HLS home > library > tutorials > lexisnexis_westlaw

Skill 5: Navigate and manipulate your search results

Prev | Next

Searching is an extremely circular process. As you read the through your search results you will learn new, better search terms. You will also learn the jargon, terms of art, and buzz words used to describe your issue. You can then use these to edit your search statement to create a much more precise search. A common and efficient search strategy is to use the LexisNexis FOCUS and Westlaw Locate services to run secondary searches on your initial search results to create subsets containing specific terms.

Task 5(a): Navigate your LexisNexis search results

  1. Scroll through your search results cite list until you locate the PepsiCo v. Redmond opinion. It should be approximately number 7. Click its link. Notice the four viewing formats at the left of the top frame: Cite, KWIC, Full, and Custom. Cite returns you to your search result cite list. KWIC (Key Words In Context) truncates the case display to show only those portions of the case containing your search terms. Full displays the full text. Custom allows you to limit your display to selected segments of the case.

  2. KWIC is useful for scanning a document quickly to determine if it is relevant. Click the KWIC link. Return to full view and use the Term arrows in the bottom frame to locate your search terms in the PepsiCo opinion. You can use the Term arrows to browse up or down through your search results term-by-term.

  3. Browse document-by-document using the Previous and Next arrows in the top frame or the Doc arrows in the bottom frame.

  4. Suppose you wanted to know which of your 98 cases discusses the doctrine of inevitable disclosure of trade secrets. In the FOCUS Terms box, delete your search statement and replace it with this search: inevitab! /s disclos!, search within your Original Results and click Go. Your set has now been reduced from about 98 cases to about 22.

  5. Be sure you are viewing your FOCUS results in cite list format and go to the PepsiCo case. Use the Term arrows located in the bottom navigation toolbar to browse for your search terms. To exit the FOCUS set and return to your initial search results, go to the top of the case and click the Exit FOCUS link.

Task 5(b): Navigate your Westlaw search results

  1. Scroll through your search results cite list until you locate the PepsiCo v. Redmond opinion. It should be approximately number 8. View the case by clicking its link. You can limit the display to only selected fields of the case by selecting Limit by Fields in the Tools menu at the right of the bottom frame.

  2. Use the Term arrows in the bottom frame to locate your search terms in the PepsiCo opinion. You can use the Term arrows to browse up or down through your entire search result list term-by-term.

  3. Browse document-by-document using the Doc arrows in the bottom frame.

  4. Suppose you wanted to know which of your 99 cases discusses the doctrine of inevitable disclosure of trade secrets. Click the Locate in Result link located near the top of the left frame and enter this search: inevitab! /s disclos! in the Locate Search Terms box and click Locate. Your set has now been reduced from about 99 cases to about 23. Click the Result List tab and go to the PepsiCo case. Use the Term arrows located in the bottom frame to browse for your new search terms. To cancel your Locate set and return to your initial search results, click the Cancel Locate link at the top of the left frame.

Congratulations! You successfully navigated your search results and then used the LexisNexis FOCUS and Westlaw Locate services to create a subset of cases. Next, we will email a case and review your search history.

Prev | Next