Westlaw
Westlaw is one of the most widely used online legal research tools that lawyers and legal professionals use to find court cases, laws, and legal documents. Think of it as a massive digital library specifically for legal information. It's similar to other legal research platforms like LexisNexis or Bloomberg Law. Legal professionals rely on Westlaw because it helps them quickly find relevant legal information, check if cases are still valid law, and stay updated on legal developments. The platform is especially important for law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies.
Examples in Resumes
Conducted extensive legal research using Westlaw and WestlawNext for complex litigation cases
Trained junior associates on effective Westlaw research strategies and advanced search techniques
Utilized Westlaw to prepare comprehensive legal memoranda and case briefings
Typical job title: "Legal Researchers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Legal Researchers
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you approach training junior staff on efficient Westlaw research techniques?
Expected Answer: A senior professional should discuss creating structured training programs, sharing advanced search strategies, teaching cost-effective research methods, and explaining how to validate case law through citator services.
Q: How do you stay current with Westlaw's updates and new features?
Expected Answer: Should mention regular participation in Westlaw training sessions, following legal technology news, and actively exploring new features as they're released. Should also discuss how they implement these updates in their workflow.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What strategies do you use to conduct efficient research on Westlaw?
Expected Answer: Should explain using Boolean operators, filtering search results, using KeyCite to check case validity, and organizing research results effectively.
Q: How do you determine which Westlaw resources are most relevant for different types of legal research?
Expected Answer: Should discuss understanding different content types (primary law, secondary sources, practice materials) and when to use each for different research needs.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the basic features of Westlaw that you use most often?
Expected Answer: Should be able to describe basic search functions, accessing case law and statutes, and using the table of contents feature to navigate legal materials.
Q: How do you save and organize your research on Westlaw?
Expected Answer: Should explain using folders, saving documents, creating research trails, and basic note-taking features within the platform.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic legal research techniques
- Simple keyword searches
- Accessing and reading case law
- Saving and organizing research
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced search strategies
- Efficient research organization
- Citation checking
- Research cost management
Senior (5+ years)
- Training and mentoring others
- Complex research strategy development
- Advanced filtering techniques
- Research workflow optimization
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to perform basic legal research tasks
- No understanding of legal citations
- Lack of knowledge about different types of legal sources
- Poor organization of research materials
- No experience with legal document analysis
Related Terms
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