CP Westlaw & LexisNexis Research 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the West Key Number System?
- A numbering system for court filings
- A classification system organizing all American case law into topics and subtopics with unique key numbers (Correct answer)
- A numbering system for brief pages
- A security code for Westlaw
Correct answer: A classification system organizing all American case law into topics and subtopics with unique key numbers
The West Key Number System organizes legal issues into over 400 topics and thousands of subtopics for case law research.
Developed by West Publishing (Thomson Reuters), when a case is published, editors create headnotes and assign Key Numbers under over 400 topics. Researchers can use a topic and key number to find all cases nationwide addressing a specific legal issue across all West publications.
Question 2: What is natural language searching in Westlaw and LexisNexis?
- Searching in a foreign language
- Entering a query in plain English without Boolean connectors, allowing algorithms to find relevant results (Correct answer)
- Searching for language rights cases
- Voice commands only
Correct answer: Entering a query in plain English without Boolean connectors, allowing algorithms to find relevant results
Natural language searching allows plain English queries and the system uses algorithms to rank results by relevance.
The search engine identifies important terms, weighs statistically significant words, discards common words, and ranks by relevance. Advantages: ease of use and capturing documents missed by narrow Boolean searches. Disadvantages: less precision. Best practice: use natural language initially, then refine with Boolean.
Question 3: What is a headnote in the context of Westlaw?
- A note written by the judge
- An editorial summary of a legal point assigned a topic and key number for finding related cases (Correct answer)
- A footnote at the bottom
- A preliminary note by the clerk
Correct answer: An editorial summary of a legal point assigned a topic and key number for finding related cases
Headnotes are editor-created summaries classified by topic and key number, enabling researchers to find cases on the same issue.
West attorney-editors read each case and write brief summaries assigned Topics and Key Numbers. Headnotes help quickly understand legal issues, navigate long opinions, find related cases via key numbers, and locate cases in digests. They should never be cited as authority; always read the full opinion.
Question 4: What is KeyCite on Westlaw?
- A tool for creating proper citations
- A citator showing history and treatment of a case, statute, or regulation to verify it is still good law (Correct answer)
- A key for restricted databases
- A law review citation index
Correct answer: A citator showing history and treatment of a case, statute, or regulation to verify it is still good law
KeyCite displays direct history, negative treatment, and citing references for legal authorities.
KeyCite provides: direct history (appeals, reversals), negative treatment (overruled, distinguished, criticized), citing references (filterable by jurisdiction, date, topic), and status flags (red = no longer good law, yellow = negative treatment, green C = citing references only). Always KeyCite before relying on authority.
Question 5: What is the difference between Westlaw Edge and Westlaw Classic?
- Same product, different names
- Edge is current with AI-enhanced features like litigation analytics and Precision, Classic was the previous version (Correct answer)
- Classic has more content
- Edge for students, Classic for practitioners
Correct answer: Edge is current with AI-enhanced features like litigation analytics and Precision, Classic was the previous version
Westlaw Edge includes AI-powered features like Precision searching, litigation analytics, and advanced data analytics.
Westlaw Edge features: Westlaw Precision (AI-powered search), Litigation Analytics (judge behavior, outcomes, motion success rates), enhanced KeyCite, Statutes Compare, Quick Check (brief analysis), and Practical Law integration. Classic lacks these AI-enhanced features.
Question 6: How do you search for a specific statute on Westlaw?
- Only browse table of contents
- Use the search bar with citation, browse by jurisdiction, or use the statutory index (Correct answer)
- Statutes not available on Westlaw
- Contact a representative
Correct answer: Use the search bar with citation, browse by jurisdiction, or use the statutory index
Westlaw offers citation search, jurisdictional browsing, popular name search, keyword search, and statutory index.
Methods include: citation search (e.g., '42 USC 1983'), jurisdictional table of contents browsing, popular name search (e.g., 'Clean Air Act'), keyword search within statutory databases, and comprehensive index. Annotations include historical notes, cross-references, law review articles, and interpreting case citations.
CP Westlaw & LexisNexis Research 2
What is the West Key Number System?