How to Use Google Scholar Effectively for Your Legal Research

Legal research is at the heart of successful lawyering. With increasing demands on your time and resources, finding an efficient and cost-effective research tool is crucial. Google Scholar is an often overlooked yet powerful resource for legal professionals, offering free access to extensive case law databases.

Here’s how you, as a practicing lawyer or legal professional, can make the most out of Google Scholar for your research needs.

What is Google Scholar?

Google Scholar was originally launched in 2004 as a platform for accessing scholarly articles across multiple disciplines. In 2009, it expanded to include legal case opinions, offering a free alternative to premium legal research databases like Westlaw and LexisNexis. Today, it’s widely used by lawyers, paralegals, and law students.

1- Finding Case Law on Google Scholar

When you visit the Google Scholar homepage, you’ll see options to search either “Articles” or “Case law.” Selecting “Case law” lets you search through judicial decisions from various state and federal courts.

You can refine your search by:

• Federal Courts
• State Courts
• Specific court selections (e.g., New York Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals)

This level of customization helps you pinpoint relevant jurisdictions quickly.

2- Conducting a Case Search by Citation

Google Scholar allows you to search directly using the case citation. Simply input the citation into the search bar, and you’ll immediately be presented with the full text of the opinion. This saves time, especially when you already know the precise citation for your case.

3- Keyword Searching for Judicial Opinions

If you don’t have a specific citation, keyword searches can yield valuable results. Enter the case name (e.g., Brown v. Board of Education) or relevant legal terms (like “constructive dismissal” or “probable cause”). To further refine your results, narrow your search to specific courts using the “Select courts” option.

4- Leveraging the “How Cited” Feature

Google Scholar’s “How cited” link provides a list of cases citing your selected opinion. This can help gauge a case’s influence or relevance. However, Google Scholar won’t indicate whether the citation is positive, neutral, or negative. You’ll need to review each cited case individually to verify if your case remains good law.

For a comprehensive understanding of a case’s current standing, supplement your Google Scholar research with tools like Shepard’s or KeyCite if you have access.

Understanding Google Scholar’s Limitations

Despite its advantages, Google Scholar does have limitations:

• No case summaries or headnotes: Unlike commercial tools, Google Scholar provides no headnotes or summaries, requiring a thorough reading of each opinion.
• Limited citator functionality: It won’t explicitly indicate if your case has been overruled or negatively treated.
• Variable keyword search quality: Keyword searches can occasionally miss crucial cases or present important results further down the list.

Best Practices When Using Google Scholar

Here are some practical tips to optimize your Google Scholar searches:

• Carefully check citations: Always confirm whether cases citing your precedent treat it favorably.
• Use precise keywords: Narrow down your search using targeted legal terms and jurisdiction-specific filters.
• Combine with additional tools: For critical matters, cross-check your findings using paid legal databases or citators to ensure reliability.

Citing Google Scholar Opinions

When referencing cases found on Google Scholar, standard citation practices apply. Use the Bluebook or ALWD citation styles without needing to specify that the opinion was accessed via Google Scholar, as the citations themselves remain authoritative.

Should Lawyers Use Google Scholar?

Yes, lawyers can and do effectively use Google Scholar, especially for preliminary research or accessing case law quickly and freely. However, it’s important to recognize its limitations and supplement it with premium services when necessary.

Ultimately, Google Scholar is an excellent tool for cost-effective and efficient legal research, especially useful for solo practitioners and small firms aiming to reduce overheads without compromising research quality.

Since your Law Firm SEO marketing is outsourced to professionals like us. Harnessing this resource wisely can enhance your legal practice and streamline your research process.