NexisUni offers full-text articles related to business, law, government, and medical topics drawing from newspapers, journals, magazines, wire services, as well as primary and secondary legal materials.
Watch this short video to learn how to search for Law Cases using the database, Nexis Uni. Jot down some of the tips and tricks as you watch, then try it yourself!
You can link directly to Nexis Uni, below. Reminder - when you click on the Nexis Uni link you will be prompted to login in with your Western ID.
Nexis Uni includes:
Learn more about Nexis Uni at the Western Library Databases - Paralegal Research page of this LibGuide.
Shepard's Reports or "Shepardizing" using Nexis Uni
You learned that it's important to double-check that your primary sources (legislative and case law - treaties, decisions of courts and tribunals, statutes, regulations) are still solid law. To do this you can use Nexis Uni to create a Shepard's Report for statutes and regulations. Nexis Uni uses Shepard's Signal Indicators to provide context about point of law authority.click on the Shepardize this document located to the right of the document.
To learn more about Shepard's Reports or "Shepardizing" link to the LibGuide below. (Created by the librarians at Northcentral University Library.)
GETTING STARTED
SEARCH MODES
QUICK SEARCH
[Optional - Use Get a DOC Assistance to search by Citation, Party Name or Docket Number].
[Optional - Segment search in Case can be very helpful. For example, overview(dna and wrongful conviction)]
SEARCH RESULTS
HOW TO READ A CASE
What is a Citation?
What is a citation?
Plaintiff | Defendant |Volume |Reporter |Page |Court |Year
Blackburn v. Fisk 433 F.2d 121 (6th Cir. 1971)
where "F.2d" stands for The Federal Reporter, 2nd series. Please note that not all citations follow the full format, e.g., 834 N.E.2d 432. Also, one case could have more than one citations, for example, all of these four citations 834 N.E.2d 432; 162 Ohio App. 3d 642; 2005 Ohio 4331; 2005 Ohio App. LEXIS 3932 refer to one case.
Look for articles from Wisconsin (and all states) law journals and reviews, as well as others in NexisUni.
Examples:
Use the NexisUni filters to focus your search. Let's say you want to search for information about Family Law in a Wisconsin law journal. Do a basic search for "family law." On the page of results select "Law Journals and Reviews." Using the "Jurisdiction" filter choose Wisconsin. You can see there are 435 articles available about "family law" in law journal and reviews from Wisconsin. Choose the journal you would like to use. The number beside the journal title reflects the number of articles about family law that appear in that journal.
Although databases may look different, they all have the same basic structure, filters, and tools - search boxes, filters to eliminate articles that aren't relevant, email or share tools, and of course, cite tools. Be on the look out for them!
Credo Reference is an excellent database to find background information on topics and issues.
You can link directly to Credo Reference, below. Reminder - you will be prompted to login in with your Western ID.
Search Credo Reference by Topic
Is there a new term or concept that you are confused by or just kind of hazy on? Using Credo Reference is a great way to get clarification about new terms and concepts you come across in your course reading or other research. Do a basic search of terms or concepts to find definitions and short articles that explain what they mean.
When you see TOO MANY RESULTS use the filters to narrow your search.
Legal Books in Credo Reference (linked below:
From Western Library's Website, Click the red box Find Books (Catalog).
Search Terms: law OR legal. Filter: Check the box next to eBooks. Click the link in the title box.
Reach out to a librarian if you have any questions about finding information in the library databases. Use the Ask-a-Librarian button at the left, or check beneath my profile pic below to see if I'm online for a Chat or feel free to reach out to me via email as well! I'm happy to help!