This section of TheLaw.net Search and Support Network will show you how to quickly find opinions in our database that match the search criteria you specify. But, first a couple of general comments about compusearching.

     A perfect search query is one that returns everything from a database that you need and nothing you don't need. Many compusearchers get too specific, too soon and miss items of information that are important to them.

     There is a logical winnowing process that you should follow; a process that begins with attempting to find everything in the database that is potentially relevant. If you find too much on a particular subject you need to refine your search. If you find little or nothing, you'll fell relieved that you kept your search broad from the outset.

     Using the simple, easy-to-learn processes described in this section, you'll find that with most searches, your results list is finalized in just a few mouse clicks.

If you find too much information, a search can be modified by:

• including or excluding additional search terms
  
• restricting the time period of the search
  
• restricting the number of jurisdictions queried

     If at the outset of a new search, the purpose is to find everything of potential relevance on the first pass, you would NEVER restrict the date of your search on the first pass. One exception to this general rule would be if you knew that a particular statute, regulation or rule hit the books on a particular date; then restricting your search from that date would make sense.

     One of the obvious benefits of TheLaw.net is that your research has a national scope. The database that you have direct access to contains millions of opinions from more than 200 Federal and state jurisdictions.

     Computer based results lists can appear daunting on those occasions when you find too many opinions that match your search criteria. Keep in mind, however, that the opinion ranked at the top of your results list contains the largest number of references to your search terms and they digress in descending order from there. The opinion ranked last on your list of results probably mentions your search term once in paragraph 72 and has never been cited for a reason you care about.

     Finally, when conducting Federal research, best practices dictates that you not restrict the jurisdictions searched on the first pass. Select all. You may be surprised to find that the first opinion on the results list from your primary circuit is the tenth entry on the list because several opinions from non-primary jurisdictions contain a larger number of references to your search terms. You wouldn't want to miss out on the potential insight such opinions may well contribute to your brief or memo, even if you never cite them.

     With the above factors and pointers as background, click the next link in this section to learn how to quickly locate opinions in our database that have construed the specific statute, rule or regulation that may be driving your search.