Shepardizing
Shepardizing is a fundamental legal research method used by legal professionals to verify if a legal case or statute is still valid and to find related cases. Think of it as a family tree for legal decisions - it helps track how different court decisions are connected and whether they're still considered good law. The term comes from Frank Shepard's citation system, but today it's often used to describe any similar legal citation checking, even when using other services like LexisNexis or Westlaw. When you see this on a resume, it shows that the person knows how to properly research legal precedents and ensure the legal information they're using is current and valid.
Examples in Resumes
Conducted thorough Shepardizing research for over 200 cases annually
Trained junior paralegals in Shepardizing and Shepard's Citations techniques
Utilized Shepardize function to validate case law for partner briefs
Typical job title: "Legal Researchers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Legal Researchers
Legal Research Communities
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you train a team on efficient Shepardizing techniques?
Expected Answer: A senior researcher should explain their approach to teaching others, including demonstrating both traditional and online methods, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to interpret different citation signals effectively.
Q: How do you validate complex legal research across multiple jurisdictions?
Expected Answer: Should discuss their systematic approach to cross-jurisdictional research, including checking state and federal cases, understanding different courts' hierarchies, and ensuring comprehensive citation validation.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What do different Shepard's signals mean and how do you use them?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain the meaning of red, yellow, and green signals, and how these affect the validity of case law in practical research situations.
Q: How do you determine if a case is still good law?
Expected Answer: Should explain the process of checking subsequent history, understanding treatment by other courts, and verifying current validity through citation services.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the basic purpose of Shepardizing?
Expected Answer: Should explain that it's used to verify if a case is still valid law and to find related cases that have cited the original case.
Q: What resources do you use for Shepardizing?
Expected Answer: Should mention common legal research platforms like LexisNexis or Westlaw, and understand the basic process of looking up citations.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic citation checking
- Understanding of legal citations
- Familiarity with online legal research platforms
- Basic case law research
Mid (2-5 years)
- Efficient use of multiple research platforms
- Understanding of complex citation patterns
- Ability to train others in basic research
- Cross-jurisdictional research capabilities
Senior (5+ years)
- Advanced research strategy development
- Training and supervision of junior researchers
- Expert knowledge of all citation systems
- Complex legal research project management
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to explain basic citation signals
- No experience with major legal research platforms
- Lack of attention to detail in citation checking
- Unfamiliarity with basic legal terminology
Related Terms
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