Chapter 11 - The Desperate Researcher

11.1

"I Can't Find Anything!"

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  • Image of law within law, authority within authority

    INTRODUCTION

    Ah! The call of the desperate researcher! "I can't find anything!"

    This section has some solid hints for researchers who are struggling to find valid, on-point authority. This material is a great reference for your life later as a working paralegal, in additional to being a good tool if you are struggling now.

    One point I want to emphasize is that if you have only found one case, you are mistaken. There is no such thing as "finding one case." Why? Because:

    • The one case you found must have relied on authority, so look in the case for additional cases, statutes, and other material
    • If it was a statute that you have found, the research tools in annotated versions of the statute almost certainly have references to cases and other authorities that discussed or applied that statute
    • If you use Shepard's or KeyCite to validate that authority, they will likely lead to additional resources.

    This is what the manual means by finding authority within authority. It is a critical skill. Even if you don't use it now, remember it.

    So, if you think you have just found one case or statute, think again!