Research Worksheet
Legal research can be challenging and confusing, just as the law can be. Provided is a Legal Research Worksheet, with information on how to get started with your research and online resources, as well as space to write down notes as you go. One is PDF fillable (meaning you can type notes directly on the PDF) and one is printer-friendly if you prefer writing out your notes.
Research Worksheet (Fillable PDF)
Research Worksheet (Printer-Friendly)
**NOTE** this worksheet and the information on this web page are not legal advice, or intended to be taken as legal advice. These worksheets are designed for online legal research but are helpful for in-person research at the library as well.
A. Brainstorm
What do you know and how can that help you start your research? Do you have a Statute, Rule, or Case? Did you read what you received from the other party or court?
B. Legal Basics
Look for...
- Legal definitions for jargon words/legalese
- Court decision reasonings
- Goals of the law
- General processes and procedures
Understanding the why's, how's, and what's of the law can help you understand the law and legal text better. Here are some online starting points:
| Oregon Law Help Information Library |
NOLO Plain Language Legal Dictionary |
| OSB Legal Information Topics |
NOLO Books on Ebscohost
(need to make a free SOLL account) |
C. Secondary Sources
Secondary sources help explain how the law works in greather depth and further detail. The most robust online option is Oregon State Bar's BarBooks, please contact us at [email protected] or the State of Oregon Law Library at [email protected] for an access token. We can also email you PDFs of relevant chapters.
Know what direction to go?
Not yet...
D. Reading the Law
The best approach in research is to try to determine what the law provides in situations similar to yours, not how to get what you want.
Try finding relevant:
- Statutes: The laws of Oregon, known as the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)
- Cases: Judges write decisions between two parties that demonstrate what "the law" is in Oregon or to create "common law." (Remote caselaw is available through SOLL Westlaw, also available in-person at the library).
- Court Rules: Tells you what happens when in a court case. Uniform Trial Court Rules (UTCR), Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR), Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure (ORCP), Supplementary Local Court Rules (SLR) are some of the rules that govern Oregon courts, available online.