Shepardizing
Shepardizing is a fundamental legal research method that lawyers and legal professionals use to check if a court case is still valid and how other courts have interpreted it over time. Think of it like checking a family tree of legal cases - it shows you all the later cases that mentioned, followed, or disagreed with the original case. The term comes from Frank Shepard's citation system, which has become so common that "Shepardizing" is now used as a general term for this type of legal research, even when using other services like Westlaw or LexisNexis.
Examples in Resumes
Conducted thorough Shepardizing research for complex litigation cases
Trained junior associates in proper Shepardizing techniques and legal research methods
Used Shepardizing to validate case law citations for federal court briefs
Typical job title: "Legal Researchers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Legal Researchers
Professional Organizations
Online Resources
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you approach training new staff on proper Shepardizing techniques?
Expected Answer: A senior researcher should discuss creating structured training programs, explaining the importance of thorough citation checking, demonstrating different research platforms, and implementing quality control measures.
Q: How do you ensure the completeness of legal research across multiple jurisdictions?
Expected Answer: Should explain methods for comprehensive research across state and federal cases, using multiple research platforms, and creating systematic approaches to validate citations.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What steps do you take when Shepardizing a case reveals conflicting interpretations?
Expected Answer: Should discuss how to analyze different court interpretations, document findings clearly, and present the information to attorneys in an organized way.
Q: How do you determine when your Shepardizing research is complete?
Expected Answer: Should explain their process for ensuring thorough research, including checking multiple sources and following citation chains to their conclusion.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the basic process of Shepardizing a case?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain the fundamental steps of looking up a case and tracking its citation history using research tools like LexisNexis or Westlaw.
Q: What do different citation signals mean when Shepardizing?
Expected Answer: Should understand basic citation signals like positive, negative, or questioned treatment of cases and what they mean for legal research.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic legal research methods
- Understanding of citation systems
- Familiarity with research platforms
- Basic legal terminology knowledge
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced research techniques
- Multiple platform expertise
- Citation analysis
- Research documentation skills
Senior (5+ years)
- Training and supervision
- Complex research strategy development
- Quality control implementation
- Research process optimization
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unfamiliarity with major legal research platforms
- Inability to explain basic citation signals
- Poor attention to detail in research documentation
- Lack of understanding about different court jurisdictions
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