Case Finding and Advanced Searching Strategies

This guide contains tips and strategies for all stages of your case research process.  It focuses on Westlaw and Lexis, but other case research platforms (such as CaseText and FastCase) often have similar features and tools.  See the list of topics below for help finding where to start in this guide. 

Are you just getting started with your research?

• Start with secondary sources (Westlaw and Lexis, plus print and other research platforms)

Is the area of law governed by a statute, regulation, or court rule?

• Check out the statute's Notes of Decisions (Westlaw) and Notes to Decisions (Lexis)
• Search within the statute's Citing References (Westlaw) and Citing Decisions (Lexis)

Do you already have a relevant case but need to find more?

• Search within the case's Citing References (Westlaw) and Citing Decisions (Lexis) 
• Use the West Key Number System (Westlaw)
• Work with headnotes (Westlaw and Lexis)
• Look through the table of authorities (Westlaw and Lexis)

Have you already attempted the above strategies?  Or, are you nearing the end of your research?

• Conduct full-text case searches using advanced searches (Westlaw and Lexis)
• Check to make sure your cases are still good law (Westlaw and Lexis) 

These flowcharts can help you find cases when you've already identified a relevant statue or case.  The rest of this guide provides more detail on the steps they outline.

Westlaw and Lexis accounts are available for current Stanford Law School faculty, staff, and students only.  If you need to register for an account, please email us at reference@law.stanford.edu.