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Western Michigan Catalog
Oakland Catalog

Updated: 04/29/2008

 

Thomas M. Cooley Law School - Practical Legal Scholarship  Since 1972

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Retrieving Documents Online or Getting Documents on Westlaw and Lexis When You Know the Citation

Citations
In order to locate a document on either LEXIS or WESTLAW, you must have the correct citation. Usually you obtain the citation from your casebook; class syllabus, or the professor gives it out in class.

 

| Lexis Overview | | Westlaw Overview |  | TWEN Overview |

 

Examples of Citations

Reporter

Statute

Law Review or Law Journal

A reporter citation will always include: 1)  the volume number of the reporter,  2) the reporter abbreviation, and 3) the page on which the case starts.  Sometimes there are parallel citations with references to both official and unofficial reporters.  Either citation may be used when locating a document on Westlaw or Lexis.

A statute will always include: 1) the abbreviation for the statute set, and 2) the code section(s).  Sometimes there are parallel citations with references to both official and unofficial statutory sets.  Either citation may be used when locating a document on Westlaw or Lexis.

A journal or law review citation will always include: 1)  the volume number of the journal,  2) the journal abbreviation, and 3) the page on which the article starts.

Lucy v. Zehmer , 196 Va. 493, 84 S.E.2d 516 (1954)

N.J.S.A. 12A:2-101

 4 Elder L.J. 1

K. D. v. Educational Testing Service 87 Misc2d 657, 386 NYS2d 747 (1976)

O.R.S. 72.2010

26 J. Marshall L.Rev. 775

If you have questions or problems, please contact

  1. The Law Library Reference Desk,  371-5140 ext 3111; or
  2. Ask a Librarian via e-mail reference; or
  3. the Computer Lab, 371-5140 ext 3300

 

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