have several law research paper topic ideas to explore legal issues surrounding entertainment. Here are ten entertainment law essay topics to explore:

• Impact of digital music streaming on copyright rules and regulations.
• Importance of privacy rights in social media.
• Legal implications of celebrity endorsements.
• Overview of film production agreements.
• Music publishers' role in the entertainment industry.
• A study of intellectual property rights and the impact on organizational creativity.
• Regulation of online gaming platforms from a legal perspective.
• Role of trademark regulation in sports broadcasting.
• How to protect a brand in entertainment industry from unauthorized use.
• Consumer protection laws and their impact on the music industry.

Employment Law Research Paper Topics

Writing a research paper on employment law provides an opportunity to explore current areas related to employment rights and responsibilities. The following are some potential employment law paper topics:

• The history and development of employment regulation in the U.S.
• Employment discrimination laws and their efficacy in reducing workplace discrimination.
• How employment laws affect contract negotiations.
• A comparison between employment regulations in the united states and other countries.
• State employment rules and their impact on employment practices.
• Legal implications of employment-at-will.
• Employment law and the impact of recent employment legislation.
• How employment code have changed over time to address employment disputes.
• The relationship between employment law and employment unions.
• How employment regulations have evolved to address remote employment arrangements.

Family Law Legal Topics to Write About

In everyday life, family law deals with relationships between family members, including marriage, adoption, and child custody. It covers various issues, from divorce to prenuptial agreements. If you are looking for legal topics for research paper in family law to write about, here are some suggestions:

• Legal process of adoption and its implications.
• Parent's rights in a divorce.
• Legal aspects of prenuptial agreements.
• Post-divorce legal issues: alimony, child custody, and visitation rights.
• Regulations governing surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology.
• Financial responsibilities during a divorce or separation.
• Legal rights of same-sex couples in adoption and divorce.
• Legal implications of domestic abuse.
• Grandparent visitation rights after divorce.
• Legal process of estate planning and inheritance in family law cases.

Environmental Law Research Paper Topics

Environmental law focuses on studying as well as implementing important environmental regulations, such as pollution control or wildlife conservation. These environmental research paper topics can guide writing an essay that will definitely help you get a good grade. Here are ten potential legal research paper topics to explore in this field:

• Global warming: legal implications in developed countries.
• Environmental regulations impact on private property.
• An analysis of the EPA's regulation of air quality.
• International regulations role in combating marine pollution.
• An examination of endangered species legislation.
• A comparison between the U.S. and E.U. environmental regulations.
• Economic implications of carbon taxes.
• An evaluation of international efforts to combat climate change.
• A study of U.S. environmental regulations and their impact on businesses.
• The use of international courts for resolving disputes related to the environment.

Animal Law Topics to Research

Animal law is increasingly gaining attention as animal rights lawyers and activists fight for recognition in the justice system. We consider animals an essential part of nature, and their protection has become vital. With this growing interest, research papers are becoming more popular among students as well as animal advocates. To help you get started on your animal law research paper topics, here is a list to explore:

• Animal sentience and its implications for animal law.
• Legal recognition of animal rights.
• Current status of animal welfare practices in the U.S.
• International animal protection laws and regulations.
• Judicial decisions on an animal cruelty case.
• Effectiveness of animal rights advocacy groups.
• Animal experimentation: ethical considerations and legal implications.
• What is the impact of the animal rights movement on society?
• The role of animal law in environmental protection.
• Animal hoarding and the legal consequences of owning multiple animals.

Final Thoughts on Law & Legal Topics for Research Papers

When it comes to legal research paper topics, there is no shortage of ideas. From criminal and civil laws to international issues, the legal field presents a wide range of potential topics for your research paper. Be sure to narrow down your topic to ensure that you can adequately cover the issue you are writing about in your essay. Additionally, consulting resources, including scholarly articles, is important as you conduct your research. Doing so will help ensure that your paper provides adequate as well as accurate information. With the right law research topic, you can write an effective as well as engaging essay to help you stand out in the profession.

Contact our professional writing service and get help with research paper writing from academic pros. Our experts have solid experience in academic writing and always deliver papers beyond expectations. 

Joe Eckel is an expert on Dissertations writing. He makes sure that each student gets precious insights on composing A-grade academic writing.

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Legal Research Strategy

Preliminary analysis, organization, secondary sources, primary sources, updating research, identifying an end point, getting help, about this guide.

This guide will walk a beginning researcher though the legal research process step-by-step. These materials are created with the 1L Legal Research & Writing course in mind. However, these resources will also assist upper-level students engaged in any legal research project.

How to Strategize

Legal research must be comprehensive and precise.  One contrary source that you miss may invalidate other sources you plan to rely on.  Sticking to a strategy will save you time, ensure completeness, and improve your work product. 

Follow These Steps

Running Time: 3 minutes, 13 seconds.

Make sure that you don't miss any steps by using our:

• Legal Research Strategy Checklist

If you get stuck at any time during the process, check this out:

• Ten Tips for Moving Beyond the Brick Wall in the Legal Research Process, by Marsha L. Baum

Understanding the Legal Questions

A legal question often originates as a problem or story about a series of events. In law school, these stories are called fact patterns. In practice, facts may arise from a manager or an interview with a potential client. Start by doing the following:

• Read anything you have been given
• Analyze the facts and frame the legal issues
• Assess what you know and need to learn
• Note the jurisdiction and any primary law you have been given
• Generate potential search terms

Jurisdiction

Legal rules will vary depending on where geographically your legal question will be answered. You must determine the jurisdiction in which your claim will be heard. These resources can help you learn more about jurisdiction and how it is determined:

• Legal Treatises on Jurisdiction
• LII Wex Entry on Jurisdiction

This map indicates which states are in each federal appellate circuit:

Getting Started

Once you have begun your research, you will need to keep track of your work. Logging your research will help you to avoid missing sources and explain your research strategy. You will likely be asked to explain your research process when in practice. Researchers can keep paper logs, folders on Westlaw or Lexis, or online citation management platforms.

Organizational Methods

Tracking with paper or excel.

Many researchers create their own tracking charts.  Be sure to include:

• Search Date
• Topics/Keywords/Search Strategy
• Citation to Relevant Source Found
• Save Locations
• Follow Up Needed

Consider using the following research log as a starting place: 

• Sample Research Log

Tracking with Folders

Westlaw and Lexis offer options to create folders, then save and organize your materials there.

• Lexis Advance Folders
• Westlaw Edge Folders

Tracking with Citation Management Software

For long term projects, platforms such as Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley, or Refworks might be useful. These are good tools to keep your research well organized. Note, however, that none of these platforms substitute for doing your own proper Bluebook citations. Learn more about citation management software on our other research guides:

• Guide to Zotero for Harvard Law Students by Harvard Law School Library Research Services Last Updated Sep 12, 2023 225 views this year

Types of Sources

There are three different types of sources: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary.  When doing legal research you will be using mostly primary and secondary sources.  We will explore these different types of sources in the sections below.

Secondary sources often explain legal principles more thoroughly than a single case or statute. Starting with them can help you save time.

Secondary sources are particularly useful for:

• Learning the basics of a particular area of law
• Understanding key terms of art in an area
• Identifying essential cases and statutes

Consider the following when deciding which type of secondary source is right for you:

• Scope/Breadth
• Depth of Treatment
• Currentness/Reliability

For a deep dive into secondary sources visit:

• Secondary Sources: ALRs, Encyclopedias, Law Reviews, Restatements, & Treatises by Catherine Biondo Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 3844 views this year

Legal Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Legal dictionaries.

Legal dictionaries are similar to other dictionaries that you have likely used before.

• Black's Law Dictionary
• Ballentine's Law Dictionary

Legal Encyclopedias

Legal encyclopedias contain brief, broad summaries of legal topics, providing introductions and explaining terms of art. They also provide citations to primary law and relevant major law review articles.  

Here are the two major national encyclopedias:

• American Jurisprudence (AmJur) This resource is also available in Westlaw & Lexis .
• Corpus Juris Secundum (CJS)

Treatises are books on legal topics.  These books are a good place to begin your research.  They provide explanation, analysis, and citations to the most relevant primary sources. Treatises range from single subject overviews to deep treatments of broad subject areas.

It is important to check the date when the treatise was published. Many are either not updated, or are updated through the release of newer editions.

To find a relevant treatise explore:

• Legal Treatises by Subject by Catherine Biondo Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 2792 views this year

American Law Reports (ALR)

American Law Reports (ALR) contains in-depth articles on narrow topics of the law. ALR articles, are often called annotations. They provide background, analysis, and citations to relevant cases, statutes, articles, and other annotations. ALR annotations are invaluable tools to quickly find primary law on narrow legal questions.

This resource is available in both Westlaw and Lexis:

• American Law Reports on Westlaw (includes index)
• American Law Reports on Lexis

Law Reviews & Journals

Law reviews are scholarly publications, usually edited by law students in conjunction with faculty members. They contain both lengthy articles and shorter essays by professors and lawyers. They also contain comments, notes, or developments in the law written by law students. Articles often focus on new or emerging areas of law and may offer critical commentary. Some law reviews are dedicated to a particular topic while others are general. Occasionally, law reviews will include issues devoted to proceedings of panels and symposia.

Law review and journal articles are extremely narrow and deep with extensive references. 

To find law review articles visit:

• Law Journal Library on HeinOnline
• Law Reviews & Journals on LexisNexis
• Law Reviews & Journals on Westlaw

Restatements

Restatements are highly regarded distillations of common law, prepared by the American Law Institute (ALI). ALI is a prestigious organization comprised of judges, professors, and lawyers. They distill the "black letter law" from cases to indicate trends in common law. Resulting in a “restatement” of existing common law into a series of principles or rules. Occasionally, they make recommendations on what a rule of law should be.

Restatements are not primary law. However, they are considered persuasive authority by many courts.

Restatements are organized into chapters, titles, and sections.  Sections contain the following:

• a concisely stated rule of law,
• comments to clarify the rule,
• hypothetical examples,
• explanation of purpose, and
• exceptions to the rule  

To access restatements visit:

• American Law Institute Library on HeinOnline
• Restatements & Principles of the Law on LexisNexis
• Restatements & Principles of Law on Westlaw

Primary Authority

Primary authority is "authority that issues directly from a law-making body."   Authority , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).   Sources of primary authority include:

• Constitutions
• Statutes 

Regulations

Access to primary legal sources is available through:

• Bloomberg Law
• Free & Low Cost Alternatives

Statutes (also called legislation) are "laws enacted by legislative bodies", such as Congress and state legislatures.  Statute , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).

We typically start primary law research here. If there is a controlling statute, cases you look for later will interpret that law. There are two types of statutes, annotated and unannotated.

Annotated codes are a great place to start your research. They combine statutory language with citations to cases, regulations, secondary sources, and other relevant statutes. This can quickly connect you to the most relevant cases related to a particular law. Unannotated Codes provide only the text of the statute without editorial additions. Unannotated codes, however, are more often considered official and used for citation purposes.

For a deep dive on federal and state statutes, visit:

• Statutes: US and State Codes by Mindy Kent Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 2298 views this year
• 50 State Surveys

Want to learn more about the history or legislative intent of a law?  Learn how to get started here:

• Legislative History Get an introduction to legislative histories in less than 5 minutes.
• Federal Legislative History Research Guide

Regulations are rules made by executive departments and agencies. Not every legal question will require you to search regulations. However, many areas of law are affected by regulations. So make sure not to skip this step if they are relevant to your question.

To learn more about working with regulations, visit:

• Administrative Law Research by AJ Blechner Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 465 views this year

Case Basics

In many areas, finding relevant caselaw will comprise a significant part of your research. This Is particularly true in legal areas that rely heavily on common law principles.

Running Time: 3 minutes, 10 seconds.

Unpublished Cases

Up to  86% of federal case opinions are unpublished. You must determine whether your jurisdiction will consider these unpublished cases as persuasive authority. The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure have an overarching rule, Rule 32.1  Each circuit also has local rules regarding citations to unpublished opinions. You must understand both the Federal Rule and the rule in your jurisdiction.

• Federal and Local Rules of Appellate Procedure 32.1 (Dec. 2021).
• Type of Opinion or Order Filed in Cases Terminated on the Merits, by Circuit (Sept. 2021).

Each state also has its own local rules which can often be accessed through:

• State Bar Associations
• State Courts Websites

First Circuit

• First Circuit Court Rule 32.1.0

Second Circuit

• Second Circuit Court Rule 32.1.1

Third Circuit

• Third Circuit Court Rule 5.7

Fourth Circuit

• Fourth Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Fifth Circuit

• Fifth Circuit Court Rule 47.5

Sixth Circuit

• Sixth Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Seventh Circuit

• Seventh Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Eighth Circuit

• Eighth Circuit Court Rule 32.1A

Ninth Circuit

• Ninth Circuit Court Rule 36-3

Tenth Circuit

• Tenth Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Eleventh Circuit

• Eleventh Circuit Court Rule 32.1

D.C. Circuit

• D.C. Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Federal Circuit

• Federal Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Finding Cases

Headnotes show the key legal points in a case. Legal databases use these headnotes to guide researchers to other cases on the same topic. They also use them to organize concepts explored in cases by subject. Publishers, like Westlaw and Lexis, create headnotes, so they are not consistent across databases.

Headnotes are organized by subject into an outline that allows you to search by subject. This outline is known as a "digest of cases." By browsing or searching the digest you can retrieve all headnotes covering a particular topic. This can help you identify particularly important cases on the relevant subject.

Running Time: 4 minutes, 43 seconds.

Each major legal database has its own digest:

• Topic Navigator (Lexis)
• Key Digest System (Westlaw)

Start by identifying a relevant topic in a digest.  Then you can limit those results to your jurisdiction for more relevant results.  Sometimes, you can keyword search within only the results on your topic in your jurisdiction.  This is a particularly powerful research method.

One Good Case Method

After following the steps above, you will have identified some relevant cases on your topic. You can use good cases you find to locate other cases addressing the same topic. These other cases often apply similar rules to a range of diverse fact patterns.

• in Lexis click "More Like This Headnote"
• in Westlaw click "Cases that Cite This Headnote"

to focus on the terms of art or key words in a particular headnote. You can use this feature to find more cases with similar language and concepts.  ​

Ways to Use Citators

A citator is "a catalogued list of cases, statutes, and other legal sources showing the subsequent history and current precedential value of those sources.  Citators allow researchers to verify the authority of a precedent and to find additional sources relating to a given subject." Citator , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).

Each major legal database has its own citator.  The two most popular are Keycite on Westlaw and Shepard's on Lexis.

• Keycite Information Page
• Shepard's Information Page

Making Sure Your Case is Still Good Law

This video answers common questions about citators:

For step-by-step instructions on how to use Keycite and Shepard's see the following:

• Shepard's Video Tutorial
• Shepard's Handout
• Shepard's Editorial Phrase Dictionary
• KeyCite Video Tutorial
• KeyCite Handout
• KeyCite Editorial Phrase Dictionary

Using Citators For

Citators serve three purposes: (1) case validation, (2) better understanding, and (3) additional research.

Case Validation

Is my case or statute good law?

• Parallel citations
• Prior and subsequent history
• Negative treatment suggesting you should no longer cite to holding.

Better Understanding

Has the law in this area changed?

• Later cases on the same point of law
• Positive treatment, explaining or expanding the law.
• Negative Treatment, narrowing or distinguishing the law.

Track Research

Who is citing and writing about my case or statute?

• Secondary sources that discuss your case or statute.
• Cases in other jurisdictions that discuss your case or statute.

Knowing When to Start Writing

For more guidance on when to stop your research see:

• Terminating Research, by Christina L. Kunz

Automated Services

Automated services can check your work and ensure that you are not missing important resources. You can learn more about several automated brief check services.  However, these services are not a replacement for conducting your own diligent research .

• Automated Brief Check Instructional Video

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• Last Updated: Sep 21, 2023 2:56 PM
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190 Unique Law Research Topics for Students to Consider

Table of Contents

If you are a law student, then obviously as a part of your studies you must write an excellent academic paper on any top law research topics. Right now, do you want to write a brilliant law research paper? Are you searching for the best law research topic ideas? If yes, then continue reading this blog post and get interesting law topics for your academic writing.

Law Research Paper Writing

A law research paper is a type of research paper that focuses on any legal topic in the world. The legal topics are nothing but the topic that deals with the legal issues that are resolved in the court.

In general, every country will have its own legal regulations and policies. More commonly, the basic rights and humanity will be the same for all the countries in the world, but specifically, you need to consider the cultural and historical peculiarities of a country while writing a law research paper.

Remember, the law is a sensitive subject and hence, when writing legal research papers, utmost care should be given. You shouldn’t add too much philosophy to it. Your research paper should answer your law essay topics properly with pure black-and-white facts.

You may think that writing a law research paper is easy. But actually, it is not. For writing an intense legal research paper, you must have a unique legal research topic. Particularly, when writing law papers, you should first research and find the legal questions relevant to your topic, analyze the various legal precedents, and present the answer to your legal question in the form of a memo by properly citing all the sources you have used for references.

Law Research Paper Topic Selection Tips

If you want to write a law research paper, then a good law research topic is what you need. Basically, the law is a complex subject, and hence choosing the right research topic from them is challenging. While selecting the legal research topic, be sure to keep the following tips in mind.

• Your topic should not be too broad.
• It should be informative to your audience.
• The topic should be catchy and relevant to modern law.
• It should contain relevant supporting materials online or in local libraries.
• The topic should deal with relevant legal precedents.
• It should answer all the legal essay questions.
• Your topic should have real-life cases to illustrate your points.

List of the Best Law Research Paper Topics

Law is a popular discipline among humanitarian sciences that have a wide range of research areas. Some common law research areas include business law, commercial law, environmental law, international law, medical law, constitutional law, cyber law, family law and so on.

As law is a broad subject with endless research topics, it might be difficult for you to choose the most interesting idea from them. So, to make things easier, we have sorted different categories of law and listed some outstanding law research topics for you.

Have a look at the below-mentioned list of law research paper topic ideas and identify aprofound legal research topic of your choice.

Business Law Research Topics

• What’s the true nature of business law?
• Equity and the doctrines of business law
• Morality and its relation to business law
• Business laws and the parliament
• The formulation of business regulations in Islam
• Why are business regulations essential for institutions and organizations?
• Business laws in Africa
• How crucial is the constitution for the creation of business law?
• Business law as a profession
• The classification of the business regulations
• Describe the Law of Contracts in the United States
• Discuss the fundamentals of UK contract law for businesses
• Critical evaluation of the role of the judiciary bodies in corporate law
• Disclose an insight into contract laws with respect to the application of verbal and non-verbal agreements
• Importance of collective bargaining agreements and laws on labor relations
• How to deal with corruption in business law?
• Discuss the difference between the EU and the UK after the implementation of the Brexit Contract Law
• Discuss the protections provided to the minority shareholders in the corporate law regime of India
• Compare and contrast the legal aspects of corporate M&A (mergers and acquisitions) in the United States and Australia
• Analysis of the role of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition in regulating the anti-competitive practices in the market
• Compare and contrast the legal aspects of e-commerce in the US and the UK
• Critical analysis of the role played by the Arbitration and conciliation act in resolving business disputes
• Compare and contrast the company law act in Australia and Canada
• Discuss how anti-money laundering laws of a country impact businesses
• Describe the implications of digital payment systems

Commercial Law Research Paper Topics

• What are the dangers and potential results of commercial partnerships?
• A comprehensive analysis of pre-incorporation contracts: How do they work?
• Reviewing the use of international commercial law in energy projects across the globe.
• Assessing the mediating role of corporate social responsibility in companies’ performance.
• Evaluating the commercial laws that should be used against dishonest managers.
• Reviewing the US commercial laws: What should be changed or added?
• Evaluating the regulations aimed at stopping corruption: A case study of the UK.
• Reviewing the implications of international commercial law in UK commercial laws.
• Assessing the effectiveness of international commercial law programs in UK universities.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of commercial law to support commercial transactions in the US.
• Critical analysis of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
• Discuss the benefits of Commercial Law
• Analyze the difficulties faced by businesses due to pursuing Regular or Commercial Lease
• Describe the effect of business law on commercial transactions and licensing
• Critical analysis of the labor law in Tanzania
• Develop a comparative study on international labor standards that regulate multinational companies in developing countries

Constitutional Law Research Topics

• The Internet and its impact on Free Speech
• The pros and cons of federalism
• What’s the freedom of the press?
• The desecration and flag burning
• A comparison between constitutions and state laws
• What are the rights of victims of self-incrimination?
• The pros and cons of Constitutionalism
• All about gun control and its history in the US
• What are the key changes that the First Amendment has brought?
• What changes did the Bill of Rights bring?

Criminal Law Research Topics

• Why does one crime have a set of different punishments?
• The roots of criminologists’ work and their work in modern times
• Can sociology have an impact on preventing crime?
• The ethical and legal issues related to criminal activity in your country.
• The real truth behind domestic violence
• What is quantitative criminology, and how does it differ from other types of crime?
• When does the international criminal court come into play?
• Analyzing the use of lie detectors in criminal justice: How effective are the lie detectors?
• A deeper look at the history of the death penalty.
• The key differences between male and female rape legislation
• Evaluating crime-related factors that should not be presented in a court of law.
• A thematic review of criminal theory: Exploring the link between crime and morality.
• What are the best ways to protect witnesses from retaliation in criminal cases?
• Is criminal profiling by law enforcement truly helpful in identifying serial killers?
• How does the criminal justice system keep an eye on police with body cameras?

Read more: Criminal Justice Research Topics Idea for students

Research Topics on Family Law

• Evaluating the impacts of the law on divorce: Has it increased the cases of divorce or reduced them?
• Review the important implications and reasons for changes to family law in the last 20 years.
• Assessing the factors that hinder couples from pursuing a divorce.
• The global issues and legal aspects of marriage and divorce of mentally unstable individuals.
• Explore divorce and social consequences across family law and religious perspectives.
• Analyze the legal foundations of parenting and civil partnerships.
• Assessing human rights in states that follow religious laws for families: A case study of India.
• Compare the divorce rights for women in Pakistan and the UK.
• How does culture impact decision-making on transgender marriages and divorce in the US?
• Evaluating the compatibility of child justice with family justice: A case study of the UK.

Cyber Law Research Topics

• The main cyber laws and enforcement today
• What are the skills of an excellent cyber lawyer?
• How can the government impact cyberterrorism?
• Cybercrime and cyberterrorism
• The penalties for cybercrime
• All about private data, revenge porn, blackmailing, and our internet privacy
• Is it the government’s job to analyze the flow of network traffic?
• Cyberlaw trends and how the online community sticks to them.
• The Internet Era and identity theft: Is it a crime of modern times?
• Categories of cybercrime and the main cybersecurity strategies against violators.

Read more: Interesting Cybercrime Research Topics To Deal With your paper

Research Ideas on Environmental Law

• The environmental influence on the rate of crime
• How has global environmental law changed today?
• The importance of environmental law for the health of current generations.
• Biological weapons and their regulations by international environmental law.
• Will the Uber industry impact the ecology in America?
• The current environmental regulations in the United States
• Sustainability and environmental compliance due to environmental law and economic reality.
• All about the environmental regulations in Canada
• Waste management in countries with a high economic level.
• Environmental law in Australia and climate change

Employment Law Research Topics

• A comprehensive review of employment contracts and job contracts in the US manufacturing industry.
• A legal viewpoint of employee mobility between European Union countries.
• Equal employment opportunities: Comparing gender differences in the UK and US regulations.
• Compare the UK laws before and after exiting the European Union.
• Reviewing legal perspectives of social work employment: A case study of California, USA.
• A comparative analysis of employment laws in the automotive industry in the US and UK.
• Analyze the impact of trade unions and their work in the UK.
• The convergence of employment laws and religion in the USA: A literature review.
• Evaluating the efficiency of workplace sexual harassment: A case study of the US and UK.
• A critical evaluation of the employment law of disabled individuals in the US.

Law Research Topics on Intellectual Property

• Evaluating laws for intellectual property rights protection on the internet.
• A comprehensive assessment of the economic impacts of intellectual property rights
• Evaluating the fair dealing in terms of copyright law: A case study of the US.
• How has EU law impacted the intellectual property regime in the UK?
• Can the emerging technological advancements operate smoothly with the current intellectual property laws in the US?
• Demystifying the relationship between intellectual property laws and EU regulations?
• Comparing and contrasting the intellectual property regimes in the UK and the US.
• Evaluating the implications of Brexit on the protection of intellectual property rights in the UK.
• Is the EU intellectual property law safe and fair for users and owners?
• Does the EU copyright law provide ample balance between the needs of inventors and users?
• Comparison of the institutions and regulations governing intellectual property in China and India
• An in-depth analysis of the UK’s invention and patenting system: Can the existing, rigid system stimulate innovation?
• Critical analysis of the development of copyright and moral rights in the legal system of Europe
• Infringement of foreign copyright and jurisdiction of the European Court
• Critical analysis of the economic rationale of Trademarks
• Analyze the emerging role of patents in innovation and intellectual property protection in the software industry
• Peer-to-Peer Technology: Analysis of contributory infringement and fair use
• Trademark protection is and ought to be the need of businesses to protect their brand value: Explain
• What do fair pricing and fair dealing with copyright regulations mean?
• Trade-Related Aspects of IP Rights: A Workable Instrument for Enforcing Benefit Sharing

International Law Research Paper Topics

• The principles used to formulate international criminal laws.
• Ethical systems and international relations
• Problems of code-based ethics
• How do different countries deal with false confessions?
• Different treatment of terrorism as a crime in different countries
• Diplomats and their protection of international morality.
• Did the US involvement in Iraq provide justice or violate the law?
• Laws on mental health in different countries
• The issues of traditional justification
• The question of ethics in the international legal context.
• International Human Rights Court Hearings: Evaluating the importance of precedence.
• What are the problems of enforcing international law in developing countries?
• Evaluating the efficiency of International Tribunals in solving war crimes.
• Digital and internet legislation: Forecasting the future.
• Assessing the relationship between public safety and civil liberties in international laws.

Medical Law Research Topics

• The common law towards refusal of medical treatment.
• Evaluating the laws governing organ transplantation: A case study of the US .
• How do ethics and medical law coexist?
• Ethics and Medical Laws in World War II
• Law application in medicine: Exploring the antecedents and practice.
• Evaluating the ethical and legal challenges of using biobanks.
• Exploring the legal aspects of electronic fetal monitoring.
• How do lawsuits affect medical practitioners’ commitment to offering lifesaving treatments?
• Unregistered medical intervention in the UK: What are the legal implications?
• Morality and law in the abortion debate.
• In accordance with international environmental law, biological weapons are prohibited.
• Will the Uber industry have an impact on American ecology?
• United States environmental laws are in effect today.
• Due to environmental legislation and economic reality, sustainability, and environmental compliance.
• anything about Canadian environmental laws.
• evaluating aspects of crime that shouldn’t be discussed in court.
• What are the best strategies for shielding witnesses in criminal cases from reprisals?
• A more thorough examination of the death penalty’s past
• Examining the connection between crime and morality is the focus of this examination of criminal theory.
• A case study of London’s examination into the difficulties in determining the type and distribution of crime.

A Few More Medical Law Research Ideas

• How to balance the rights of defendants and victims when using anonymity in sexual offense litigation.
• Slavery, prostitution, and human trafficking. the methods used globally to eradicate it.
• Is identity theft a modern-day crime? prevention of identity theft in the post-Internet era.
• criminality and psychology. Are some people more likely than others to breach the law?
• Social control theory against the self-control hypothesis
• False confessions and how they are handled in various nations.
• The environment’s impact on crime rates is one of the theories behind shattered windows.
• Similarities and disparities between mental diseases and crime in various nations.
• education, criminal behavior, and intelligence.
• From the beginning to the present, criminologists’ fieldwork.
• How does quantitative criminology differ from other types of crime? What is it?
• When is the use of the international criminal court appropriate?
• Examining the effectiveness of lie detectors in the criminal justice system:
• A more thorough investigation of the death penalty’s past.
• The main distinctions between male and female rape laws
• Assessing criminal-related variables that shouldn’t be brought up in court.
• What effects has EU law had on the UK’s system of intellectual property?
• Can the advancing technologies coexist peacefully with the US’s current intellectual property laws?
• Explaining the connection between EU rules and intellectual property laws?

Trending Law Research Topics

• Discuss the role of genetics in criminal justice proceedings.
• Write about the recent changes in tax laws and their impact on India.
• Differences between state and federal regulations regarding gun control.
• Discuss the growing influence of artificial intelligence on the legal profession.
• Explain the role of technology in criminal trials.
• Analyze international human rights policies.
• Write about the Freedom of expression and censorship issues.
• Discuss the Legal issues related to school safety and security.
• Analyze the regulation of online gaming platforms from a legal perspective.
• Write about the Legal implications of celebrity endorsements.

Wrapping Up

In order to get top grades for your law research paper, a peculiar topic is mainly needed. Especially, by choosing an idea from the list of 150+ law research topics suggested in this blog post, you can write a top-quality academic paper and make your work stand out in the crowd. In case you find it difficult to write a legal research paper, then immediately reach out to us for professional  Law assignment help . We have a team of academic writers who are experts in the field of law to assist you in completing your law research paper on any impressive topic as per requirements.

Simply, book your order and get an original law research paper beyond your expectations.

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Law Research Paper Topics: Exploring Legal Frontiers

Table of contents

• 1 How to Pick a Legal Research Topic?
• 2.1 Civil Rights Topics of Law
• 2.2 Business Law Topics for Research Papers
• 2.3 Banking and Finance Law Topics
• 2.4 Constitutional Law Research Paper Topics
• 2.5 Criminal Law Topics for Essays
• 2.6 International Law Research Topics
• 2.7 Employment Law Research Paper Topics
• 2.8 Family Law Legal Topics to Write About
• 2.9 Environmental Law Research Paper Topics
• 2.10 Animal Law Topics to Research
• 2.11 Artificial Intelligence Law
• 2.12 Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
• 2.13 Medical Ethics and Health Law

Delving into law topics for research paper can be as challenging as rewarding. Crafting a paper that informs and engages requires a nuanced approach to selecting an intriguing and substantive subject. Many themes await scholarly exploration in legal studies, from the ever-evolving landscape of civil rights to the intricate nuances of international law. This guide aims to illuminate the path for students and researchers, providing a scaffold to build a compelling narrative around legal inquiries that resonate with contemporary issues and academic rigors.

How to Pick a Legal Research Topic?

Selecting topics for law research paper is an exercise of intellectual curiosity and scholarly contribution. Start with what piques your interest – issues you find yourself drawn to or questioning. Assess their impact on society and their place within academic discourse. Dive into the latest legal journals and case studies to uncover fresh perspectives and uncharted areas of law. Engage with your academic circle to sharpen your topic, ensuring it’s manageable and substantive. Choose a subject that promises a rich exploration and genuinely enthuses you. Your enthusiasm will drive the comprehensive analysis and persuasive arguments that will distinguish your work.

List of Law Topics for Research Paper

Well-chosen legal research topics can set your law research paper apart. Consider these avenues: the legal ramifications of artificial intelligence, privacy laws in the digital age, the intersection of mental health and criminal defense, or the evolving landscape of international trade law.

Civil Rights Topics of Law

Civil rights law continues to evolve as society changes. These topics delve into how worldwide legal systems address new civil rights challenges.

• Analyzing the Efficacy of Affirmative Action in the 21st Century
• Voter ID Laws: Ensuring Integrity or Suppressing Rights?
• The Legal Battle Over LGBTQ+ Adoption Rights
• Disability Rights in Employment: A Legal Review
• The Impact of Racial Profiling on Civil Liberties
• Free Speech in the Digital Age: A Legal Perspective
• Religious Apparel in the Workplace: A Civil Rights Analysis
• The Evolution of Gender Equality Laws in Sports
• Policing the Police: Legal Responses to Excessive Force
• Housing Discrimination and the Law: Current Challenges

Business Law Topics for Research Papers

Business law topics examine the complex and dynamic relationship between the law and business practices in the modern economy.

• Navigating Intellectual Property Rights in Global Trade
• Legal Strategies for Preventing Corporate Espionage
• Antitrust Laws and Big Tech: A Modern Analysis
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Legal Implications and Benefits
• The Legality of Non-Compete Clauses in Employee Contracts
• Cross-Border Mergers: Legal Challenges and Strategies
• Legal Pitfalls in Online Business Ventures
• Environmental Regulations Impacting Business Operations
• Whistleblower Protections in the Corporate Sector
• Arbitration vs. Litigation in Business Disputes

Banking and Finance Law Topics

These controversial topics in law explore the intricate legal frameworks that govern the ever-evolving financial and banking sectors worldwide.

• Cryptocurrency Regulation: Legal Challenges and Opportunities
• The Legality of High-Frequency Trading Practices
• International Banking Laws Against Money Laundering
• Consumer Protection in Online Banking Services
• Legal Aspects of Crowdfunding Investments
• Insider Trading Laws: An International Perspective
• The Role of Law in Preventing Financial Crises
• Sovereign Debt Disputes and International Law
• Regulation of Derivatives: Legal Perspectives
• Implementing Basel III Standards: A Legal Approach

Constitutional Law Research Paper Topics

Constitutional law remains a cornerstone in legal discussions, with these topics focusing on its application in current societal debates.

• Same-Sex Marriage and Constitutional Law Developments
• The Second Amendment: A Modern Legal Analysis
• Freedom of the Press vs. National Security Concerns
• Constitutional Changes in the Era of Digital Privacy
• Legal Interpretations of Executive Powers in the 21st Century
• The Constitutionality of Drone Surveillance
• Separation of Church and State in Contemporary Legal Cases
• Affirmative Action and Equal Protection Under Law
• The Role of Judicial Review in Modern Governance
• Eminent Domain: Balancing Public Interest and Private Rights

Criminal Law Topics for Essays

Criminal law topics for research paper reflect the complexities of maintaining justice and order in society while protecting the rights of the accused.

• Decriminalization of Drug Use: A Legal Perspective
• Cyberstalking Laws and Victim Protection
• The Legal Response to White-Collar Crime in the Digital Age
• Criminal Justice Reform and Rehabilitation Programs
• The Death Penalty: A Comparative Legal Study
• Forensic Science in Criminal Trials: Legal Considerations
• Juvenile Delinquency: Legal Interventions and Outcomes
• Legal Defenses in High-Profile Criminal Cases
• Human Trafficking and International Criminal Law
• Sentencing Guidelines: A Critical Legal Review

International Law Research Topics

International law governs the conduct of states and international organizations, presenting a range of topics for exploration in this globalized world.

• The Law of the Sea: Navigating Maritime Disputes
• International Humanitarian Law in Modern Warfare
• The Legal Framework of Global Climate Agreements
• Extraterritorial Jurisdiction: A Legal Quandary
• The Role of the International Criminal Court
• Trade Sanctions and International Law
• Sovereignty vs. Human Rights: Legal Conflicts on the Global Stage
• Legal Mechanisms for Protecting Endangered Species Internationally
• The Legality of Unilateral Military Interventions
• Diplomatic Immunity: Principles and Controversies

Employment Law Research Paper Topics

Employment law covers the rights and duties between employers and workers, and the topics showcase how these adapt to modern trends.

• Legal Implications of Remote Work Policies
• Discrimination Law in the Gig Economy
• Sexual Harassment Laws in the Workplace
• Workers’ Rights in the Age of Automation
• The Legalities of Employee Surveillance
• Unionization in the Tech Industry: A Legal Review
• Minimum Wage Laws and Economic Impact
• Occupational Safety Laws and Their Enforcement
• Employee Privacy Rights Against Corporate Interests
• Age Discrimination in Hiring Practices

Family Law Legal Topics to Write About

Family law is central to society’s fabric, and these topics address the legal complexities of family relationships and their protection under the law.

• The Legal Status of Surrogacy Across Different Jurisdictions
• Child Custody Laws and the Best Interests of the Child
• Legal Challenges in Cross-Border Adoption
• Divorce Law and the Division of Assets
• Domestic Violence and Protective Order Efficacy
• The Rights of Unmarried Couples Under Law
• Paternity Laws and Disputes
• Legal Implications of Parental Alienation
• Same-Sex Couple Rights in Family Law
• Child Support Enforcement Across Borders

Environmental Law Research Paper Topics

Environmental law aims to reconcile economic growth with the need to protect the environment, offering a range of pertinent research topics.

• Legal Strategies for Combating Deforestation
• Clean Air Act: A Legal Evaluation
• The Role of Law in Protecting Endangered Species
• Water Rights and Legal Disputes
• Environmental Impact Assessments: Legal Requirements and Outcomes
• Fracking Laws and Community Health Concerns
• Climate Change Litigation and Corporate Accountability
• Waste Management Laws and Policies
• Legal Remedies for Oil Spill Disasters
• Renewable Energy Laws and Sustainable Development

Animal Law Topics to Research

Animal research topics in law are an emerging field examining how the legal system addresses the complex issues related to animal rights and welfare.

• Legal Protections for Wildlife in Urban Areas
• The Legality of Animal Testing in Cosmetic Industries
• Endangered Species Act: Legal Successes and Challenges
• Animal Welfare Laws in Agricultural Practices
• Legal Rights of Animals in Entertainment
• Pet Ownership Disputes and the Law
• The Trade of Exotic Animals: Legal and Ethical Dimensions
• Animal Cruelty Laws and Enforcement Issues
• Service Animals and Disability Rights
• Wildlife Trafficking and International Law

Artificial Intelligence Law

Artificial intelligence law ideas for students examine the intersection of rapidly advancing technology and existing legal frameworks, a field ripe for academic inquiry.

• Autonomous Vehicles and Liability Laws
• AI in Healthcare: Legal and Ethical Considerations
• Intellectual Property Rights for AI Creations
• Legal Personhood for AI: A Futuristic Debate
• AI and Privacy Laws: Adapting to New Realities
• AI in the Courtroom: Legal Implications
• Bias in AI Decision-Making and the Law
• Regulation of AI in Financial Services
• AI and Employment Law: Shifting Paradigms
• AI in National Security: Legal Frameworks

Data Privacy and Cybersecurity

Data privacy and cybersecurity trending legal topics deal with the challenges of protecting personal information in the digital realm, a vital concern for governments, corporations, and individuals.

• The Right to be Forgotten in the Digital Age
• Cross-Border Data Transfer Laws
• Cybersecurity Laws and the Protection of Critical Infrastructure
• Legal Responses to Data Breaches
• Data Privacy Laws for Children and Adolescents
• Encryption Laws and National Security
• Legal Implications of Biometric Data Use
• Cyberbullying and Legal Recourse
• Consumer Data Rights and Corporate Responsibilities
• The GDPR: A Model for Global Data Privacy Laws

Medical Ethics and Health Law

Medical ethics and health law address the sensitive and often controversial legal issues that arise in the provision and management of healthcare.

• End-of-Life Decision-Making and Legal Rights
• Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act: A Legal Analysis
• Legalities of Alternative Medicine Practices
• Vaccine Mandates and Public Health Law
• Mental Health Law and Patient Autonomy
• Reproductive Rights and the Law
• Legal Aspects of Organ Donation and Transplantation
• Medical Malpractice: Prevention and Litigation
• Health Insurance Laws and Access to Care
• The Legalities of Medical Confidentiality

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Legal Research 101: A Step-by-Step Guide

Legal Tech Stack

Rebecca Spiegel

March 20, 2023

Legal research is crucial for lawyers, paralegals, and law students. And it can be a struggle for even the most experienced legal professionals—but it can be overwhelming for beginners.  

In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of legal research, including primary and secondary sources, case law, statutes, regulations, and more. Whether just starting your legal career or looking to refresh your knowledge, this guide will provide a solid foundation for effective legal research. Let’s dive in!

What is legal research?

Legal research is the process of identifying and analyzing legal information to support a legal argument or decision. It involves searching for and analyzing primary and secondary sources, such as case law, statutes, regulations, legal dictionaries, treatises, and law review articles.  

There are many reasons you might conduct legal research, including:  

• Looking for case law that backs up your motion or brief    
• Identifying case law that refutes an opposing argument  
• Supporting the general narrative of your case  
• Providing legal counsel to clients    
• Putting together a memo or brief for law school  

Effective legal research can make all the difference in the success of a legal case or argument. Legal research is essential for lawyers, judges, law students, paralegals, and anyone involved in the legal industry. It requires critical thinking, analytical skills, and attention to detail to ensure that legal information is accurate, relevant, and up to date.

How to do legal research

Legal research can be overwhelming and takes many forms depending on your goals. Here are some general steps you’ll likely take in any given legal research project.  

Step 1: Gather and understand the key facts of your legal case

A solid legal case starts with strong legal research. So before scouring case laws and court opinions for data, stepping back and setting a few goals is important. What are you hoping to accomplish with this case, and what key facts will support your argument?  

Once you understand the information you’re looking for, ask yourself these questions to start your research on the right foot.

Key questions to ask yourself before starting legal research

What are the basics.

Whether working with a client or writing a law brief for school, always start with the basics. What’s the “who, what, why, when, where, and how?”  

Write a quick summary, especially since you’ll likely need it for a statement of facts in a filing or legal brief. You never know what facts might be helpful later! Even if details you think may not be relevant now, include them on your list.

Pro tip: Record your essential facts in a case management tool . While it may be tempting to skip this step, a case management tool will help you streamline your legal process, reduce human error, and save you time in the long run as you juggle multiple clients.  

What's the legal issue?

Next, identify the actual legal issue you’re hoping to solve. Does your client need help to settle a property ownership dispute? Or are they pursuing worker’s compensation for an accident that happened on the clock?  

No matter the legal research project, having a clear sense of the legal problem is crucial to determining your desired outcome. A clear end goal will help you stay focused and on topic throughout your casework.  

What jurisdiction are you operating in?

When it comes to legal research, casting a wide net can be a bad thing. There are endless amounts of court opinions and legal databases that you could sort through. But your research will have been for naught if they’re irrelevant to your case.

That’s why it’s necessary to identify the relevant jurisdiction for your case. Does it deal with federal or state law? If a state, which one? You might find applicable case law from a Washington state supreme court that supports your argument, but it won’t hold up with opposing counsel if you’re operating in Montana.

Create a research plan

Now, it’s time to think about where you’ll go to perform legal research. While Google might be a good start for some of the basic facts you need, it’s probably not enough. Legal encyclopedias and law journals have traditionally supported lawyers as they’ve conducted research, but technology has also made the process a lot easier now. Law firms might invest in an online legal research service to comb through relevant statutes legal topics.

Step 2: Gather sources of law

The next step as you conduct legal research is to gather relevant law sources.

There are two different kinds of sources: primary law and secondary law. As you start your research, it's important to note that you should start with secondary law materials.

Why? Because these sources will help you understand what experts have to say about a legal topic before you start your case and investigate primary materials. Think of it as building a knowledgeable foundation for your argument: you'll sound smarter (and win your case) if you know what experts are saying about the legal topic you're researching.

What are secondary legal sources?

Secondary legal sources are publications that analyze, interpret, or explain primary legal sources. They are not the law itself, but rather resources that provide commentary, context, or background information on the law. Examples of secondary legal sources include:

• legal encyclopedias and dictionaries
• law review articles
• legal treatises
• practice guides
• annotated codes
• Law journals  
• Legal news  
• Jury instructions  

Secondary sources can be helpful for several reasons, including providing a deeper understanding of legal concepts, identifying key issues and arguments, and finding additional primary sources. They can also help determine the law's current state and identify any changes or developments in legal trends or interpretations.  

It is important to note that secondary legal sources are not authoritative sources of law and should not be relied upon as legal precedent. Instead, they can be used to support and supplement primary legal sources in legal research and analysis.  

What are primary legal sources?

Primary legal sources establish legal rules and principles. The existing laws, regulations, and judicial decisions create, interpret, and enforce legal principles and rules. Examples of primary legal sources include:

• Statutes: Written laws enacted by legislative bodies at the federal, state, or local level.
• Case law: Decisions made by courts in the course of resolving disputes.
• Regulations: Rules and standards issued by administrative agencies to implement and interpret statutes.
• Constitutions: Written documents that establish the basic principles and structure of a government.

Primary legal sources are considered the most authoritative sources of law and are relied upon to determine legal rights and obligations. They are often used in legal research and analysis to interpret and apply the law to specific cases or situations. It is important to note that primary legal sources can be complex and require careful analysis and interpretation to determine their meaning and scope.

Step 3: Make sure you’re using “good” law

Another important step in the legal research process is to verify that any cases and statutes you use are still "good law" — in other words, that they're still valid and relevant. Overruled or unconstitutional statutes won't help you win any cases.

Can older cases still be considered "good?"

Whenever possible, it's a good idea to use the most recent cases possible. They're more likely to be relevant to your case and are less likely to have been rendered obsolete. That said, recency isn't mandatory.  

A case that's 30 years old could still be considered "good law" if it hasn't been overruled or otherwise made irrelevant. If it fits with the facts of your case and falls within your jurisdiction, it could still be helpful for your argument!

Use a citator

A citator can help you check to see if your research contains "good" law. Citators verify legal authority by providing the history and precedent for any cases, statutes, and legal sources you use.  

Most legal databases have their own citator tools, which flag negative materials and can help you evaluate whether a case is "good" law. Citator tools can also help you find other relevant cases that cite the opinion in question.  

Step 4: Sum up results and look for gaps

Once your initial legal research process is complete, compile it into a legal memorandum. This will help you identify any gaps in the facts you've collected and anticipate any additional information you might need.  

A good legal memorandum:  

• States the facts of the case
• Identifies the issue
• Applies “good” law to the facts
• Predicts any counterpoints
• Assesses the outcome of the case

The best tips and strategies for conducting legal research

Conducting legal research can be a challenging task, requiring both expertise and a strategic approach. Here are our best tips and strategies for conducting effective legal research, to help you to navigate the complexities of the legal system with confidence.

Think about the opposing counsel’s arguments

Consider your case from all angles. What will your opposition's arguments look like? Think competitively as you perform legal research, and search for facts that will refute any legal basis the opposing party may claim.  

Don't stop researching  

Your research isn't over until your assignment is submitted or your case is closed. Don't cut corners and use all of the time you have available to you. You never know when you're going to find a vital piece of research that could positively impact your case.  

Take advantage of legal research tools

In recent years, legal research technology has transformed the way lawyers and legal professionals conduct research. With the help of advanced search algorithms, machine learning, and natural language processing, legal research technology can help to streamline the research process, increase efficiency, and provide more accurate and comprehensive results.

Here are a few tools that help streamline the legal research process:  

• ROSS Intelligence is a legal research platform that's driven by AI. ROSS lets you highlight statements in your memorandums and briefs to instantly search for cases and statutes that cover similar laws. You can also use ROSS to look for negative case treatment in your pleadings and law briefs.
• Casetext’s CARA AI search technology and automated review tools help lawyers speed up their legal searches. You can use Casetext to start your research with a complaint or legal brief, and find highly relevant, tailored search results and resources. Not only does Casetext find facts and legal issues, but it will filter results to the jurisdiction you're looking for. Casetext’s citator also makes it easier to check and flag any bad law.

Document your research with law practice management software

A poor documentation system can ruin your entire legal research process. Law practice management software can help you record your research in an efficient, streamlined, and automated way—so that no detail ever falls through the cracks.  

Smokeball's legal case management software keeps your entire law firm organized by helping you collect details during client intake, saving them to the correct case matter and auto-populating the documents you need with the correct information. And our Client Portal helps you communicate with clients, request more details when you need it, and share research results.  

Download Now: Getting Automated: An End-to-End Guide to Law Firm Automation

In conclusion, legal research is an essential skill for lawyers, law students, and other legal professionals. By mastering the basics of legal research, including identifying primary and secondary legal sources, using legal research tools effectively, and developing a strategic approach to research, legal professionals can improve the quality of their work and provide better outcomes for their clients.  

With the help of Smokeball's legal practice management software, legal research can become a more efficient, and effective process. We're here to support your law firm from the initial research stage to client communication to i nvoicing and billing when your case is closed.  

FAQs about legal research

What is shepardizing in legal research.

Shepardizing is a process used in legal research to determine whether a particular case or statute is still good law. It involves checking the history and subsequent treatment of the case or statute to ensure that it has not been overruled, superseded, or otherwise invalidated. Shepardizing is an important step in legal research to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the sources being used.

Can I use Google for legal research?

Yes, Google can be a great first step to find basic details for your case. Google Scholar is also a good resource for lawyers conducting legal research. It contains an extensive database of state and federal cases, with superior search functionality.  

However, Google is clear that the resources they provide are not vetted or approved by a legal professional:  

“Legal opinions in Google Scholar are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied on as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed lawyer. Google™ does not warrant that the information is complete or accurate.”

So it's important to verify that any of the sources you pull from Google Scholar are accurate, and are considered "good" law.  

How to do legal research as a paralegal?

A good paralegal will follow the steps of D.I.S.P.U.T.E . to define the legal issues of the case and find relevant case law.

• D id you identify all of the relevant parties involved in the case?
• I s the location important?
• S ome items or objects may be important to the case.
• P ut the events in chronological order.
• U nderstanding the events will give you the basis of action or the issues that are involved in the case.
• T ake into consideration the opposing counsel’s arguments in the case.
• E valuate the legal remedy or the relief sought in the case.

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200 Legal Research Paper Topics to Keep You Stay Ahead of the Curve

Legal research papers are scholarly documents written by law students, legal scholars, or professionals in the legal field. They involve in-depth analysis, interpretation, and discussion of legal issueslegal, principles, and concepts. Therefore, picking up a good topic plays a significant role in the paper’s success, which a professional  paper writing service  provider would agree with! Speaking of which, we have curated a list of 200 trending topics to help you craft an impressive paper. So, let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Unique Legal Research Paper Topics to Impress Your Professor

Looking to make a memorable impression on your professor with your legal research paper? Check out these unique and intriguing legal research paper topics that will demonstrate your critical thinking skills and set your work apart.

Criminal Law Research Paper Topics

Choosing a topic from this list will help you gain a comprehensive understanding of various issues in criminal law and their implications in contemporary society. Here you go: 

• Means of execution in genetic fraud
• Crime classification by type 
• Differences between atypicality and absence of the type
• What are the degrees that guilt can present?
• General principles of typicity
• Differences between putative crime and impossible crime
• Classification of a passive subject in criminal matters
• Explanation and study of the budgets for the crime
• Typicity and atypicality in intentional crimes
• Study of the causes of crime
• Elements of the crime and its negative aspect and positive aspect 
• Forgiveness of the offended party in cases of negligent crimes
• Responsibility and scope in the crime of injury and manslaughter in the traffic of vehicles
• Family violence – How it can be prevented and what factors influence its emergence
• The right to refrain from testifying that witnesses of the accused have during the criminal process

Top Legal Research Paper Topics

These legal  research paper writing  questions or topics will help you dive into the depths of Civil Rights Law and learn its complexities, struggles, and successes in the fight for fair treatment and social justice. Here’s the list:

• The impact of technology on the concept of privacy in civil law jurisdictions.
• Legal remedies for online defamation in civil law systems.
• The role of civil law in protecting intellectual property rights.
• Comparative analysis of contract law principles in different civil law jurisdictions.
• The liability of internet service providers for copyright infringement in civil law countries.
• The concept of negligence and its application in civil law systems.
• Civil law approaches to product liability and consumer protection.
• The role of civil law in addressing environmental damage and pollution.
• The legal framework for medical malpractice claims in civil law jurisdictions.
• The regulation of data protection and privacy in civil law countries.
• The role of civil law in addressing discrimination and promoting equality.
• The legal requirements for establishing a valid will in civil law jurisdictions.
• The application of civil law principles to contractual disputes involving international parties.
• The concept of tort law and its development in civil law systems.
• The legal framework for family law matters, such as marriage, divorce, and child custody, in civil law jurisdictions.
• The enforcement of court judgments and arbitral awards in civil law countries.
• The legal framework for business organizations, such as partnerships and corporations, in civil law systems.
• The role of civil law in regulating financial transactions and banking activities.
• The legal protection of personal data and privacy rights in civil law jurisdictions.
• The development of alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation and conciliation, in civil law systems.
• Remember to choose a topic that aligns with your interests and the specific requirements of your research project.

Unique Legal Research Paper Topics Related to Human Rights

This collection of research paper topics will take you on an intellectual voyage, unraveling complex issues such as the universality of human rights and more. Use the following topics to write a legal research paper outline.

• Conflicts presented before cultural rights
• Human Rights for minor boys and Girls
• Importance of the implementation of shelters for homeless people
• Has the intervention of mass surveillance contributed to the decrease in crime?
• Forced disappearances: A sad reality that plagues today
• Alternatives for the eradication of Discrimination against women
• Urbanization in human rights
• The intervention of human rights regarding corporate and globalization
• Privacy rights today
• Ways to combat cases of torture
• The Role of human rights around education
• How do human rights protect vulnerable groups such as disabled people?
• The illegal arms trade
• Human Rights and Alternatives to eradicate cases of violent extremism
• Covid-19 and the increase in violence against women today
• The intervention of international solidarity in human rights
• The Role of international human rights treaties in promoting global justice
• The impact of social media on freedom of expression and privacy rights
• Addressing systemic racism and Discrimination in criminal justice systems
• Human rights implications of counter-terrorism Measures and national security policies
• The Protection of Refugees’ Rights in the Context of forced displacement
• Gender equality and the fight against gender-based violence
• The Rights of indigenous peoples and the Preservation of their cultural heritage
• Ensuring economic, social, and cultural rights in times of economic crises
• The Role of international organizations in Promoting and enforcing human rights
• Human rights considerations in the Context of armed conflicts and humanitarian crises
• The Intersection of human rights and Environmental Protection
• Protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, including children, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals
• Transitional justice mechanisms and human rights accountability
• The Right to Education and Its Role in empowering marginalized communities
• Promoting religious freedom and combating religious Discrimination

Interesting Legal Research Paper Topics Related to Tax Law

Pick a research topic from this list and venture into the dynamic world of Tax Law, where fiscal complexities, legislative dynamics, and economic considerations intersect. Here’s the list:

• Functioning of tax revenues: evolution and international comparison
• Fiscal benefits ignored by the general population
• Instances of individuals before the Internal Revenue Service
• Forms of extinction of taxes and their economic repercussions
• Tax evasion and the ineffectiveness of the English authorities for its prevention.
• legal security of the taxpayer in the exercise of their tax obligations
• Tax discrepancy and timely detection by the tax authority in India.
• Means of challenge in the tax system.
• How can international tax law influence, eliminate, and avoid double taxation?
• The cost of the fiscal guarantee
• Mortgage Credit and its legal nature
• Tax disadvantages of the business activities regime
• Precautionary embargo, is it unconstitutional?
• Inefficiency in the administrative acts of the public finance authorities
• The importance of tax law in the balance of the economy
• Social impact of reforms
• The ineffectiveness of the resource for revocation of tax
• Tax system and the execution of tax policies and their efficiency
• The functioning of the Withholding Tax Administration
• Taxes and their impact on the general state budget
• Variants of tax revenue

Good Legal Research Topics

Get a chance to research the legalities of real estate with these carefully-picked topics for an amazing legal research project:

• Value generation through risk management
• Business plan model of a real estate housing project
• Use of natural resources in multi-family housing
• Social housing real estate project
• Feasibility Proposal for a Real Estate Project
• Proposal for low-cost housing modules
• Proposal for improvement in the finishing phase for the supply and installation
• Analyzing the legal implications of smart contracts in real estate transactions.
• Exploring the regulatory challenges of short-term rental platforms (e.g., Airbnb) in the Context of real estate law.
• The impact of sustainable development practices on real estate law and regulations.
• Examining the legal frameworks for real estate crowdfunding and its implications for investors and developers.
• The Role of real estate law in addressing affordable housing and housing inequality.
• Exploring legal mechanisms for resolving disputes in real estate transactions.
• Analyzing the legal implications of blockchain technology in real estate transactions and land registries.
• The legal considerations and challenges of real estate development projects in environmentally sensitive areas.
• The legal aspects of real estate financing, including mortgage law and foreclosure processes.
• Examining the Role of zoning regulations and land use planning in real estate development.
• Legal issues surrounding property rights and ownership in intellectual property and digital assets.
• The legal responsibilities and liabilities of real estate agents and brokers.
• Analyzing the legal implications of real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the Context of real estate law.
• The legal considerations of real estate transactions involving international parties and cross-border investments.
• Exploring the legal challenges and opportunities of real estate developments in the Context of urbanization and smart cities.

New Topics for Legal Research

Researching one of these topics will help you explore the science of product liability, medical malpractice and more. Here you go:

• The role of negligence in personal injury claims: Comparative analysis of different legal systems.
• Assessing the effectiveness of tort reform in personal injury cases.
• The impact of social media on personal injury litigation and privacy rights.
• Analyzing the legal framework for product liability in personal injury cases.
• The role of insurance companies in personal injury claims: An examination of coverage issues and settlement practices.
• The legal implications of autonomous vehicles in personal injury cases.
• The role of expert witnesses in personal injury litigation: Challenges and best practices.
• Analyzing the impact of statutory limitations on personal injury claims.
• The legal and ethical considerations in mass tort litigation involving personal injuries.
• Analyzing the role of punitive damages in personal injury cases: Deterrence versus compensation.
• The intersection of personal injury law and medical malpractice: Challenges in establishing liability.
• The impact of pre-existing conditions on personal injury claims: Causation and damages assessment.
• The legal framework for premises liability in personal injury cases.
• Analyzing the use of surveillance evidence in personal injury litigation: Privacy concerns and admissibility.
• The role of mental health issues in personal injury claims: Challenges in proving and quantifying damages.
• Analyzing the legal remedies available to victims of workplace accidents and occupational injuries.
• The legal and ethical implications of third-party litigation funding in personal injury cases.
• Analyzing the impact of jury bias and prejudice on personal injury verdicts.
• The role of alternative dispute resolution methods in resolving personal injury claims.
• Assessing the future of personal injury law in light of emerging technologies and societal changes.

Military Law Research Paper Topics

These topics will let you delve deep into understanding military law as you research. Here’s the list:

• The legal framework for the use of autonomous weapons systems in armed conflict.
• The application of international humanitarian law to non-state armed groups.
• Analyzing the legal and ethical challenges of cyber warfare under international law.
• The legal implications of targeted killings and drone warfare in military operations.
• The role of military commissions in prosecuting and trying war criminals.
• The legal framework for the protection of cultural property during armed conflict.
• Analyzing the legality of preemptive strikes and anticipatory self-defense under international law.
• The legal and ethical considerations in the use of private military contractors in armed conflict.
• The legal obligations of states in providing assistance and support to victims of armed conflict.
• The application of international human rights law in military operations and occupations.
• Analyzing the legal and moral implications of torture and interrogation techniques in military contexts.
• The legal framework for the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
• The role of military justice systems in ensuring accountability and discipline within the armed forces.
• Analyzing the legal challenges of prosecuting sexual violence crimes in military contexts.
• The legal implications of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, in military operations.
• The legal obligations and challenges in protecting and assisting refugees and internally displaced persons in armed conflict.
• The legal framework for the use of force in peacekeeping operations and humanitarian interventions.
• The legal and ethical considerations in military surveillance and intelligence gathering activities.
• Analyzing the legal obligations and challenges of military occupations under international law.

Labor Law Legal Research Topics

Let’s dive into the depths of Civil Rights Law and get to know its complexities, struggles, and successes in the fight for fair treatment and social justice. Here’s the list of hot topics for your legal research project:

• Operation of the holiday period
• What to do if your labor rights have been violated?
• What to do if my schedule needs to be respected?
• What is the salary?
• At what point does the worker lose the right to compensation?
• Right to severance pay for voluntary dismissal
• What actions to take in case of suffering an unjustified dismissal?
• What actions to take in case of suffering an accident at work?
• Consequences of an occupational accident
• Pre and postnatal rest for pregnant workers
• Labor benefits when filing a dismissal or resignation from the job
• The impact of employment opportunities over the years
• Gender Equality in the Workplace
• What does the National Labor Law stipulate?
• Right to compensation after resigning
• Rights of the worker when resigning from his job
• Legal consequences suffered after dismissal
• Covid-19 and its impact on the work environment
• What is labor law, and what is it responsible for?
• Background of labor law
• History of labor law, how did it happen?
• Importance of labor law
• The emergence of collective law as a defender of social groups
• What is labor procedural law, and what are its principles?
• What is the acquired labor right, and what does it stipulate?
• Objectives of labor law
• Parts of labor law

International Law Research Paper Topics

Studying and researching international law is an interesting activity for many researchers. Check out the list below:

• The teaching of public international law
• Extradition treaties and their alleged ineffectiveness
• The Free Trade Agreement, in the light of international law
• Concept of international responsibility of the State, according to Hans Kelsen
• Aspects of Reparation in international law
• Historiography and the study of the immediate origins of the World wars
• Palestine: Independence of a State
• Fundamental human rights
• The right to privacy and the right to freedom of expression
• Rights of Journalists
• Collective International Security and the Persian Gulf Crisis
• Nature of human rights and their validity in customary international law
• The right to asylum in the international legal system
• Notes on the so-called international law of development
• Human Rights, the advisory opinion
• Specificity of international legal principles in an order
• The current State of international jurisdiction

Legal Topics for Research Paper Related to Intellectual Property

You may already know that unauthorized use of paid software is a crime. Get to know more of such facts by researching a topic from this list:

• Related rights and internet
• Technologies against unauthorized copying
• The Jurisdiction Problem
• E-commerce copyright
• Conclusions Bibliography
• Approach to intellectual property
• Intellectual property and new information technologies
• Copyright and the Internet
• The network and the right to the integrity of the work
• Playback and communication
• The network and originality of the works
• Protection and online programs
• Internet pages
• Second-use patents within the general regime of patent law

Legal Research Paper Format for Your Perfect Topics

Apply the following format and present your ideas in a way that reflects perfection and wins your position in academics.

• Use Times New Roman or similar font
• Add footnotes,page numbers,one inch margin on all sides,and use headings / subheadings.
• Page numbers should be added in the footer.

We hope you have picked a topic or two for your legal research paper. As you explore these topics, you’ll have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge, stay updated on emerging trends, and make meaningful contributions to the law. Still, if you need help picking up legal research paper topics or help in writing the assignment , feel free to consult  our writers .

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Trellis.Law Blog

We make the law accessible so everyone can make the right decisions, how to do legal research with 8 easy steps..

Legal research is the process of identifying and analyzing different legal authorities, such as cases, statutes, and regulations, to determine the current state of the law and to support a legal argument. It is a crucial step in the legal process and is used by attorneys, law students, and other legal professionals to gain an understanding of the law and to support their legal positions.

There are several steps that can be taken when conducting legal research. These include:

• Identifying the legal issue: The first step in legal research is to identify the legal issue that needs to be researched. This may involve reviewing a client’s case file, discussing the issue with the client or other members of the legal team, or reviewing relevant statutes and regulations.
• Formulating a research question: Once the legal issue has been identified, the next step is to formulate a research question. This should be a clear and concise statement of the issue that is to be researched. For example, “What is the standard for proving negligence in a personal injury case?”
• Determining the jurisdiction: Legal research often involves determining the jurisdiction in which the legal issue will be addressed. Jurisdiction refers to the geographical area or the type of court that has the authority to hear a case. For example, federal law applies to the entire United States, whereas state law only applies to a specific state.
• Identifying relevant sources: After determining the jurisdiction, the next step is to identify the relevant sources of law that will be used to answer the research question. These sources may include cases, statutes, regulations, and secondary sources such as legal treatises and law review articles.
• Searching for sources: Once the relevant sources have been identified, the next step is to search for them. This can be done using legal research databases, such as Trellis and LexisNexis , as well as online search engines, such as Google Scholar. Additionally, many courts now post the full text of their opinions online, including both recent and older cases. These can be searched by keyword or by case number.
• Analyzing the sources: After the relevant sources have been found, the next step is to analyze them. This may involve reading the full text of a case or statute, or reviewing the headnotes and summary that are often provided in legal research databases. It may also involve identifying any relevant facts or legal principles that are discussed in the case or statute.
• Synthesizing the research: After the relevant sources have been analyzed, the next step is to synthesize the research. This may involve creating a summary of the key points of the research, highlighting any conflicting cases or statutes, and determining how the research supports or undermines the legal position being taken.
• Citing the sources: The last step in legal research is to properly cite the sources used in the research. This is important to ensure that the research is accurate and that the sources used can be located by others. Legal citations typically include the name of the case or statute, the court or legislative body that issued it, and the date of the decision or statute.

It’s important to note that legal research can be a time-consuming process, but it is a crucial step in the legal process. Legal research helps legal professionals understand the law, anticipate how courts may rule on certain issues, and support their legal arguments.

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Nicole clark.

Prior to founding Trellis, Nicole Clark was a business litigation and labor and employment attorney who handled litigation in both state and federal courts. She regularly represented multinational corporations in claims ranging from high-profile trade secret disputes to complex class-action litigation. Frustrated by sending internal emails and collecting anecdotes on judges in order to make strategic case recommendations, she built Trellis to solve her own need for access to data, information, and analytics at the state trial court level. Prior to law school, Nicole attended Bard College, beginning her college coursework at the age of sixteen. She graduated with honors from University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BA in Journalism, and received her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law in Newark, NJ. Nicole sat for the Bar Exam in California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and remains licensed to practice law in all three states.

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Legal Research Tips Law Students Need to Know: The Basics

Seven tips on how to make legal research easier and more effective

Though many law students stress about writing in the proper IRAC format , composing the text is only half the battle. Without sound research, your memo or brief won’t carry any weight. Students often overthink their legal research, and that can lead to frustration and insufficient statutory and case law. This article identifies seven of the most efficient legal research strategies to make your legal writing process less arduous.

1. Identify the issue of your memo

All too often, students read the fact pattern of their client’s case and immediately start blindly searching Westlaw or LexisNexis , typing in all phrases that come to mind. Instead, law students need to take a deep breath and ask: “What is the client trying to achieve with this lawsuit?”

By identifying the cause of action, you can then ask: “What are the legal criteria that either help or hurt my client?” The answers to those two questions will formulate the legal issue. With those terms in mind, you can then use that phrasing to formulate the search phrase.

2. Narrow your jurisdiction

When students first start conducting legal research, they mistakenly cast too wide a net when it comes to jurisdiction. Desperate to find applicable law, students often look to states other than the appropriate jurisdiction to find relevant case law. Cases from other states, however, are persuasive authority, not mandatory. Persuasive authority holds little weight, so it should be scrapped from your memos unless your law professor or supervising attorney states otherwise.

The only cases that hold mandatory authority are Supreme Court decisions and those from the appropriate state. Federal cases from the corresponding circuit are also possible, but as those can be a bit trickier to apply, check with your law professor, TA or supervising attorney to make sure they were applied properly.

3. Use Boolean search terms

Though it may seem silly, many students will write the full issue statement into the search box. Westlaw and LexisNexis, however, actually run more like Google and typical search engines than people realize. With that in mind, mastering Boolean search terms will help you save time and yield more fruitful results.

For example, consider the following:

• If your issue reads, “Under Maryland law, can a property owner be considered negligent if a wild animal bites a guest on his property?”
• Then , your search phrase could state: “property owner” and “negligent” and “wild animal”

In this one search phrase, you target all 3 critical aspects of the issue. If your results become too limited, then you can eliminate either the quotation marks or one of the terms.

You certainly won’t become an expert in Boolean search terms overnight, but by practicing them now you can save a lot of time throughout your career.

4. Understand that helpful cases don’t have to have the legal outcome you want

Many times students avoid using the appropriate case law because the outcome wasn’t what the client wants. For example, why refer to a case where the defendant was found guilty if you are the defense attorney? The answer lies in an attorney’s ability to distinguish cases and maintain a sound argument. Your best case may be made by showing that your client is NOT like the plaintiff or defendant of the relevant case law.

The analysis section of your memo or brief allows you to navigate the comparison. For instance, your sentences may read something like:

• “Unlike the Smith case, our client… .”
• “While the Smith plaintiff had_______, our case is an example of_____.”
• “Though the defendant in Smith _________, we ask the court _______.”

By showing how the fact patterns are different, you can demonstrate how the court needs to find a different verdict toward your client. The caveat, however, is to make sure the laws are properly aligned. For example, don’t compare a case that maps out the law on medical malpractice when your case pertains to workers’ compensation.

5. If you find a helpful case, use that to find other cases

An entire article could be written on this tip. It’s perhaps the most helpful and often overlooked legal research tactic. Both Westlaw and LexisNexis offer legal research shortcuts that make a huge difference:

• Westlaw has “KeyCite,” while LexisNexis has “Shepardize” — though both do the same task. This tool allows you to see other cases that cited your case. The cases that include your case as “good law” are definitely options for you to peruse and possibly use as additional information. Even the cases that have negative treatment to the case you have in mind can still be used if you master the art of distinguishing the cases, as discussed above.
• When you’re reading a case in Westlaw or LexisNexis, the cases listed as authority are hyperlinked. Skimming the hyperlinked case is typically good idea because if that case had authority for the one you consider a match, it may hold weight for your client’s case as well.
• Lastly, when you first look at a case on WestLaw or LexisNexis, there are headnotes that provide key legal points within the case. Both programs allow you to view other cases that make use of the same headnote. If one headnote is on point, then a case with that same headnote is also worth a read.

6. Consider the date, but don’t obsess over it

As a rule of thumb, a more recent case is generally preferred. Newer cases often reflect the legal and societal changes that could affect the case law. Nevertheless, if you find a case that matches your fact pattern and applicable law but it’s 30 years old, don’t panic. That may be your best case because your client’s legal issue hasn’t appeared in recent years. Double-check to see the negative treatment of the older case to make sure it’s still good law. If there aren’t any red flags, that case is probably fine to use.

7. Know when to stop

Law professors and supervising attorneys want you to do your “due diligence” when it comes to legal research. Typing in 3 different searches into the search box and then giving up won’t win you any favors. By the same token, spending 4 hours researching a fairly typical case is also a big mistake .

You can’t view legal research as a hunt for a pot of gold. In many instances, you simply won’t find the exact case law or statute you’re looking for. When you feel as though you can’t possibly look any more, you probably can’t. Make use of what you found and write the best IRAC you can.

If possible, ask for another set of eyes. If it’s for a law school assignment, ask your TA or mentor to take a look to see if you might have missed something. If this is an internship assignment , ask your supervising attorney if you think you’ve done enough. Though you may feel like a failure if you haven’t found the case that will land your client a victory, know that plenty of lawyers often struggle to find the right law, too.

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How to Conduct Legal Research

September 21, 2021

Conducting legal research can challenge even the most skilled law practitioners.

As laws evolve across jurisdictions, it can be a difficult to keep pace with every legal development. Equally daunting is the ability to track and glean insights into stakeholder strategies and legal responses. Without quick and easy access to the right tools, the legal research upon which case strategy hinges may face cost, personnel, and litigation outcome challenges.

Bloomberg Law’s artificial intelligence-driven tools drastically reduce the time to perform legal research. Whether you seek quick answers to legal research definitions, or general guidance on the legal research process, Bloomberg Law’s Core Litigation Skills Toolkit has you covered.

What is legal research?

Legal research is the process of uncovering and understanding all of the legal precedents, laws, regulations, and other legal authorities that apply in a case and inform an attorney’s course of action.

Legal research often involves case law research, which is the practice of identifying and interpreting the most relevant cases concerning the topic at issue. Legal research can also involve a deep dive into a judge’s past rulings or opposing counsel’s record of success.

Research is not a process that has a finite start and end, but remains ongoing throughout every phase of a legal matter. It is a cornerstone of a litigator’s skills.

[Learn how our integrated, time-saving litigation research tools allow litigators to streamline their work and get answers quickly.]

Where do I begin my legal research?

Beginning your legal research will look different for each assignment. At the outset, ensure that you understand your goal by asking questions and taking careful notes. Ask about background case information, logistical issues such as filing deadlines, the client/matter number, and billing instructions.

It’s also important to consider how your legal research will be used. Is the research to be used for a pending motion? If you are helping with a motion for summary judgment, for example, your goal is to find cases that are in the same procedural posture as yours and come out favorably for your side (i.e., if your client is the one filing the motion, try to find cases where a motion for summary judgment was granted, not denied). Keep in mind the burden of proof for different kinds of motions.

Finally, but no less important, assess the key facts of the case. Who are the relevant parties? Where is the jurisdiction? Who is the judge? Note all case details that come to mind.

What if I’m new to the practice area or specific legal issue?

While conducting legal research, it is easy to go down rabbit holes. Resist the urge to start by reviewing individual cases, which may prove irrelevant. Start instead with secondary sources, which often provide a prevailing statement of the law for a specific topic. These sources will save time and orient you to the area of the law and key issues.

Litigation Practical Guidance provides the essentials including step-by-step guidance, expert legal analysis, and a preview of next steps. Source citations are included in all Practical Guidance, and you can filter Points of Law, Smart Code®, and court opinions searches to get the jurisdiction-specific cases or statutes you need.

Searching across Points of Law will help to get your bearings on an issue before diving into reading the cases in full. Points of Law uses machine learning to identify key legal principles expressed in court opinions, which are easily searchable by keyword and jurisdiction. This tool helps you quickly find other cases that have expressed the same Point of Law, and directs you to related Points of Law that might be relevant to your research. It is automatically updated with the most recent opinions, saving you time and helping you quickly drill down to the relevant cases.

How do I respond to the opposing side’s brief?

Whether a brief is yours or that of the opposing party, Bloomberg Law’s Brief Analyzer is an essential component in the legal research process. It reduces the time spent analyzing a brief, identifying relevant authorities, and preparing a solid response.

To start, navigate to Brief Analyzer available from the Bloomberg Law homepage, within the Litigation Intelligence Center , or from Docket Key search results for briefs.

Simply upload the opposing side’s brief into the tool, and Brief Analyzer will generate a report of the cited authorities and arguments contained in the brief.

You can easily view a comparison with the brief and analysis side by side. It will also point you directly to relevant cases, Points of Law, and Practical Guidance to jump start your research.

[ How to Write a Legal Brief – Learn how to shorten the legal research cycle and give your legal brief a competitive advantage.]

How to optimize your search.

Crafting searches is a critical skill when it comes to legal research. Although many legal research platforms, including Bloomberg Law, offer natural language searching, terms and connectors (also called Boolean) searching is still a vital legal research skill and should be used when searching across court opinions, dockets, Points of Law, and other primary and secondary sources.

When you conduct a natural language search, the search engine applies algorithms to rank your results. Why a certain case is ranked as it is may not be obvious. This makes it harder to interpret whether the search is giving you everything you need. It is also harder to efficiently and effectively manipulate your search terms to zero in on the results you want. Using Boolean searching gives you better control over your search and greater confidence in your results.

The good news? Bloomberg Law does not charge by the search for court opinion searches. If your initial search was much too broad or much too narrow, you do not have to worry about immediately running a new and improved search.

Follow these tips when beginning a search to ensure that you do not miss relevant materials:

• Make sure you do not have typos in your search string.
• Search the appropriate source or section of the research platform. It is possible to search only within a practice area, jurisdiction, secondary resource, or other grouping of materials.
• Make sure you know which terms and connectors are utilized by the platform you are working on and what they mean – there is no uniform standard set of terms of connectors utilized by all platforms.
• Include in your search all possible terms the court might use, or alternate ways the court may address an issue. It is best to group the alternatives together within a parenthetical, connected by OR between each term.
• Consider including single and multiple character wildcards when relevant. Using a single character wildcard (an asterisk) and/or a multiple character wildcard (an exclamation point) helps you capture all word variations – even those you might not have envisioned.
• Try using a tool that helps you find additional relevant case law. When you find relevant authority, use BCITE on Bloomberg Law to find all other cases and/or sources that cite back to that case. When in BCITE, click on the Citing Documents tab, and search by keyword to narrow the results. Alternatively, you can use the court’s language or ruling to search Points of Law and find other cases that addressed the same issue or reached the same ruling.

[Bloomberg Law subscribers can access a complete checklist of search term best practices . Not a subscriber? Request a Demo .]

How can legal research help with drafting or strategy?

Before drafting a motion or brief, search for examples of what firm lawyers filed with the court in similar cases. You can likely find recent examples in your firm’s internal document system or search Bloomberg Law’s dockets. If possible, look for things filed before the same judge so you can get a quick check on rules/procedures to be followed (and by the same partner when possible so you can get an idea of their style preferences).

Careful docket search provides a wealth of information about relevant cases, jurisdictions, judges, and opposing counsel. On Bloomberg Law, type “Dockets Search” in the Go bar or find the dockets search box in the Litigation Intelligence Center .

If you do not know the specific docket number and/or court, use the docket search functionality Docket Key . Select from any of 20 categories, including motions, briefs, and orders, across all 94 federal district courts, to pinpoint the exact filing of choice.

Dockets can also help you access lots of information to guide your case strategy. For example, if you are considering filing a particular type of motion, such as a sanctions motion, you can use dockets to help determine how frequently your judge grants sanctions motions. You can also use dockets to see how similar cases before your judge proceeded through discovery.

If you are researching expert witnesses, you can use dockets to help determine if the expert has been recently excluded from a case, or whether their opinion has been limited. If so, this will help you determine whether the expert is a good fit for your case.

Dockets are a powerful research tool that allow you to search across filings to support your argument. Stay apprised of docket updates with the “Create Alert” option on Bloomberg Law.

Dive deeper into competitive research.

For even more competitive research insights, dive into Bloomberg Law’s Litigation Analytics – this is available in the Litigation tab on the homepage. Data here helps attorneys develop litigation strategy, predict possible outcomes, and better advise clients.

To start, under Litigation Analytics , leverage the Attorney tab to view case history and preview legal strategies the opposition may practice against you. Also, within Litigation Analytics, use the Court tab to get aggregate motion and appeal outcome rates across all federal courts, with the option to run comparisons across jurisdictions, and filter by company, law firm, and attorney.

Use the Judge tab to glean insights from cited opinions, and past and current decisions by motion and appeal outcomes. Also view litigation analytics in the right rail of court opinions.

Docket search can also offer intel on your opponent. Has your opponent filed similar lawsuits or made similar arguments before? How did those cases pan out? You can learn a lot about an opponent from past appearances in court.

How do I validate case law citations?

Checking the status of case law is essential in legal research. Rely on Bloomberg Law’s proprietary citator, BCITE. This time-saving tool lets you know if a case is still good law.

Under each court opinion, simply look to the right rail. There, you will see a thumbnail icon for “BCITE Analysis.” Click on the icon, and you will be provided quick links to direct history (opinions that affect or are affected by the outcome of the case at issue); case analysis (citing cases, with filter and search options), table of authorities, and citing documents.

How should I use technology to improve my legal research?

A significant benefit of digital research platforms and analytics is increased efficiency. Modern legal research technology helps attorneys sift through thousands of cases quickly and comprehensively. These products can also help aggregate or summarize data in a way that is more useful and make associations instantaneously.

For example, before litigation analytics were common, a partner may have asked a junior associate to find all summary judgment motions ruled on by a specific judge to determine how often that judge grants or denies them. The attorney could have done so by manually searching over PACER and/or by searching through court opinions, but that would take a long time. Now, Litigation Analytics can aggregate that data and provide an answer in seconds. Understanding that such products exist can be a game changer. Automating parts of the research process frees up time and effort for other activities that benefit the client and makes legal research and writing more efficient.

[Read our article: Six ways legal technology aids your litigation workflow .]

Tools like  Points of Law ,  dockets  and  Brief Analyzer  can also increase efficiency, especially when narrowing your research to confirm that you found everything on point. In the past, attorneys had to spend many hours (and lots of money) running multiple court opinion searches to ensure they did not miss a case on point. Now, there are tools that can dramatically speed up that process. For example, running a search over Points of Law can immediately direct you to other cases that discuss that same legal principle.

However, it’s important to remember that digital research and analytical tools should be seen as enhancing the legal research experience, not displacing the review, analysis, and judgment of an attorney. An attorney uses his or her knowledge of their client, the facts, the precedent, expert opinions, and his or her own experiences to predict the likely result in a given matter. Digital research products enhance this process by providing more data on a wider array of variables so that an attorney can take even more information into consideration.

[Get all your questions answered, request a Bloomberg Law demo , and more.]

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Legal Research: An Overview: Introduction

• Introduction
• Secondary Sources
• Courts, Case Reporters & Publication of Cases
• Mandatory v. Persuasive Authority
• Caselaw Searching
• Validating Your Research
• Statutory Codes
• Searching in the Codes
• Regulations
• Search Techniques

Legal Research: Getting Started

• Before You Start
• Suggested Research Strategy
• Knowing When Your Research Is Done

Good research begins with knowing what it is you are researching. New attorneys often overlook the importance of their initial communications with those assigning them projects. In their zeal to impress their employers and to appear informed, new attorneys may draw their own assumptions about the objectives for the research, neglect to ask clarifying questions, or may even appear disinterested in the assignment. Good communication skills are vital to having a solid understanding of your assignments and that those giving you assignments know they can count on you. Keep these tips in mind when you get new assignments:

Clarify the nature and scope of the project . For assignments given to you via e-mail, read the e-mail thoroughly, and for assignments given to you during a meeting, listen carefully and take detailed notes. When you receive an assignment, ask questions to clarify the scope of the project and anything that is confusing. Your questions should include asking for recommendations for key sources to consult; clarifying the format that your work product should take (i.e. research memorandum, hard copies of relevant material, draft insert for document, etc.); and confirming the deadline for completion of the assignment.

Reiterate your understanding of the project . After you have been given an assignment, send a follow up e-mail confirming your understanding of the assignment, including the key issue(s) to be researched, the format your work product will take, and the deadline.  This provides a good roadmap for you of the project and also gives your supervisor the opportunity to clarify any additional details.

Maintain good communication throughout the process . As you work on the project, check in regularly to let your supervisor know of your progress, to confirm that you are on the right-track, and to get additional guidance. If you are unsure about the extent of communication your supervisor desires, consult with other attorneys who have successfully worked with your supervisor. 

Timely respond to e-mails . It is important to timely acknowledge e-mails that your receive, even if you cannot get to the substance of the e-mail right away. For example, if you are sent an e-mail asking for a bit of research, respond to the e-mail at your earliest opportunity to let the sender know that you received their e-mail and advise the sender of when they can expect to receive at least some preliminary work on the project.

Project confidence . As a new attorney, it is natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure of your abilities when given a new assignment. Do not let these feelings compromise your professionalism when communicating with your supervisor. Show enthusiasm for the project and ask appropriate questions about deadlines and suggestions for getting started. Should you feel confused or overwhelmed as you work on a project, identify what it is you need guidance on, such as help prioritizing research items or confirmation that you are researching in the right sources, and go to your supervisor with specific questions.

Your research strategy will vary depending on your legal issue and the nature of your project. While there is no one path that works for every research question, these steps are a useful starting point:

Determine the relevant jurisdiction . Before you begin your research, you need to determine which law is controlling for your issue. Is the issue governed by state or federal law? For state law questions, what state(s) law is at issue? For federal law questions, what are the relevant Circuit and District courts?

Identify the legal issue and determine keywords to describe the issue . It is common for those new to legal research to go directly to a search engine and start typing away, hoping to find an answer quickly. Taking some time to step back from the search engine and think through the issue to be researched will save you time in the long run, as it will make your searching more efficient and effective. Identify what area(s) of the law are implicated by your issue, what is the question to be researched, what topics are implicated by that question, are there sub-issues that should be considered? You may find it helpful to write out the question(s) that you are researching. Also, think through keywords that describe your issue that would be useful for generating good searches. For those keywords, think through synonyms that may be used in lieu of those words.

Begin your research by consulting a secondary source . Secondary sources offer guidance on legal topics and questions. They are a critical resource to help you get a "lay-of-the-land" regarding your issue and will identify statutes and leading cases to jump start your research.

Locate relevant statutes . If there is an on-point statute for your issue, look up that statute in an annotated code. Take note not just of the language of the specific statute but also review the rest of the "chapter" in which the statute appears to identify other related and relevant statutes. For each relevant statute, review the annotations for citations to cases and secondary sources.

Find relevant cases . If you have identified relevant cases by looking at secondary sources and/or annotated codes, review those cases. Use the on-point headnotes of each case to search for other relevant cases in your jurisdiction, and use the citator (Shepard's in Lexis, KeyCite in Westlaw, and BCite in Bloomberg) to identify cases that have cited to your cases. Also, do additional keyword type searches to find other relevant cases.

Confirm that your authority is still good law . Use a citator (Shepard's in Lexis, KeyCite in Westlaw, or BCite in Bloomberg) to confirm that your cases and statutes are still good law.

One of the trickiest research tasks is knowing when your research is completed. Legal analysis is nuanced, and thorough research involves looking at a number of sources and types of materials. Finding one on-point authority does not mean your research is complete. However, it also is simply not possible to run every conceivable search in every conceivable resource and review every conceivable search result. Good legal researchers find the sweet-spot between one-and-done and scorched-earth type research.

The following may signal that you have found a good spot to conclude your research:

Your searches keep turning up the same set of relevant authorities. If you are no longer finding relevant new sources, you have probably found the bulk of what is available.

You have searched in a variety of available sources (i.e. secondary sources, cases, etc.) and resources (Westlaw/Lexis/Bloomberg, government websites, other available resources).

You have searched using a variety of keywords.

You have searched using a variety of methods (using secondary sources to find primary authority, keyword searching, mining headnotes to explore Topics/Key Numbers, reviewing citing references, etc.).

For your most relevant search results, you have reviewed both the sources they cite and sources that cite to those materials.

Other Useful UCLA Legal Research Resources

Law Library Home Page . The Law Library home page provides access to a wide array of research resources and information.

Law Library Research Guides . The Law Library has prepared more than 80 research guides to assist UCLA Law students with their research needs. Guides of particular interest for law students include: Guide for First Year Law Students; Law School Study Aids; Mobile Applications for Law Students and Lawyers; and Career Planning, Job Search and More for Law Students.

How to Access UCLA Databases . This guide provides instructions for UCLA Law students on how to access UC, UCLA, and UCLA Law licensed databases remotely.

Law Library Digital Collection . The Digital Collection page provides links to commonly used legal databases.

UC Library Search . Use the Catalog to search for books and other library materials available at UCLA and the other UC libraries.

UCLA Library A-Z Databases List . The UCLA Library system provides access to non-legal databases and other research resources available at UCLA.

• Next: Secondary Sources >>
• Last Updated: Feb 2, 2024 1:31 PM
• URL: https://libguides.law.ucla.edu/researchoverview

© The Regents of the University of California. UCLA School of Law. All Rights Reserved.

• Western Libraries
• Library Guides

Legal Research Strategy

Legal research strategy: legal research strategy, preliminary analysis, organization, secondary sources, primary sources, updating research (shepardizing), identifying an end point, about this guide.

This guide will walk a beginning researcher though the legal research process step-by-step. This guide was reproduced from the Guide Legal Research Strategy by AJ Blechner at Harvard Law School Library . Some resources mentioned may not be available to WWU students. 

How to Strategize

Legal research must be comprehensive and precise.  One contrary source that you miss may invalidate other sources you plan to rely on.  Sticking to a strategy will save you time, ensure completeness, and improve your work product. 

Follow These Steps

Running Time: 3 minutes, 13 seconds.

If you get stuck at any time during the process, these may help:

• Legal Research Checklist
• Ten Tips for Moving Beyond the Brick Wall in the Legal Research Process, by Marsha L. Baum

Understanding the Legal Questions

A legal question often originates as a problem or story about a series of events. In law school, these stories are called fact patterns. In practice, facts may arise from a manager or an interview with a potential client. Start by doing the following:

• Read anything you have been given
• Analyze the facts and frame the legal issues
• Assess what you know and need to learn
• Note the jurisdiction and any primary law you have been given
• Generate potential search terms

Jurisdiction

Legal rules will vary depending on where geographically your legal question will be answered. You must determine the jurisdiction in which your claim will be heard. These resources can help you learn more about jurisdiction and how it is determined:

• Legal Treatises on Jurisdiction
• LII Wex Entry on Jurisdiction

This map indicates which states are in each federal appellate circuit:

Getting Started

Once you have begun your research, you will need to keep track of your work. Logging your research will help you to avoid missing sources and explain your research strategy. You will likely be asked to explain your research process when in practice. Researchers can keep paper logs, folders on Westlaw or Lexis, or online citation management platforms.

Tracking with Paper or Excel

Many researchers create their own tracking charts.  Be sure to include:

• Search Date
• Topics/Keywords/Search Strategy
• Citation to Relevant Source Found
• Save Locations
• Follow Up Needed

Consider using the following research log as a starting place: 

• Sample Research Log

Using Zotero

For long term projects,  Zotero  might be useful. It's a good tool to keep your research well organized. Note, however, that none of these platforms substitute for doing your own proper Bluebook citations. Learn more about citation management software on our other research guides:

Types of Sources

There are three different types of sources: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary.  When doing legal research you will be using mostly primary and secondary sources.  We will explore these different types of sources in the sections below.

Secondary sources often explain legal principles more thoroughly than a single case or statute. Starting with them can help you save time.

Secondary sources are particularly useful for:

• Learning the basics of a particular area of law
• Understanding key terms of art in an area
• Identifying essential cases and statutes

Consider the following when deciding which type of secondary source is right for you:

• Scope/Breadth
• Depth of Treatment
• Currentness/Reliability

Legal Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Legal dictionaries.

Legal dictionaries are similar to other dictionaries that you have likely used before.

• A Dictionary of Law (Oxford Reference)

Legal Encyclopedias

Legal encyclopedias contain brief, broad summaries of legal topics, providing introductions and explaining terms of art. They also provide citations to primary law and relevant major law review articles.  

Treatises are books on legal topics.  These books are a good place to begin your research.  They provide explanation, analysis, and citations to the most relevant primary sources. Treatises range from single subject overviews to deep treatments of broad subject areas.

It is important to check the date when the treatise was published. Many are either not updated, or are updated through the release of newer editions.

Law Reviews & Journals

Law reviews are scholarly publications, usually edited by law students in conjunction with faculty members. They contain both lengthy articles and shorter essays by professors and lawyers. They also contain comments, notes, or developments in the law written by law students. Articles often focus on new or emerging areas of law and may offer critical commentary. Some law reviews are dedicated to a particular topic while others are general. Occasionally, law reviews will include issues devoted to proceedings of panels and symposia.

Law review and journal articles are extremely narrow and deep with extensive references. 

To find law review articles visit:

• Law Journal Library on HeinOnline Select Law Journal Library under Browse Databases by Name
• Criminal Justice Law Reviews (NexisUni)

Primary Authority

Primary authority is "authority that issues directly from a law-making body."   Authority , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).   Sources of primary authority include:

• Constitutions
• Statutes 

Regulations

Access to primary legal sources is available through:

• Free & Low Cost Alternatives

Statutes (also called legislation) are "laws enacted by legislative bodies", such as Congress and state legislatures.  Statute , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).

We typically start primary law research here. If there is a controlling statute, cases you look for later will interpret that law. There are two types of statutes, annotated and unannotated.

Annotated codes are a great place to start your research. They combine statutory language with citations to cases, regulations, secondary sources, and other relevant statutes. This can quickly connect you to the most relevant cases related to a particular law. Unannotated Codes provide only the text of the statute without editorial additions. Unannotated codes, however, are more often considered official and used for citation purposes.

For a deep dive on federal and state statutes, visit: Statutes: US and State Code (from Harvard Law School Library) 

• 50 State Surveys

Want to learn more about the history or legislative intent of a law?  Learn how to get started here:

• Legislative History Get an introduction to legislative histories in less than 5 minutes.
• Federal Legislative History Research Guide (Harvard Law Library)

Regulations are rules made by executive departments and agencies. Not every legal question will require you to search regulations. However, many areas of law are affected by regulations. So make sure not to skip this step if they are relevant to your question.

To learn more about working with regulations, visit: Administrative Law Research (Harvard Law School Library)

Case Basics

In many areas, finding relevant caselaw will comprise a significant part of your research. This Is particularly true in legal areas that rely heavily on common law principles.

Running Time: 3 minutes, 10 seconds.

Unpublished Cases

Up to  86% of federal case opinions are unpublished. You must determine whether your jurisdiction will consider these unpublished cases as persuasive authority. The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure have an overarching rule, Rule 32.1  Each circuit also has local rules regarding citations to unpublished opinions. You must understand both the Federal Rule and the rule in your jurisdiction.

• Federal and Local Rules of Appellate Procedure 32.1 (Dec. 2021).
• Type of Opinion or Order Filed in Cases Terminated on the Merits, by Circuit (Sept. 2021).

Each state also has its own local rules which can often be accessed through:

• State Bar Associations
• State Courts Websites

Finding Cases

Headnotes show the key legal points in a case. Legal databases use these headnotes to guide researchers to other cases on the same topic. They also use them to organize concepts explored in cases by subject. Publishers, like LexisNexis, create headnotes, so they are not consistent across databases.

In Nexis, headnotes are listed after the Case Summary. If you want to know more about a specific headnote, click on "Shepardize - Narrow by this headnote" to search for cases related to that headnote. 

Start by identifying a relevant topic in a digest.  Then you can limit those results to your jurisdiction for more relevant results.  Sometimes, you can keyword search within only the results on your topic in your jurisdiction.  This is a particularly powerful research method.

One Good Case Method

You can use good cases you find to locate other cases addressing the same topic. These other cases often apply similar rules to a range of diverse fact patterns. The video below is from Harvard Law Library and references databases Western doesn't have. You can do similar searches in NexisUni (from LexisNexis).

Ways to Use Citators

A citator is "a catalogued list of cases, statutes, and other legal sources showing the subsequent history and current precedential value of those sources.  Citators allow researchers to verify the authority of a precedent and to find additional sources relating to a given subject." Citator , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).

Each major legal database has its own citator.  The two most popular are Keycite on Westlaw and Shepard's on Lexis. We have access to Shepard's through NexisUni . 

Making Sure Your Case is Still Good Law

This video answers common questions about citators. This video is from Harvard Law Library and references two databases, LexisNexis (Shepardize) and Westlaw (KeyCite). We have access to Shepardize through NexisUni )

• Shepard's Video Tutorial
• Shepard's Handout
• Shepard's Editorial Phrase Dictionary
• Shepardizing: Shepards's Signals and Indicators

Using Citators For

Citators serve three purposes: (1) case validation, (2) better understanding, and (3) additional research. 

Case Validation

Is my case or statute good law?

• Parallel citations
• Prior and subsequent history
• Negative treatment suggesting you should no longer cite to holding.

Better Understanding

Has the law in this area changed?

• Later cases on the same point of law
• Positive treatment, explaining or expanding the law.
• Negative Treatment, narrowing or distinguishing the law.

Track Research

Who is citing and writing about my case or statute?

• Secondary sources that discuss your case or statute.
• Cases in other jurisdictions that discuss your case or statute.

Knowing When to Start Writing

For more guidance on when to stop your research see:

• Terminating Research, by Christina L. Kunz

The Legal Research Guide is based on the guide created by AJ Blechner, Student Services Research Librarian & Instructional Designer  and licensed by Harvard Law Library under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License .

You may reproduce any part of it for noncommercial purposes as long as credit is included and it is shared in the same manner. 

• Last Updated: Jan 26, 2024 2:12 PM
• URL: https://libguides.wwu.edu/LegalResearch

leiden lawmethods portal

Formulating a research question.

Last update: April 21, 2022

The start of any research project lies with whatever it is you are interested in. It could be a specific topic, an event, a piece of legislation or any collection of facts and phenomena that puzzles you and triggers questions. The key is then to determine the research question that will guide your research. As with many parts of the research process, the research question can change and develop as you engage with the relevant literature and data. You don’t have to form a fixed research question at the very beginning of the research process. Nonetheless, it is essential to never lose sight of your research question. Your research question has implications for which methods will be used during the analysis and which central goals the study is set up to accomplish.

There are three main reasons why the formulation of the research question is essential for the research process and has to be done with great care:

• Condensing the topic, you are interested in into a single question forces you to really get to what exactly it is you want to know and which key variables are involved.
• Every research question requires a justification as to why it is being posed. Has this question not yet been answered definitively? Why is this question significant for the field?
• The research question has to fit what you are actually doing in your work. A question that is too broad will make it impossible for you to sufficiently answer it. If your question is too specific, the answer might be uninteresting.

Research questions are often sorted into different categories. As with most categorizations, these types of questions differ depending on the field of study. The biggest fault lines when it comes to the different types of research questions lie (1) between normative and descriptive research, (2) within the latter between theoretical and empirical research, and (3) within empirical research between descriptive and explanatory questions. Toshkov (2016) differentiates descriptive, predictive, and explanatory research while Chui (2017) categorizes them as descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory. No matter which exact typology of research question you are working with, it is always helpful to reflect on these key fault lines. Is the goal of your research to determine what ought to be or study the world as it is ? Will you be doing theoretical or empirical work? If you are working with empirics, are you focusing on the collection of facts surrounding a phenomenon (What is happening? What has happened?) or are you trying to determine causal mechanisms and structures (Why is this happening? How has this happened?)?

If your research topic constitutes a lack of information on a phenomenon, a type of legal proceeding or a specific event for example, a descriptive research question underlines the objective of your research of collecting facts that would be necessary to set-up further analyses or theory building. Descriptive research can utilize a number of methodologies ranging from archival work, ethnographic participant observation to conducting large-N surveys examining one or multiple cases.

If you want to determine the how or why of a phenomenon or event, then you are aiming to uncover causal mechanisms or structures and hence require an explanatory research question. For a more detailed outline of the set-up of explanatory legal research, please refer to Jaroslaw Kantorowicz’s entry on “ Causality in Research Design ”.

Finally, a few guiding questions to keep in mind when (re)formulating your research question:

• Is the question concise and grammatically as well as structurally formulated in a way that is easily understood?
• Is the question open-ended?
• Does the question reflect your research goal?
• Is the question making use of normative language (and should it)?
• Is the question researchable and can be feasibly answered within the scope of the study?
• Does your research address everything mentioned in your research question?

Chui, W. H., & McConville, Michael. (2017). Research methods for law (2nd ed.). Edinburgh: Edinburgh Univ. P.

Dunleavy, P. (2015). Authoring a PhD: how to plan, draft, write and finish a doctoral thesis or dissertation. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan education.

Halperin, S., & Heath, O. (2020). Political research: methods and practical skills (Third edition.).

Toshkov, D. (2016). Research design in political science.

Wellington, J., Bathmaker, A.-M., Hunt, C., McCulloch, G., & Sikes, P. (2005). Succeeding with Your Doctorate. In Succeeding with Your Doctorate. London: SAGE Publications.

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• 10 Research Question Examples to Guide Your Research Project

10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project

Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on October 19, 2023.

The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper , thesis or dissertation . It’s important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.

The exact form of your question will depend on a few things, such as the length of your project, the type of research you’re conducting, the topic , and the research problem . However, all research questions should be focused, specific, and relevant to a timely social or scholarly issue.

Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question , you can use these examples to craft your own.

Note that the design of your research question can depend on what method you are pursuing. Here are a few options for qualitative, quantitative, and statistical research questions.

Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

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McCombes, S. (2023, October 19). 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. Scribbr. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/

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Five Questions to Ask When Choosing a Legal Research Service Provider

The Importance of Reliable Legal Research

Despite changes in the legal industry, like advancing technology and innovative legal marketing , there is one aspect that is as true today as it was decades ago: attorneys would not be able to provide accurate legal counsel without the use of a legal research service.

Without access to case law, statutes and regulations, as well as proper legal citation tools, an attorney could be flirting with malpractice each time they advised a client.

But given the amount of legal research service providers on the market, selecting the best one can seem daunting . Ask the right questions though and it becomes far less onerous. That said, here are five questions attorneys should ask when deciding which legal research service is right for them.

Related: LexisNexis vs. Google Scholar Case Law Search: A Comparison

1. What's My ROI Using This Legal Research Service? 

The best legal research services help you efficiently find what you’re looking for, so it is important to determine what kind of return on investment the tools you’re considering can provide for your use case.

In this context, ROI means that the service should help you do more billable work in less time by surfacing the information you’re looking for in as few steps as possible. That way, you can quickly move past researching and spend more time putting that research to good use by counseling your clients, negotiating with opposing counsel, etc. This is particularly important for attorneys who tend to provide their services on a flat fee or contingency fee basis where more time spent on legal research could lead to lower profit margins.

A great way to determine the potential ROI of a service is to determine how long it takes to research an issue on one service versus its competitors.

A legal research service’s features can also offer clues as to how likely it is to yield a positive ROI. Visualization tools that help you jump to the relevant details in your research will save you time. So too will a service’s curated collections of information that can help you quickly find what you’re looking for. And, the ability to organize your search results in a way that enables you to come back to them later without having to repeat any work can be a lifesaver.

2. Will the AI and Analytics Tools Provide Legal Counsel? 

You might have noticed that we’re big fans of artificial intelligence and legal analytics . That’s because all attorneys, especially those in solo and small firms, can use these tools to level the playing field with BigLaw. The resources can help them find the information they need to serve clients efficiently and effectively, without an army of attorneys and paralegals.

While some legal research services have integrated AI and analytics into their products, you should look closely to determine how much actual value they provide.

Will they help you determine the citing relationship between relevant cases so you can find more supporting case law? Will they guide you to the cases that cite the key language or issues you are looking for? Will they give you an idea of how long a judge takes to rule on certain motions? Can they predict the likelihood that a bill you are tracking becomes law?

3. Is The Service Helpful in Determining "Good Law?"

Few things are more embarrassing for an attorney than to learn from an adversary or a judge that a case they based their best argument on was recently overruled.

Every legal research service worth its salt provides some editorial analysis of decisions so that attorneys can avoid this embarrassing situation. But the level of this analysis varies drastically from service to service.

Does the service you’re sizing up provide you with a preliminary indication of how courts have treated a decision or statute? Does it give you a sense of which citing reference had the strongest influence on that indication? Can you easily determine where there are splits of authority or which citing references provide additional support? Does the service integrate with your word processing software so that you can validate multiple citations and quotations at once?

4. Can I Access The Service On-The-Go? 

These days, it is a forgone conclusion that at some point you’ll need to access your legal research service remotely. When that time comes, will you be able to do so from your phone or tablet? Does the service you’re evaluating have dedicated mobile apps with functionality that mirrors its full-sized experience?

5. Does The Service Assist in Proactively Monitoring Changes to Search Results or Case Treatment?

The traditional practice of law requires attorneys to look backward at previously decided cases and enacted statutes. Yet, attorneys are arguably at their best when they’re able to take advantage of new developments in the law.

Does the service you’re considering alert you to changes in a publication or your prior search results? Can it proactively tell you if a case you’re relying on has been overruled ? Can it give you updates on legislation you’re tracking or news topics that are of importance to you or a client?

Focus on Features and Benefits, Not Just Extras 

Today, attorneys have more choices in legal research providers than they ever did. And most of these services have capabilities that are way ahead of what was offered just a few years ago.

But the number of choices often makes it difficult for attorneys and their firms to determine which service is best for their needs.

These five questions can help you cut through the clutter so that you can find the legal research service provider that best matches your needs.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 great research paper topics.

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

• Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
• Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
• How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
• How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
• How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
• How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

• What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
• How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
• How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
• Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
• What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
• What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
• How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
• How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
• How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
• What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
• What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
• What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
• Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies  (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
• Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
• Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
• Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
• Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
• Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
• How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
• Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
• What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
• How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
• What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
• Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
• Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
• Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
• How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
• Should graduate students be able to form unions?

• What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
• How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
• Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
• Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
• How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
• How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
• Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
• Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
• Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
• Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
• Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
• Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
• Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
• Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
• Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
• How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
• How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
• What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
• What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
• Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
• What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
• What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
• Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
• Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
• How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
• Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
• What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
• How does stress affect the body?
• Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
• What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
• Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
• How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
• What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
• What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
• Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
• What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
• What were the causes of the Civil War?
• How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
• Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
• What caused Hitler's rise to power?
• Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
• What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
• How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
• What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

• Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
• Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
• How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
• How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
• What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
• What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
• How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

• How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
• How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
• Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
• Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
• How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
• How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
• What are the pros and cons of fracking?
• What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
• What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
• How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
• Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
• Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
• What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
• What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
• How are black holes created?
• Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
• How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
• Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
• How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
• Has social media made people more or less connected?
• What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
• Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
• What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
• How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
• When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
• Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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20 Legal Researcher Interview Questions and Answers

Common Legal Researcher interview questions, how to answer them, and sample answers from a certified career coach.

As a legal researcher, your job is to help lawyers and other professionals understand the law. But before you can do that, you need to land the job!

The interview process for a legal research position will likely involve questions about your knowledge of the law as well as some more general queries. To make sure you’re prepared, we’ve put together this guide to common legal research interview questions—along with advice on how to answer them. Read on and get ready to ace the interview!

• What experience do you have with legal research and analysis?
• Describe a time when you had to interpret complex legal documents.
• How do you stay up-to-date on the latest changes in laws and regulations?
• Explain your understanding of the different types of legal sources (e.g. statutes, case law, etc.).
• Are you familiar with using online databases for legal research?
• What strategies do you use to ensure accuracy when researching legal information?
• How do you approach summarizing long and complex legal documents?
• Have you ever written an opinion or memorandum based on your legal research?
• Describe a situation where you had to explain a complex legal concept to someone without a legal background.
• What is your experience with conducting interviews with witnesses or experts?
• Do you have any experience working with international laws and treaties?
• How do you handle conflicting interpretations of a legal document?
• What techniques do you use to organize large amounts of data collected during legal research?
• How do you determine which cases are relevant to a particular legal issue?
• What methods do you use to verify the accuracy of legal citations?
• How do you prioritize tasks when faced with multiple deadlines?
• What strategies do you use to keep track of important dates and deadlines?
• Describe a time when you had to work under pressure to meet a tight deadline.
• How do you handle difficult clients who may not understand the complexities of the legal system?
• What would you do if you encountered a problem that was outside of your area of expertise?

1. What experience do you have with legal research and analysis?

Legal researchers are expected to be knowledgeable about the laws, regulations, and legal processes that are relevant to their work. They must be able to analyze legal documents, conduct research, and apply that knowledge to their work. Interviewers ask this question to get an understanding of the candidate’s experience and skills in this area.

How to Answer:

To answer this question, you should provide examples of your experience with legal research and analysis. Talk about the types of projects you have worked on, the methods you used to conduct research, and any successes you achieved from your work. You should also mention any specific tools or software you are familiar with that can help in researching and analyzing legal documents. Finally, emphasize your ability to think critically and apply your knowledge to complex legal issues.

Example: “I have extensive experience with legal research and analysis. I have worked on a variety of projects, ranging from researching case law for litigation to conducting due diligence for corporate transactions. I am familiar with the most common tools used in legal research, such as LexisNexis and Westlaw, and I also have experience using specialized software programs like LawToolBox and LegalTracker. In addition, I have developed strong analytical skills that allow me to identify key issues and develop creative solutions to complex legal problems.”

2. Describe a time when you had to interpret complex legal documents.

Legal research requires a great deal of precision and accuracy, as well as the ability to interpret complex legal documents. An interviewer wants to make sure you have the skills to clearly and concisely explain legal concepts and documents, so they’ll ask you to provide specific examples of times when you’ve done this in the past.

Talk about a time when you had to interpret complex legal documents and the outcome of your work. Describe the process you went through, from researching the relevant laws and regulations to actually interpreting the document. Make sure you explain how you used your research skills and knowledge of the law to come to an accurate interpretation. Also, don’t forget to mention the successful outcome of your efforts.

Example: “I’m constantly monitoring changes in the law and staying up-to-date on the latest legal developments. I subscribe to a number of newsletters and blogs related to my field of research, attend conferences and seminars when possible, and take continuing education courses as needed. Additionally, I’ve become quite proficient with online databases and other tools that allow me to quickly access relevant information when necessary. For example, last year I was tasked with interpreting a complex contract related to a high-profile case. I used several different resources to make sure I had an accurate understanding of all the terms and conditions, and presented my findings clearly and concisely to the team.”

3. How do you stay up-to-date on the latest changes in laws and regulations?

Staying up-to-date on the latest legal developments is an essential part of a legal researcher’s job. It’s important to show that you’re able to keep up with the most current developments in the field, and that you have the tools and resources necessary to do so. Your answer should demonstrate that you actively seek out new information and have the right systems in place to stay informed.

You should emphasize the methods you use to stay up-to-date on legal developments. Talk about how you monitor changes in laws and regulations, such as subscribing to newsletters or following industry blogs. You can also mention that you attend conferences or seminars related to your field of research, or take continuing education courses. Additionally, if you have experience using online databases or other tools to access information quickly, be sure to highlight that as well.

Example: “I stay on top of the latest legal developments by subscribing to industry newsletters, reading relevant blogs and publications, attending conferences and seminars related to my field of research, and taking continuing education courses. I also use online databases like LexisNexis and Westlaw to quickly access information when needed. Additionally, I make sure to keep up with any changes in regulations or laws that could affect my work, so I can adjust my research accordingly.”

4. Explain your understanding of the different types of legal sources (e.g. statutes, case law, etc.).

Legal research is a complex and specialized skill set. Knowing the different types of legal sources—such as statutes, case law, regulations, and administrative decisions—is just the beginning. The interviewer wants to make sure you understand how to use these sources to find relevant information, interpret the law, and apply it to a given situation. Additionally, it will also help them gauge your comprehension of the legal system and the various rules and regulations that govern it.

Start by explaining the different types of legal sources, such as statutes, case law, regulations, and administrative decisions. Then explain how you use these sources to find relevant information and interpret the law. Finally, provide an example of a situation in which you used these sources to apply the law to a given situation. Be sure to emphasize your ability to quickly locate appropriate sources and accurately interpret their meaning.

Example: “I understand the different types of legal sources and how to use them. Statutes are laws passed by a legislative body, such as Congress or a state legislature. Case law is based on court decisions that interpret statutes and develop common law. Regulations are rules created by administrative agencies to enforce statutory authority. Administrative decisions are decisions made by an agency in response to specific questions about the interpretation or application of regulations.

When conducting legal research, I first locate appropriate sources and then carefully read through them to accurately interpret their meaning. This requires an understanding of the underlying principles and theories of law, as well as an ability to synthesize information from multiple sources. For example, when researching the obligations of employers regarding employee privacy rights, I would review relevant statutes, case law, regulations, and administrative decisions to understand the scope of those rights.”

5. Are you familiar with using online databases for legal research?

Legal research requires knowledge of online databases and other digital tools that can help researchers quickly and accurately search for relevant cases and other legal documents. The interviewer wants to know if you understand the importance of digital resources when researching and if you’re comfortable using them.

To answer this question, you should be prepared to discuss your experience with using online databases for legal research. Explain which databases and tools you’re familiar with and how they have helped you in your previous roles. If you don’t have any direct experience with the specific databases or tools that the interviewer mentions, explain your ability to quickly learn new software and digital tools. Be sure to emphasize your interest in continuing to develop your knowledge of digital resources for legal research.

Example: “Yes, I am very familiar with using online databases for legal research. In my current role as a legal researcher at ABC & Associates, I use LexisNexis, Westlaw, and other digital resources to help me quickly locate relevant cases and documents. I also have experience with developing search queries that are tailored specifically to the needs of each project. Additionally, I’ve taken courses in legal research methods and am always open to learning more about new software and digital tools.”

6. What strategies do you use to ensure accuracy when researching legal information?

Because legal research requires a great deal of accuracy and attention to detail, it’s important that potential hires have strategies in place to ensure they are finding the correct information. Interviewers ask this question to get a sense of how a candidate approaches their research and whether or not they have the skills needed to succeed in the role.

The best way to answer this question is to provide specific examples of strategies you use when researching legal information. You can start by talking about the importance of double-checking sources and verifying accuracy, as well as using multiple sources to cross-reference information. Additionally, you can discuss how you stay up-to-date on changes in the law and any relevant court decisions. Finally, you can mention that you make sure to document your research process so that it’s easy to refer back to if needed.

Example: “When researching legal information, accuracy is of the utmost importance. That’s why I always double-check my sources and verify their accuracy before relying on them. Additionally, I use multiple sources to cross-reference information so that I can be sure I’m getting the most accurate results. I also stay up-to-date on changes in the law and any relevant court decisions by regularly reading industry publications and attending conferences when possible. Finally, I document my research process carefully so that I have a record of where I found each piece of information in case it needs to be referenced again.”

7. How do you approach summarizing long and complex legal documents?

Legal researchers will often be asked to review large and complex documents, such as contracts, statutes, and regulations. They need to be able to identify the essential elements of these documents, summarize them in a way that is clear and concise, and provide recommendations or advice to their clients. This question helps to evaluate a candidate’s ability to do all of these things.

To answer this question, you should explain the steps that you take when summarizing a long and complex legal document. You can talk about how you read each document thoroughly and carefully to ensure that you understand the full context of the material. Then, you can discuss how you identify the key points or arguments in the document and break them down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Finally, you can explain how you create a concise summary that captures the essential elements of the document while leaving out unnecessary details.

Example: “When I’m summarizing long and complex legal documents, I approach it with careful attention to detail. My first step is to read the document thoroughly in order to understand all of the relevant information. Then, I identify the key points or arguments that are made in the document and break them down into smaller pieces for easier comprehension. From there, I create a concise summary that captures the essential elements of the document while leaving out unnecessary details. This allows me to provide my clients with an accurate and comprehensive understanding of the material.”

8. Have you ever written an opinion or memorandum based on your legal research?

Legal research is the foundation of a lawyer’s work. While it’s important to be able to identify relevant legal authority, it’s equally important to be able to explain the implications of that authority in clear and concise language. Writing an opinion or memorandum based on your legal research is a great way to demonstrate your ability to think critically and analyze legal issues.

If you have written an opinion or memorandum based on your legal research, explain the process you used to conduct the research and analyze the relevant law. Be sure to provide specific details about the issue you were researching and the conclusions you drew from it. If you haven’t yet written an opinion or memorandum, you can still answer this question by discussing the steps you would take if given the opportunity.

Example: “Yes, I have written an opinion or memorandum based on my legal research. Last year, I wrote a memorandum for a client regarding the constitutionality of a proposed state law. To prepare, I conducted extensive legal research to identify relevant case law, statutes, and other legal authority. I then analyzed the authority and wrote a memorandum outlining the implications of the law, as well as the potential risks and benefits of pursuing it. I believe my work was instrumental in helping the client make an informed decision and I would be more than happy to discuss this experience in more detail.”

9. Describe a situation where you had to explain a complex legal concept to someone without a legal background.

Legal researchers are expected to be able to communicate complicated legal concepts in a way that non-lawyers can understand. This question helps to assess your ability to explain complex ideas in a straightforward and clear way. It also shows your ability to think on your feet and adapt your communication style to different audiences.

Start by discussing a situation where you had to explain a complex legal concept. You can talk about the context of the situation, who you were speaking to, and why it was important for them to understand this concept. Then move on to how you approached the situation: what steps did you take to make sure your audience understood? Did you break down the concept into smaller parts or provide examples? How did you know that they had grasped the concept? Finally, discuss the results of your explanation – did they have any follow-up questions or comments?

Example: “I had to explain the concept of vicarious liability to a group of business owners. This is a complex legal concept that can be difficult to understand, so I knew I had to break it down into smaller parts. I started by providing a definition of vicarious liability and then used an example to illustrate how it works in practice. I asked the business owners questions to ensure that they understood the concept, and I was able to answer any follow-up questions they had. By the end of the conversation, they had a clear understanding of vicarious liability and how it applied to their situation.”

10. What is your experience with conducting interviews with witnesses or experts?

Legal researchers often have to conduct interviews with witnesses and experts to uncover information relevant to a case. Interviewing is an important skill for legal researchers to have, as it allows them to gather the necessary information and evidence needed to build a solid case. By asking this question, the interviewer is looking to see if the applicant has the necessary experience to do this type of research.

If you have experience conducting interviews with witnesses or experts, explain how it has helped you in your research. Talk about the types of questions you asked and how you were able to get the information needed from the interviewee. If you don’t have any direct experience, discuss how you would go about interviewing a witness or expert if given the opportunity. Describe what kind of preparation you would do before the interview, such as researching the topic or gathering background information on the person being interviewed.

Example: “I have experience conducting interviews with witnesses and experts. In my previous role as a legal researcher, I was often tasked with interviewing people with relevant information to a case. I always prepared thoroughly before an interview by researching the topic and gathering background information on the person being interviewed. During the interview, I asked questions to uncover key facts and evidence that could help build a stronger case. I also took notes to ensure that I had an accurate record of the conversation.”

11. Do you have any experience working with international laws and treaties?

Many businesses and organizations operate across multiple countries and need legal researchers who are familiar with the laws and regulations of each country. This question is designed to gauge whether you have the knowledge and experience necessary to manage these complex tasks and understand the nuances of different countries’ legal systems.

If you have experience researching and interpreting international laws, this is a great opportunity to talk about it. If not, don’t worry—you can still answer the question positively. Talk about any research or legal work that you have done in other countries, such as internships abroad, language skills, or familiarity with local customs. You could also mention any courses that you have taken related to international law. Finally, emphasize your eagerness to learn more about different legal systems and your commitment to staying up-to-date on changing regulations.

Example: “I have not yet worked directly with international laws and treaties, but I have done extensive research on the legal systems of several countries. For example, during my graduate studies in international law, I wrote a paper on the intricacies of the EU’s regulations on trade. Additionally, I am fluent in Spanish and have taken courses in Spanish-language legal documents. I’m confident that my research skills and language abilities will enable me to quickly familiarize myself with the laws of any country that I am researching for your firm.”

12. How do you handle conflicting interpretations of a legal document?

As a legal researcher, you’ll be in a unique position to help lawyers and other professionals interpret the law. This question is a great way for your interviewer to get a sense of how you approach this kind of problem-solving. Do you think critically about the material? Are you able to consider different interpretations and evaluate them objectively? Do you have the ability to explain complex legal matters in a way that’s accessible for non-legal professionals? These are all skills that will be useful in the position.

Start by explaining that you understand the importance of interpreting legal documents accurately and objectively. Talk about how you would approach this kind of problem, such as researching case law or consulting with a lawyer who specializes in the area of law in question. You can also mention any specific techniques you’ve used in the past to evaluate conflicting interpretations, such as breaking down the document into its component parts or considering the context in which it was written. Finally, emphasize your ability to explain complex legal matters in an understandable way.

Example: “My approach to resolving conflicts in legal documents is to break them down into their component parts and consider the context in which they were written. I always strive to be objective and to consider all possible interpretations. I also recognize the importance of being able to explain complex legal matters in a way that can be understood by non-legal professionals. In the past, I’ve consulted with lawyers who specialize in the area of law in question and I’ve also done research into relevant case law. I believe that this combination of analytical and communication skills makes me an ideal candidate for this position.”

13. What techniques do you use to organize large amounts of data collected during legal research?

Legal research requires a great deal of organization and attention to detail. It’s important that a legal researcher be able to manage large amounts of data and organize it in a way that is easily accessible and understandable. This question allows the interviewer to assess your organizational skills and determine if you’re able to handle the demands of the job.

Talk about the techniques you use to organize data, such as using spreadsheets or databases to store information. Explain how you categorize and label data so that it is easy to find and understand. If you have experience with specific software programs for organizing research data, mention this as well. Finally, discuss any systems you’ve implemented in the past to ensure accuracy and efficiency when collecting and organizing data.

Example: “I have extensive experience collecting and organizing large amounts of data for legal research. I typically use spreadsheets or databases to store the information, and I categorize the data in a way that makes it easy to find and understand. I also use software programs such as Microsoft Access and LexisNexis to help organize and manage large amounts of data. I have developed systems to ensure accuracy and efficiency when collecting and organizing data, such as double-checking sources and verifying information. By implementing these systems, I’m able to quickly and accurately find the information needed for legal research.”

14. How do you determine which cases are relevant to a particular legal issue?

Legal research is a key part of the job and requires an ability to quickly and accurately find the right cases and documents for a given situation. By asking this question, the interviewer is looking to get a sense of how you approach the task of research and how quickly you can find the information needed. It also gives them a chance to see how you think about the legal landscape and the various aspects of the research process.

Start by talking about the research process you use. Explain how you first begin with a broad search to get an understanding of the legal landscape, then narrow down your search to focus on relevant cases and documents. You can also talk about the various resources you use for research, such as databases and other online sources. Finally, explain how you evaluate the information you find to determine which cases are most relevant to the issue at hand.

Example: “When I’m researching a particular legal issue, I start with a broad search to get an overview of the related cases and documents. I use various databases and online sources to find information, such as LexisNexis and Westlaw. I also review relevant statutes and case law to understand the context of the issue. Once I have an understanding of the legal landscape, I narrow down my search to focus on the most relevant cases and documents. I evaluate each one to determine which are most pertinent to the issue and will help me in my research. I also take into account how recent the cases are and how they might have been affected by any changes in the law.”

15. What methods do you use to verify the accuracy of legal citations?

Legal research is a core part of the job, and accuracy is key. When you are researching statutes, cases, and other legal documents, you need to make sure you are citing the right sources and that your data is up-to-date. Interviewers want to make sure you understand the importance of accuracy and have a method in place to double-check that what you are citing is correct.

To answer this question, you should explain the steps you take to verify a legal citation. You can mention that you use primary sources whenever possible, such as official government websites or court opinions from the Supreme Court or other relevant courts. You can also discuss how you cross-reference with secondary sources, such as law review articles, and make sure they are consistent with each other. Additionally, you can talk about how you stay up-to-date on changes in the law by subscribing to newsletters and monitoring new cases and legislation.

Example: “I take accuracy very seriously when it comes to legal research, so I always make sure to use primary sources whenever possible. I always look for the original court opinion from the Supreme Court or other relevant court, and I cross-reference with secondary sources such as law review articles to make sure they are consistent with each other. I also stay up-to-date on changes in the law by subscribing to newsletters, monitoring new cases and legislation, and consulting with colleagues who specialize in the areas I’m researching.”

16. How do you prioritize tasks when faced with multiple deadlines?

Legal research can be a fast-paced, deadline-driven position, so a potential employer needs to know that you can handle the pressure. They’ll want to know how you prioritize tasks when faced with multiple deadlines, how you handle unexpected changes in deadlines, and how you keep yourself organized and on track.

Start by explaining the process you typically use to prioritize tasks. Do you look at deadlines first, or do you assess which tasks are more important? Talk about how you take into account unexpected changes in deadlines and how you adjust your priorities accordingly. You can also mention any tools or techniques you use to stay organized and on track. Finally, be sure to highlight any successes you’ve had in managing multiple deadlines.

Example: “When I’m faced with multiple deadlines, I prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency. I’m also very organized and use a combination of calendar reminders, lists, and project management tools to ensure that I don’t miss any deadlines. I’m comfortable with unexpected changes in deadlines, and I’m able to quickly adjust my priorities to ensure that all tasks are completed on time. For example, I was once asked to complete a research project for a client with a very tight deadline. I was able to quickly adjust my schedule and prioritize the task to make sure that it was completed on time and to the client’s satisfaction.”

17. What strategies do you use to keep track of important dates and deadlines?

Legal research is a complex and detail-oriented job, and it’s important to be able to keep track of important dates and deadlines. This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your organizational and time management skills, as well as your ability to stay focused and organized in the face of a lot of information and data. It also gives you a chance to talk about any tools, systems, or processes you use to keep everything organized and on track.

Talk about the strategies and tools you use to stay organized. For example, do you have a system for keeping track of deadlines? Do you use a calendar or task list to keep yourself on top of things? Are there any specific software programs or apps that you find helpful? Do you have any tips or tricks for staying focused and avoiding distractions? You can also talk about how you prioritize tasks, and how you make sure that nothing slips through the cracks.

Example: “I have a few strategies that I use to make sure I’m always on top of important dates and deadlines. I use a calendar to keep track of upcoming deadlines, and I also make a point of breaking down big tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. That way, I can focus on one task at a time and prioritize my workload. I also use a task list to keep track of what I need to do and when, and I make sure to review my list every day. I also use software like Asana to help me stay organized and on top of things. I find that these strategies help me stay focused and productive, and they make sure I don’t miss any important deadlines.”

18. Describe a time when you had to work under pressure to meet a tight deadline.

Legal research is a fast-paced, detail-oriented field that requires you to think quickly and accurately. Showing that you can work well under pressure is an important skill for any legal researcher. By asking this question, interviewers are looking for evidence that you can handle high-pressure situations. They may also be looking for evidence of your problem-solving skills, as well as your ability to think on your feet and come up with creative solutions.

To answer this question, focus on a recent experience when you had to work quickly and accurately to meet a tight deadline. Describe the project and the time constraints you were under, as well as any steps you took to ensure that you met the deadline. Be sure to include any problems or challenges you faced during the process, as well as how you overcame them. Finally, explain what you learned from the experience and how it has helped shape your approach to similar tasks in the future.

Example: “Last year I was tasked with researching a complex legal issue in a short period of time for one of our clients. I had to quickly become familiar with the relevant laws and regulations and assess the potential legal implications of the issue. I had to work long hours and use a variety of resources to ensure that I had the most up-to-date information. I was able to meet the deadline and provide our client with a thorough and accurate legal opinion. This experience taught me the importance of staying organized and being able to think on my feet when faced with a tight deadline. It also taught me the value of having a good support system in place, as I was able to lean on my colleagues for help and advice when necessary.”

19. How do you handle difficult clients who may not understand the complexities of the legal system?

Legal research is a highly specialized field, and it’s not always easy to explain complex legal concepts to clients who may have little to no legal background. Interviewers may ask this question to gauge how well you can break down complex topics and explain them in layman’s terms. It also shows that you have the patience and empathy to work with clients who may not understand the law and its complexities.

You should be prepared to explain how you would handle a situation where the client is having difficulty understanding the legal concepts. Talk about how you would break down difficult topics and simplify them for the client, as well as any strategies you have for helping clients feel more comfortable with the legal process. If you’ve had experience dealing with this kind of situation before, talk about it in detail and explain what worked and what didn’t work.

Example: “I understand that legal concepts can be difficult to grasp, especially for clients who have no legal background. I strive to be patient and empathetic with clients and I make sure to explain difficult topics in a way that they can easily understand. I also try to make the process comfortable for them, by breaking down the legal process into smaller steps and answering any questions or concerns they may have. I’ve had success in the past by providing clients with additional resources and materials that help them better understand the legal system. I also make sure to follow up with them to ensure that they understand the legal process and are comfortable with it.”

20. What would you do if you encountered a problem that was outside of your area of expertise?

Legal research is a job that requires a lot of skill and knowledge. But even the most experienced researchers will occasionally encounter a problem that they don’t know how to solve. This question is designed to find out how you would react in such a situation. It’ll also help the interviewer determine if you have the initiative and creativity to find a solution even when you don’t have all the answers.

The best way to answer this question is to discuss the steps you would take if faced with a problem outside of your area of expertise. Talk about how you would research and learn more about the issue, consult with colleagues or other professionals in the field, and then come up with a solution. Be sure to emphasize that you’re not afraid to ask for help when needed, but also have the confidence to find solutions on your own.

Example: “If I encountered a problem that was outside my area of expertise, I would first take the time to research the issue and gain a better understanding of the situation. I would also consult with colleagues or other professionals in the field to get their perspectives and advice. I’m confident in my ability to learn quickly and apply new information, so I would be able to come up with a solution to the problem. I understand the importance of asking for help when needed, but also have the confidence to find solutions on my own.”

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8 facts about Americans with disabilities

July is Disability Pride Month in the United States, commemorating the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act more than 30 years ago. Overall, there are about 42.5 million Americans with disabilities, making up 13% of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2021. This group includes people with hearing, vision, cognitive, walking, self-care or independent living difficulties.

Here are eight facts about Americans with disabilities, based on government data and recent Pew Research Center surveys.

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to share key facts about Americans with disabilities for Disability Pride Month.

The analysis includes data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, which  defines disability status  by asking about six types of disabilities: serious difficulty with hearing, vision, cognition, walking or climbing stairs, and difficulty with self-care and independent living. Other surveys with different definitions have estimated that a considerably larger share of Americans have disabilities .

Occupational data by disability status comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics .

Federal education data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics. For the purposes of this analysis, disabled students include those ages 3 to 21 who are served under the federal  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Through IDEA, children with disabilities are granted a free appropriate public school education and are ensured special education and related services.

Hispanic Americans in this analysis are of any race. All other racial categories include those who are not Hispanic and identify as only one race.

The public opinion findings in this analysis are based on Pew Research Center surveys. Details about each survey’s questions and methodology are available through the links in this analysis.

Due to the nature of the live telephone surveys, some Americans with disabilities are likely underrepresented in this analysis. The figures reported on technology adoption and internet use are from a phone survey that was conducted via landlines and cellphones and likely under-counted adults who are deaf or have difficulty speaking. Our surveys also do not cover those living in institutionalized group quarters, which may include some individuals who are severely disabled.

Older Americans are significantly more likely than younger adults to have a disability. Some 46% of Americans ages 75 and older and 24% of those ages 65 to 74 report having a disability, according to estimates from the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey (ACS). This compares with 12% of adults ages 35 to 64 and 8% of adults under 35.

Americans in certain racial and ethnic groups are more likely to have a disability. American Indians and Alaska Natives (18%) are more likely than Americans of other racial and ethnic backgrounds to report having a disability, according to the 2021 ACS estimates. Asian and Hispanic Americans are least likely to say they have a disability (8% and 10%, respectively). The shares of White and Black Americans who report living with a disability fall in the middle (14% each).

The most common types of disability in the U.S. involve difficulties with walking, independent living or cognition. Some 7% of Americans report having serious ambulatory difficulties – struggling with walking or climbing stairs – according to the ACS estimates. Adults ages 75 and older and those ages 65 to 74 are the most likely to report having this kind of disability (30% and 15%, respectively). Much smaller shares of those ages 35 to 64 (6%) and those ages 18 to 34 (1%) say they have an ambulatory disability.

About 6% of Americans report difficulties with independent living – struggling to do errands alone because of physical, mental or emotional problems. And a similar share (5%) report cognitive difficulties – that is, having trouble remembering, concentrating or making decisions. Each of these disabilities is more common among older Americans than among younger age groups.

Americans with disabilities tend to earn less than those who do not have a disability. Those with a disability earned a median of $28,438 in 2021, compared with $40,948 among those without a disability, according to the Census Bureau . (These figures represent employed civilian noninstitutionalized Americans ages 16 and older. They reflect earnings in the previous 12 months in 2021 inflation-adjusted dollars.)

On average, people with disabilities accounted for 4% of employed Americans in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). They were most likely to be employed in management occupations (12%) and office and administrative support occupations (11%), according to annual averages compiled by the BLS, which tracks 22 occupational categories. Meanwhile, an average of about 10% of workers in transportation and material moving jobs had a disability in 2022.

Disabled Americans have lower rates of technology adoption for some devices. U.S. adults with a disability are less likely than those without a disability to say they own a desktop or laptop computer (62% vs. 81%) or a smartphone (72% vs. 88%), according to a Center survey from winter 2021 . The survey asked respondents if any “disability, handicap, or chronic disease keeps you from participating fully in work, school, housework, or other activities, or not.” (It’s important to note that there are a range of ways to measure disability in public opinion surveys.)

Similar shares of Americans with and without disabilities say they have high-speed home internet. Even so, disabled Americans are less likely than those without a disability to report using the internet daily (75% vs. 87%). And Americans with disabilities are three times as likely as those without a disability to say they never go online (15% vs. 5%).

The percentage of U.S. public school students who receive special education or related services has increased over the last decade, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. During the 2021-22 school year, there were 7.3 million students receiving special education or related services in U.S. public schools , making up 15% of total enrollment. This figure rose since 2010-11, when 6.4 million disabled students made up 13% of public school enrollment.

In 2021-22, the share of disabled students in public schools varied by state, from about 20% in New York, Pennsylvania and Maine to about 12% in Idaho and Texas. These disparities are likely the result of inconsistencies in how states determine which students are eligible for special education services and some of the challenges involved with diagnosing disabilities in children.

Disabled Americans are much more likely than other Americans to have faced psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a winter 2022 Center analysis that examined survey responses from the same Americans over time.

About two-thirds (66%) of adults who have a disability or health condition that keeps them from participating fully in work, school, housework or other activities reported a high level of distress at least once across four surveys conducted between March 2020 and September 2022. That compares with 34% of those who do not have a disability.

Employed Americans generally think their workplace is accessible for people with physical disabilities. Among those who don’t work fully remotely, 76% say their workplace is at least somewhat accessible for people with physical disabilities, according to a Center survey from February . This includes 51% who say it is extremely or very accessible. Another 17% say their workplace is not too or not at all accessible, while 8% are not sure.

Whether or not they consider their own workplace accessible, half of workers say they highly value physical accessibility in the workplace. Workers with disabilities are about as likely as those without disabilities to say this. (Workers are defined as those who are not self-employed and work at a company or organization with more than 10 people.)

Note: This is an update of a post originally published July 27, 2017.

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9 facts about Americans and marijuana

5 facts about black americans and health care , 5 facts about hispanic americans and health care, inflation, health costs, partisan cooperation among the nation’s top problems, by more than two-to-one, americans say medication abortion should be legal in their state, most popular.

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Behind the Journalism

How The Times Is Covering the Trump Hush-Money Trial

Our reporting team will be live at the courthouse in Manhattan every day.

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By The New York Times

The New York Times is providing comprehensive live coverage of the first criminal trial of former President Donald J. Trump, which began on April 15 and is expected to last six to eight weeks, including jury selection. Mr. Trump has been charged with falsifying records to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star made during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Our Coverage

Starting with opening statements, we will be live every day the trial is in session, with reporters at the courthouse in Lower Manhattan. Proceedings will generally occur four days a week, with Wednesdays off, starting at 9:30 a.m. and going until 4:30 p.m. or later. The trial won’t be televised, but reporters will be able to post items from the courtroom and a nearby overflow room. Our photographers will be there too, but will be limited to just 45 seconds of access to the courtroom each day, before the proceedings begin.

We will provide daily takeaways and analysis, explanations of the criminal trial process, explanatory videos, profiles of the defense and prosecution teams, and answers to questions about the case.

You can find all our coverage here — and of course on our homepage and our app.

Sign up for our newsletter, Trump on Trial, to get the latest updates in your inbox.

Our Reporting Team

A team of reporters, editors and photographers from across The Times’s Metro, Politics and Investigations departments has been deployed to cover this trial, the first criminal trial of an American president.

Our core courthouse team, which has been preparing for months for the trial, includes reporters with decades of criminal justice experience; deep knowledge of Mr. Trump’s financial, business and legal history; and a nuanced understanding of the political implications of what may be the only trial Mr. Trump faces before the November election, despite multiple indictments. The team includes:

Jonah E. Bromwich covers criminal justice in New York, with a focus on the Manhattan district attorney’s office and state criminal courts in Manhattan.

Maggie Haberman , a senior political correspondent, has covered Mr. Trump since his days as a New York City real estate developer and wrote a biography of the former president.

Ben Protess , an investigative reporter, has been focused almost exclusively on Mr. Trump for the past six years, covering his family business, his administration and his legal problems.

Kate Christobek became a reporter in 2020 after practicing law for close to a decade. She was an assistant district attorney in New York City and an assistant attorney general for the State of Ohio.

William K. Rashbaum , who has been a reporter for 40 years, focuses on political and municipal corruption, the courts and law enforcement in New York City.

Jesse McKinley , a reporter on the Metro desk, covers New York courts and politics.

Jonathan Swan , a Times political reporter covering the former president’s 2024 campaign, has been reporting on Mr. Trump for more than eight years.

Alan Feuer has been writing about crime and criminal justice for The Times since 1999. In recent years, he has been closely tracking the hundreds of cases stemming from the attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob.

Susanne Craig , an investigative reporter, has spent years examining Mr. Trump’s finances, including the origins of his wealth and the legally questionable techniques he has used to avoid paying millions of dollars of income tax.

Wesley Parnell is a reporter covering New York City, with a focus on the criminal justice system.

Your Questions

We’re asking readers what they’d like to know about the Trump trial — whether related to the charges, the procedure, the important players or anything else. Submit your questions below and we’ll take them to our reporters, who will answer some of them in the Trump on Trial newsletter .

Your questions about the Trump trials

Our coverage of the trump hush-money trial.

News and Analysis

Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan took a startling turn when two jurors were abruptly excused , demonstrating the challenge of picking citizens to determine the fate of a former president.

Prosecutors argued in court that with a steady stream of social media posts, Trump had violated the gag order  imposed on him seven times, urging the judge overseeing the trial to hold him in contempt.

Our reporter joined “The Daily” to explain what happened during the opening days  of the trial against Donald Trump.

More on Trump’s Legal Troubles

Key Inquiries: Trump faces several investigations  at both the state and the federal levels, into matters related to his business and political careers.

Case Tracker:  Keep track of the developments in the criminal cases  involving the former president.

What if Trump Is Convicted?: Will any of the proceedings hinder Trump’s presidential campaign? Here is what we know, and what we don’t know .

Trump on Trial Newsletter: Sign up here  to get the latest news and analysis  on the cases in New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C.

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Day 3 of Trump New York hush money trial

From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell in the courthouse

Second empaneled juror has been excused

A second juror who was empaneled yesterday has been excused. That means we're now down to five people on the jury.

Earlier today, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said he notified the court that in the prosecution's research, they found information about this juror that called into question the veracity of the answers he gave during voir dire.

Prosecutors said they found records of a person with the same name who was arrested in the 1990s for tearing down political advertisements.

Court is back in session

Court has resumed, with Judge Juan Merchan on the bench.

Donald Trump is back in the room.

The judge is engaged in conversation with the lawyers.

Trump exits courtroom during break

Former President Donald Trump stood waiting to go out of the courtroom for about a minute before exiting. He gave a smirk to reporters in the room as he walked out.

Empaneled juror is talking to judge and lawyers after prosecutors questioned his answers in court

An empaneled juror who was supposed to come in this morning is walking to the courtroom.

Judge Juan Merchan says that the juror thought he was supposed to come on Friday. Merchan is huddling with the juror and the attorneys while former President Donald Trump remains seated at the defendant's table.

The juror was speaking a few feet behind him and has now left the courtroom.

The number of seated jurors dropped to 6 this morning. Here's what to know

We're down to six empaneled jurors in former President Donald Trump's  criminal hush money trial , and another batch of potential members is currently under consideration.

Here are some of the key developments so far today:

• A woman who was already empaneled to the jury expressed concerns that part of her identity was made public by the media.
• Judge Juan Merchan excused her and urged journalists to limit their physical descriptions of jurors .
• Merchan also ruled media outlets cannot publish the jurors' answers to question 3 on the questionnaire, which inquires about their current and past employers.
• Meanwhile, prosecutors say Trump has violated his gag order seven more times, pointing to posts online and calling the situation "ridiculous."
• Prosecutors have also called into question the truthfulness of one empaneled juror's answers to questions about their past, and that juror has been called back to court today.

Court is in a break

Court is now in a 15-minute break.

Trump is craning his head to get good view of potential jurors as they speak

Former President Donald Trump appears engrossed with potential jurors seated in the jury box as they give their answers to the questionnaire, according to reporters in the courtroom.

He is leaning way back in his chair as he cranes his head to get a good view of them as they speak.

— From pool reports

Legal analyst says jury selection is "heading in the wrong direction"

From CNN's Antoinette Radford

Legal analyst Jennifer Rodgers has told CNN the events of Thursday morning's juror selection, during which one woman was excused because she said she had been identified by friends, family and colleagues was “very unusual."

Speaking to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Rodgers said jury selection was “going backward." We had 7 jurors as of first thing this morning, now we have 6 and maybe even five because one of the jurors didn’t turn up," she said.

"So, we’re heading in the wrong direction in terms of getting this jury complete.”

Attorneys will have the opportunity to question 18 potential jurors as the selection process continues

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

The jury selection process in the hush money trial against Donald Trump is proving to be difficult, as Judge Juan Merchan, prosecutors and Trump attorneys question a new panel of people.

CNN's Kara Scannell explains what happens once 18 jurors are in the box.

"They're going to build out the little profiles for the first 18 jurors in the box. Once they see 18, meaning they've gone through the questionnaire and they don't believe any need to be excused" the attorneys will have their chance to find out more about the jurors.

The prosecution and Trump's lawyers will each have 30 minutes to question the panel of jurors.

Scannell noted that what we've seen during this part of the jury selection process is that the prosecution is trying to get to the actual issue in the case by asking questions like can the jurors believe someone who has previously lied under oath or if they can look past someone's job as an adult film actor.

Meanwhile, Trump's lawyers have been asking questions that are more geared toward how people feel about the former president. "Trying to unearth if there was a hidden bias, subconscious bias, against him," Scannell said.

Remember: Ultimately, 12 New Yorkers and likely six alternates will need to be selected.

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Day 3 of Trump New York hush money trial

From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell in the courthouse

The number of seated jurors dropped to 6 this morning. Here's what to know

We're down to six empaneled jurors in former President Donald Trump's  criminal hush money trial , and another batch of potential members is currently under consideration.

Here are some of the key developments so far today:

• A woman who was already empaneled to the jury expressed concerns that part of her identity was made public by the media.
• Judge Juan Merchan excused her and urged journalists to limit their physical descriptions of jurors .
• Merchan also ruled media outlets cannot publish the jurors' answers to question 3 on the questionnaire, which inquires about their current and past employers.
• Meanwhile, prosecutors say Trump has violated his gag order seven more times, pointing to posts online and calling the situation "ridiculous."
• Prosecutors have also called into question the truthfulness of one empaneled juror's answers to questions about their past, and that juror has been called back to court today.

Court is in a break

Court is now in a 15-minute break.

Trump is craning his head to get good view of potential jurors as they speak

Former President Donald Trump appears engrossed with potential jurors seated in the jury box as they give their answers to the questionnaire, according to reporters in the courtroom.

He is leaning way back in his chair as he cranes his head to get a good view of them as they speak.

— From pool reports

Legal analyst says jury selection is "heading in the wrong direction"

From CNN's Antoinette Radford

Legal analyst Jennifer Rodgers has told CNN the events of Thursday morning's juror selection, during which one woman was excused because she said she had been identified by friends, family and colleagues was “very unusual."

Speaking to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Rodgers said jury selection was “going backward." We had 7 jurors as of first thing this morning, now we have 6 and maybe even five because one of the jurors didn’t turn up," she said.

"So, we’re heading in the wrong direction in terms of getting this jury complete.”

Attorneys will have the opportunity to question 18 potential jurors as the selection process continues

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

The jury selection process in the hush money trial against Donald Trump is proving to be difficult, as Judge Juan Merchan, prosecutors and Trump attorneys question a new panel of people.

CNN's Kara Scannell explains what happens once 18 jurors are in the box.

"They're going to build out the little profiles for the first 18 jurors in the box. Once they see 18, meaning they've gone through the questionnaire and they don't believe any need to be excused" the attorneys will have their chance to find out more about the jurors.

The prosecution and Trump's lawyers will each have 30 minutes to question the panel of jurors.

Scannell noted that what we've seen during this part of the jury selection process is that the prosecution is trying to get to the actual issue in the case by asking questions like can the jurors believe someone who has previously lied under oath or if they can look past someone's job as an adult film actor.

Meanwhile, Trump's lawyers have been asking questions that are more geared toward how people feel about the former president. "Trying to unearth if there was a hidden bias, subconscious bias, against him," Scannell said.

Remember: Ultimately, 12 New Yorkers and likely six alternates will need to be selected.

Prospective jurors say they've read Trump and Cohen's books

A group of potential jurors are being questioned by the judge now. Here's how things are playing out at the moment:

• The prospective juror in seat three said he's an investment banker and follows Donald Trump's and Michael Cohen on social media. He said he has read Trump's book "The Art of the Deal."
• The woman in seat four said she works in publishing and read several pages of Cohen's book "Disloyal" for business reasons.
• The juror in seat five said she is a retired university administrator who has also read "The Art of the Deal" decades ago. She's a long-time subscriber to the New York Times, "mostly for the crossword puzzle."In a lighter moment, she couldn't get the microphone to work, and when the court officer said "testing," it didn't work, prompting laughter in the courtroom.
• The juror in seat six also said he read "The Art of the Deal." He said he has feelings about how Trump's being treated in this case but added they won't affect his ability to be fair.
• The juror in seat seven is a security engineer with a high school diploma. He's married with three kids. He doesn't have social media.

Potential juror says she doesn't follow news

Another prospective juror says she is a stay-at-home mom with three kids. She's originally from Colorado and is not married. She used to teach and has a master's degree. She says she does not follow the news.

Juror who works in law stresses her knowledge of the case: "It's hard to unring a bell"

A prospective juror who says she works for a law firm said she has previously discussed the legal merits of Donald Trump's case with coworkers when she worked as a law clerk.

At one point, after a long pause and a deep sigh, she said she thinks she can be fair.

She reiterated her knowledge of this case several times: "It's hard to unring a bell," she said.

Trump looks at prospective juror and judge during questioning

As the first prospective juror is answering questions from the judge, Donald Trump looked over at her for a while. He then turned his gaze back to the judge.

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Q&As: Black-footed Ferret Cloning Research Update

Questions and Answers: Black-footed Ferret Cloning Research update

April 17, 2024

Related: News Release - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Partners Announce Innovative Cloning Advancements for Black-footed Ferret Conservation ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Why clone black-footed ferrets? 

• T he successful cloning of previously unrepresented genes is a significant step forward for our black-footed ferret recovery efforts. The foundation of present recovery efforts has been made possible by the captive population lineage that is descended from seven distinct genetic founders. These seven founders were among those captured from the remaining black-footed ferrets in Meeteetse, Wyoming, in the late 1980s. Extant populations, both captive and reintroduced, descend from these founder animals. With only seven genetic founders, the genetic diversity of the black-footed ferret has been a concern in the captive breeding program. The introduction of novel, currently unrepresented genetic material may provide a significant boost to the genetics of the current black-footed ferret population.

Why is it so important for species to have genetic diversity?

• Without an appropriate amount of genetic diversity, a species often becomes more susceptible to diseases and genetic abnormalities, as well as limited adaptability to conditions in the wild and a decreased fertility rate. Limited genetic diversity makes it extremely difficult to fully recover a species.

How are black-footed ferrets doing in the wild today? 

• Black-footed ferrets have been reintroduced in the wild at 34 sites across eight states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Due to the black-footed ferret’s nocturnal and fossorial (living underground) nature, their large range across the West and the population’s natural ebb and flow due to environmental stressors such as disease, it is difficult to determine exactly how many animals are on the landscape at any time. A major concern for black-footed ferrets in the wild are natural and introduced diseases, such as sylvatic plague. Current data suggest there are several hundred black-footed ferrets currently living in the wild. 

What genetic material was used? 

• The genetic tissue comes from a black-footed ferret named Willa, captured around the time of the species’ rediscovery. This black-footed ferret never successfully reproduced and therefore is not represented in the current captive breeding population.

Will these black-footed ferret clones be released into the wild? 

• No, these individuals will remain at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center for monitoring and additional research to assess fitness and compare them to extant individuals. 

If black-footed ferret cloning is successful, how will this help other species? 

• Current efforts are focused on addressing a specific genetic diversity concern associated with the black-footed ferret. These efforts are only in the preliminary stages of determining how this cloning technology will assist in the future genetic management of black-footed ferrets. The Service views this new potential tool as one of many available to help recover the species while also working to address habitat and other challenges to recovery. The Service is not currently engaged in genetic cloning efforts for any other species.

If the Service can successfully clone black-footed ferrets, does the conservation of wild populations and habitats become less critical?

• Maintaining and increasing wild populations and suitable habitat continues to be essential for black-footed ferret recovery and will remain a priority for the Service. Successful genetic cloning does not diminish the importance of addressing habitat-based threats to the species or the Service’s focus on addressing habitat conservation and management to recover black-footed ferrets.

What are the next steps in cloning black-footed ferrets?

• Researchers plan to continue cloning efforts in the coming month to begin breeding trials. At this time cloned black-footed ferrets will remain at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center and Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute for continued research and monitoring, there are no current plans for releasing cloned individuals into the wild.  

Contact Information

The black-footed ferret is 18 to 24 inches long, including a 5 to 6 inch tail. It weighs only one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half pounds, with males slightly larger than females. The black-footed ferret is well adapted to its prairie environment. Its color and markings blend so well with grassland...

National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center Black-footed ferrets once numbered in the tens of thousands, but the weasel-like animals almost disappeared because of a combination of human-induced threats. Twice in the 20th century, they were thought to be extinct. Today, they are the focus of a broad recovery effort. Conservation Office Carr, CO

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Judge in Trump’s hush money case allows prosecutors to discuss 'Access Hollywood' tape and affairs as watershed trial begins

Donald Trump made history Monday as the first former president to stand trial on criminal charges — and the official start of jury selection quickly highlighted his polarizing impact on the public.

After the first 96 prospective jurors were brought into a New York courtroom, Judge Juan Merchan asked whether any of those assembled could not be "fair and impartial." More than half raised their hands and were excused from serving on the jury.

The watershed moment for American politics, the presidential election and Trump himself comes as Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for president. He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records, a low-level felony punishable by up to four years in prison.

“The name of this case is the People of the State of New York versus Donald Trump,” Merchan told the initial pool of jurors in the afternoon. Trump stood and turned around when he was introduced as the defendant and gave the prospective jurors — some of whom were staring at him intently — a little tight-lipped smirk. 

Trump had his eyes closed for a period of time as the judge was reading the potential jurors his instructions, and his eyes looked red and bloodshot when he opened them and peered at the judge.

After the court day concluded, Trump told reporters in a hallway the case is "a scam. It’s a political witch hunt. It continues, and it continues forever, and we’re not going to be given a fair job. It’s a very, very sad thing."

The jury selection process started slowly — the pool wasn't brought in until the afternoon, and after the initial group of those who said they couldn't be fair were excused, another nine were excused after saying they couldn't serve for other reasons. By the end of the day, nine other jurors had answered preliminary questions — although one wound up being excused — and were scheduled to face follow-up questions on Tuesday morning.

The process also got off to a slow start because lawyers from both sides argued over some of the more sensational evidence that prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office hope to use to show why Trump was eager to bury negative stories about him during the 2016 presidential election.

Prosecutors allege then-candidate Trump took part in a scheme with his then-lawyer Michael Cohen and the publisher of the National Enquirer to suppress scandalous stories about him in the run-up to Election Day.

One of those stories involved porn star Stormy Daniels , who alleged she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Trump has denied the claim, and Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 in October 2016 to keep quiet about the allegation. After he was elected, Trump repaid Cohen in payments recorded as legal fees at his company —documents the DA alleges were falsified to keep the hush money payments secret.

The trial is an opportunity for the former president to face off with Merchan, whom Trump has frequently attacked publicly in the run-up to the trial. The judge addressed Trump directly at one point, issuing him standard court warnings that were made more dramatic by Trump's status as a former president, his frequent public attacks on the judge and his many disruptions in his civil trials last year. "If you disrupt the proceedings we can proceed with the trial in your absence. … Do you understand?" the judge asked. "I do," Trump replied.

Merchan also warned Trump that if he fails to show up in court without any explanation, a warrant would be issued for his arrest. 

The back and forth came after Merchan had heard arguments about the alleged “catch and kill” scheme, the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape and the allegations of sexual assault from various women that came out during the campaign — all while Trump sat at counsel table with little visible reaction.

Merchan greenlighted a request from prosecutor Joshua Steinglass to show jurors during the trial some headlines from the Enquirer from the 2016 Republican presidential primary campaign that they contend were part of the overall scheme to boost Trump, including stories trashing then-Trump rivals Ben Carson and Sens. Marco Rubio, of Florida, and Ted Cruz, of Texas.

The prosecutor said he also hoped to elicit information about the timing of Trump's alleged affair with another woman whom the Enquirer paid to keep quiet ahead of the election, former Playboy model Karen McDougal . Steinglass said they didn't plan to elicit "salacious details," but did want to note that the timing of the alleged affair was while Melania Trump was pregnant with Trump's child and the baby was a newborn. He said the information was relevant because it showed why Trump wanted to suppress it ahead of the election.

The judge said he'd allow testimony about the alleged affair, but not the information about Melania Trump.

Steinglass also asked Merchan to reconsider his earlier ruling that the jury not hear the notorious " Access Hollywood " tape, on which Trump was caught on a hot mic saying he can grope women without their consent because "when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything."

Audio from the 2005 hot mic moment became public in October 2016, and prosecutors contend that's why Trump was eager to silence Daniels. Steinglass also asked the judge to allow in a snippet from Trump's deposition in writer E. Jean Carroll's defamation case against him, where he defended the comment, saying, "Historically, that's true with stars."

Merchan said he still believes the tape itself is "prejudicial" and "should not come in" to evidence, but he said he would allow prosecutors to use a transcript of the tape. “The testimony from the E. Jean Carroll deposition should not come in either,” the judge added. 

The judge also shot down prosecutors' suggestion that they may try to mention other women who came forward after the "Access Hollywood" tape became public to accuse Trump of assault, calling it "complete hearsay."

Later, prosecutors asked the judge to sanction Trump for posts they said violated a gag order barring him from publicly attacking witnesses. Prosecutor Christopher Conroy argued Trump should be fined $3,000 for three social media posts that were critical of Cohen and Daniels. “Not included is another post from this morning,” Conroy said, asking the judge to “remind” Trump that “he is a criminal defendant, and like all criminal defendants he is subject to court supervision.” 

Blanche argued that the posts did not violate the gag order, and said Trump was “responding to salacious, repeated, vehement attacks by these witnesses.” 

The judge did not immediately issue a ruling, and said he’d hear arguments on the issue on April 23.

Cohen told NBC News in a statement afterward that the proposed penalty was not severe enough. “Donald knows the damage his posts inflict on targeted individuals. A $1,000 per post fine will do nothing to curtail future violations,” he said.

In a ruling later in the day, the judge sided with the prosecution by giving Trump's lawyers 24 hours to produce the exhibits and evidence they plan to use at trial. “You have 24 hours. Whatever you don’t identify in the next 24 hours, you will be precluded from using,” the judge told Blanche. 

Trump maintains the DA's case is part of a Democratic conspiracy against him, a claim he has used to galvanize his supporters and rake in millions of dollars in fundraising for his campaign. Bragg, the Manhattan DA, is a Democrat, and Trump has falsely claimed that he's doing the bidding of President Joe Biden.

The criminal case was the f irst o f fo ur brought against Trump in four different jurisdictions and is the only case definitively set to go to trial before the election.

Because Trump is required to be in court four days a week (the trial does not take place on Wednesdays), his ability to campaign in person is limited to times the court is not in session.

The jury selection process is expected to take one to two weeks. Two sources with direct knowledge of the situation told NBC News that 6,000 jurors have been called to the Manhattan criminal courts this week — 2,000 more than in a typical week.

During jury selection, eighteen jurors are put in the jury box at a time, and each one in succession reads out loud his or her answers to a series of 42 questions.  The questions include inquiries about what news sources they follow, whether they’ve ever attended any Trump rallies or anti-Trump protests and whether they’ve ever supported the QAnon movement or antifa.

The form does not ask about party affiliation, political contributions or voting history, but the judge said answers to those questions “may easily be gleaned from the responses to other questions.” After the 42 questions are answered, prosecutors can ask the jurors a series of follow-up questions, and then Trump’s attorneys can ask their own follow-ups.

In court Monday, the judge told both sides the list of questions is “by far the most exhaustive questionnaire this court has ever used.”

“There will be no doubt how a prospective juror feels about Mr. Trump, the district attorney or the court” when the jurors are done answering, he added.

The trial will have an anonymous jury , meaning the jurors’ identities and addresses will not be made public. The judge said the move was necessary because of “a likelihood of bribery, jury tampering, or of physical injury or harassment of juror(s).”

While the trial is the first criminal trial involving a former president, it’s the fourth trial in New York involving Trump as a defendant since he left office. He was sued twice by writer E. Jean Carroll for sexual abuse and defamation and he and his company were accused of fraud in a civil case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The verdicts against him in the three cases — all of which he is appealing — total about $550 million.

Adam Reiss is a reporter and producer for NBC and MSNBC.

Dareh Gregorian is a politics reporter for NBC News.

Lisa Rubin is an MSNBC legal correspondent and a former litigator.