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How to do legal research in 3 steps

Knowing where to start a difficult legal research project can be a challenge. But if you already understand the basics of legal research, the process can be significantly easier — not to mention quicker.

Solid research skills are crucial to crafting a winning argument. So, whether you are a law school student or a seasoned attorney with years of experience, knowing how to perform legal research is important — including where to start and the steps to follow.

What is legal research, and where do I start? 

Black's Law Dictionary defines legal research as “[t]he finding and assembling of authorities that bear on a question of law." But what does that actually mean? It means that legal research is the process you use to identify and find the laws — including statutes, regulations, and court opinions — that apply to the facts of your case.

In most instances, the purpose of legal research is to find support for a specific legal issue or decision. For example, attorneys must conduct legal research if they need court opinions — that is, case law — to back up a legal argument they are making in a motion or brief filed with the court.

Alternatively, lawyers may need legal research to provide clients with accurate legal guidance . In the case of law students, they often use legal research to complete memos and briefs for class. But these are just a few situations in which legal research is necessary.

Why is legal research hard?

Each step — from defining research questions to synthesizing findings — demands critical thinking and rigorous analysis.

1. Identifying the legal issue is not so straightforward. Legal research involves interpreting many legal precedents and theories to justify your questions. Finding the right issue takes time and patience.

2. There's too much to research. Attorneys now face a great deal of case law and statutory material. The sheer volume forces the researcher to be efficient by following a methodology based on a solid foundation of legal knowledge and principles.

3. The law is a fluid doctrine. It changes with time, and staying updated with the latest legal codes, precedents, and statutes means the most resourceful lawyer needs to assess the relevance and importance of new decisions.

Legal research can pose quite a challenge, but professionals can improve it at every stage of the process . 

Step 1: Key questions to ask yourself when starting legal research

Before you begin looking for laws and court opinions, you first need to define the scope of your legal research project. There are several key questions you can use to help do this.

What are the facts?

Always gather the essential facts so you know the “who, what, why, when, where, and how” of your case. Take the time to write everything down, especially since you will likely need to include a statement of facts in an eventual filing or brief anyway. Even if you don't think a fact may be relevant now, write it down because it may be relevant later. These facts will also be helpful when identifying your legal issue.

What is the actual legal issue?

You will never know what to research if you don't know what your legal issue is. Does your client need help collecting money from an insurance company following a car accident involving a negligent driver? How about a criminal case involving excluding evidence found during an alleged illegal stop?

No matter the legal research project, you must identify the relevant legal problem and the outcome or relief sought. This information will guide your research so you can stay focused and on topic.

What is the relevant jurisdiction?

Don't cast your net too wide regarding legal research; you should focus on the relevant jurisdiction. For example, does your case deal with federal or state law? If it is state law, which state? You may find a case in California state court that is precisely on point, but it won't be beneficial if your legal project involves New York law.

Where to start legal research: The library, online, or even AI?

In years past, future attorneys were trained in law school to perform research in the library. But now, you can find almost everything from the library — and more — online. While you can certainly still use the library if you want, you will probably be costing yourself valuable time if you do.

When it comes to online research, some people start with free legal research options , including search engines like Google or Bing. But to ensure your legal research is comprehensive, you will want to use an online research service designed specifically for the law, such as Westlaw . Not only do online solutions like Westlaw have all the legal sources you need, but they also include artificial intelligence research features that help make quick work of your research

Step 2: How to find relevant case law and other primary sources of law

Now that you have gathered the facts and know your legal issue, the next step is knowing what to look for. After all, you will need the law to support your legal argument, whether providing guidance to a client or writing an internal memo, brief, or some other legal document.

But what type of law do you need? The answer: primary sources of law. Some of the more important types of primary law include:

• Case law, which are court opinions or decisions issued by federal or state courts
• Statutes, including legislation passed by both the U.S. Congress and state lawmakers
• Regulations, including those issued by either federal or state agencies
• Constitutions, both federal and state

Searching for primary sources of law

So, if it's primary law you want, it makes sense to begin searching there first, right? Not so fast. While you will need primary sources of law to support your case, in many instances, it is much easier — and a more efficient use of your time — to begin your search with secondary sources such as practice guides, treatises, and legal articles.

Why? Because secondary sources provide a thorough overview of legal topics, meaning you don't have to start your research from scratch. After secondary sources, you can move on to primary sources of law.

For example, while no two legal research projects are the same, the order in which you will want to search different types of sources may look something like this:

• Secondary sources . If you are researching a new legal principle or an unfamiliar area of the law, the best place to start is secondary sources, including law journals, practice guides , legal encyclopedias, and treatises. They are a good jumping-off point for legal research since they've already done the work for you. As an added bonus, they can save you additional time since they often identify and cite important statutes and seminal cases.
• Case law . If you have already found some case law in secondary sources, great, you have something to work with. But if not, don't fret. You can still search for relevant case law in a variety of ways, including running a search in a case law research tool.

Once you find a helpful case, you can use it to find others. For example, in Westlaw, most cases contain headnotes that summarize each of the case's important legal issues. These headnotes are also assigned a Key Number based on the topic associated with that legal issue. So, once you find a good case, you can use the headnotes and Key Numbers within it to quickly find more relevant case law.

• Statutes and regulations . In many instances, secondary sources and case law list the statutes and regulations relevant to your legal issue. But if you haven't found anything yet, you can still search for statutes and regs online like you do with cases.

Once you know which statute or reg is pertinent to your case, pull up the annotated version on Westlaw. Why the annotated version? Because the annotations will include vital information, such as a list of important cases that cite your statute or reg. Sometimes, these cases are even organized by topic — just one more way to find the case law you need to support your legal argument.

Keep in mind, though, that legal research isn't always a linear process. You may start out going from source to source as outlined above and then find yourself needing to go back to secondary sources once you have a better grasp of the legal issue. In other instances, you may even find the answer you are looking for in a source not listed above, like a sample brief filed with the court by another attorney. Ultimately, you need to go where the information takes you.

Step 3: Make sure you are using ‘good’ law

One of the most important steps with every legal research project is to verify that you are using “good" law — meaning a court hasn't invalidated it or struck it down in some way. After all, it probably won't look good to a judge if you cite a case that has been overruled or use a statute deemed unconstitutional. It doesn't necessarily mean you can never cite these sources; you just need to take a closer look before you do.

The simplest way to find out if something is still good law is to use a legal tool known as a citator, which will show you subsequent cases that have cited your source as well as any negative history, including if it has been overruled, reversed, questioned, or merely differentiated.

For instance, if a case, statute, or regulation has any negative history — and therefore may no longer be good law — KeyCite, the citator on Westlaw, will warn you. Specifically, KeyCite will show a flag or icon at the top of the document, along with a little blurb about the negative history. This alert system allows you to quickly know if there may be anything you need to worry about.

Some examples of these flags and icons include:

• A red flag on a case warns you it is no longer good for at least one point of law, meaning it may have been overruled or reversed on appeal.
• A yellow flag on a case warns that it has some negative history but is not expressly overruled or reversed, meaning another court may have criticized it or pointed out the holding was limited to a specific fact pattern.
• A blue-striped flag on a case warns you that it has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court or the U.S. Court of Appeals.
• The KeyCite Overruling Risk icon on a case warns you that the case may be implicitly undermined because it relies on another case that has been overruled.

Another bonus of using a citator like KeyCite is that it also provides a list of other cases that merely cite your source — it can lead to additional sources you previously didn't know about.

Perseverance is vital when it comes to legal research

Given that legal research is a complex process, it will likely come as no surprise that this guide cannot provide everything you need to know.

There is a reason why there are entire law school courses and countless books focused solely on legal research methodology. In fact, many attorneys will spend their entire careers honing their research skills — and even then, they may not have perfected the process.

So, if you are just beginning, don't get discouraged if you find legal research difficult — almost everyone does at first. With enough time, patience, and dedication, you can master the art of legal research.

Thomson Reuters originally published this article on November 10, 2020.

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How to Conduct Legal Research

September 21, 2021

Conducting legal research can challenge even the most skilled law practitioners.

As laws evolve across jurisdictions, it can be a difficult to keep pace with every legal development. Equally daunting is the ability to track and glean insights into stakeholder strategies and legal responses. Without quick and easy access to the right tools, the legal research upon which case strategy hinges may face cost, personnel, and litigation outcome challenges.

Bloomberg Law’s artificial intelligence-driven tools drastically reduce the time to perform legal research. Whether you seek quick answers to legal research definitions, or general guidance on the legal research process, Bloomberg Law’s Core Litigation Skills Toolkit has you covered.

What is legal research?

Legal research is the process of uncovering and understanding all of the legal precedents, laws, regulations, and other legal authorities that apply in a case and inform an attorney’s course of action.

Legal research often involves case law research, which is the practice of identifying and interpreting the most relevant cases concerning the topic at issue. Legal research can also involve a deep dive into a judge’s past rulings or opposing counsel’s record of success.

Research is not a process that has a finite start and end, but remains ongoing throughout every phase of a legal matter. It is a cornerstone of a litigator’s skills.

[Learn how our integrated, time-saving litigation research tools allow litigators to streamline their work and get answers quickly.]

Where do I begin my legal research?

Beginning your legal research will look different for each assignment. At the outset, ensure that you understand your goal by asking questions and taking careful notes. Ask about background case information, logistical issues such as filing deadlines, the client/matter number, and billing instructions.

It’s also important to consider how your legal research will be used. Is the research to be used for a pending motion? If you are helping with a motion for summary judgment, for example, your goal is to find cases that are in the same procedural posture as yours and come out favorably for your side (i.e., if your client is the one filing the motion, try to find cases where a motion for summary judgment was granted, not denied). Keep in mind the burden of proof for different kinds of motions.

Finally, but no less important, assess the key facts of the case. Who are the relevant parties? Where is the jurisdiction? Who is the judge? Note all case details that come to mind.

What if I’m new to the practice area or specific legal issue?

While conducting legal research, it is easy to go down rabbit holes. Resist the urge to start by reviewing individual cases, which may prove irrelevant. Start instead with secondary sources, which often provide a prevailing statement of the law for a specific topic. These sources will save time and orient you to the area of the law and key issues.

Litigation Practical Guidance provides the essentials including step-by-step guidance, expert legal analysis, and a preview of next steps. Source citations are included in all Practical Guidance, and you can filter Points of Law, Smart Code®, and court opinions searches to get the jurisdiction-specific cases or statutes you need.

Searching across Points of Law will help to get your bearings on an issue before diving into reading the cases in full. Points of Law uses machine learning to identify key legal principles expressed in court opinions, which are easily searchable by keyword and jurisdiction. This tool helps you quickly find other cases that have expressed the same Point of Law, and directs you to related Points of Law that might be relevant to your research. It is automatically updated with the most recent opinions, saving you time and helping you quickly drill down to the relevant cases.

How do I respond to the opposing side’s brief?

Whether a brief is yours or that of the opposing party, Bloomberg Law’s Brief Analyzer is an essential component in the legal research process. It reduces the time spent analyzing a brief, identifying relevant authorities, and preparing a solid response.

To start, navigate to Brief Analyzer available from the Bloomberg Law homepage, within the Litigation Intelligence Center , or from Docket Key search results for briefs.

Simply upload the opposing side’s brief into the tool, and Brief Analyzer will generate a report of the cited authorities and arguments contained in the brief.

You can easily view a comparison with the brief and analysis side by side. It will also point you directly to relevant cases, Points of Law, and Practical Guidance to jump start your research.

[ How to Write a Legal Brief – Learn how to shorten the legal research cycle and give your legal brief a competitive advantage.]

How to optimize your search.

Crafting searches is a critical skill when it comes to legal research. Although many legal research platforms, including Bloomberg Law, offer natural language searching, terms and connectors (also called Boolean) searching is still a vital legal research skill and should be used when searching across court opinions, dockets, Points of Law, and other primary and secondary sources.

When you conduct a natural language search, the search engine applies algorithms to rank your results. Why a certain case is ranked as it is may not be obvious. This makes it harder to interpret whether the search is giving you everything you need. It is also harder to efficiently and effectively manipulate your search terms to zero in on the results you want. Using Boolean searching gives you better control over your search and greater confidence in your results.

The good news? Bloomberg Law does not charge by the search for court opinion searches. If your initial search was much too broad or much too narrow, you do not have to worry about immediately running a new and improved search.

Follow these tips when beginning a search to ensure that you do not miss relevant materials:

• Make sure you do not have typos in your search string.
• Search the appropriate source or section of the research platform. It is possible to search only within a practice area, jurisdiction, secondary resource, or other grouping of materials.
• Make sure you know which terms and connectors are utilized by the platform you are working on and what they mean – there is no uniform standard set of terms of connectors utilized by all platforms.
• Include in your search all possible terms the court might use, or alternate ways the court may address an issue. It is best to group the alternatives together within a parenthetical, connected by OR between each term.
• Consider including single and multiple character wildcards when relevant. Using a single character wildcard (an asterisk) and/or a multiple character wildcard (an exclamation point) helps you capture all word variations – even those you might not have envisioned.
• Try using a tool that helps you find additional relevant case law. When you find relevant authority, use BCITE on Bloomberg Law to find all other cases and/or sources that cite back to that case. When in BCITE, click on the Citing Documents tab, and search by keyword to narrow the results. Alternatively, you can use the court’s language or ruling to search Points of Law and find other cases that addressed the same issue or reached the same ruling.

[Bloomberg Law subscribers can access a complete checklist of search term best practices . Not a subscriber? Request a Demo .]

How can legal research help with drafting or strategy?

Before drafting a motion or brief, search for examples of what firm lawyers filed with the court in similar cases. You can likely find recent examples in your firm’s internal document system or search Bloomberg Law’s dockets. If possible, look for things filed before the same judge so you can get a quick check on rules/procedures to be followed (and by the same partner when possible so you can get an idea of their style preferences).

Careful docket search provides a wealth of information about relevant cases, jurisdictions, judges, and opposing counsel. On Bloomberg Law, type “Dockets Search” in the Go bar or find the dockets search box in the Litigation Intelligence Center .

If you do not know the specific docket number and/or court, use the docket search functionality Docket Key . Select from any of 20 categories, including motions, briefs, and orders, across all 94 federal district courts, to pinpoint the exact filing of choice.

Dockets can also help you access lots of information to guide your case strategy. For example, if you are considering filing a particular type of motion, such as a sanctions motion, you can use dockets to help determine how frequently your judge grants sanctions motions. You can also use dockets to see how similar cases before your judge proceeded through discovery.

If you are researching expert witnesses, you can use dockets to help determine if the expert has been recently excluded from a case, or whether their opinion has been limited. If so, this will help you determine whether the expert is a good fit for your case.

Dockets are a powerful research tool that allow you to search across filings to support your argument. Stay apprised of docket updates with the “Create Alert” option on Bloomberg Law.

Dive deeper into competitive research.

For even more competitive research insights, dive into Bloomberg Law’s Litigation Analytics – this is available in the Litigation tab on the homepage. Data here helps attorneys develop litigation strategy, predict possible outcomes, and better advise clients.

To start, under Litigation Analytics , leverage the Attorney tab to view case history and preview legal strategies the opposition may practice against you. Also, within Litigation Analytics, use the Court tab to get aggregate motion and appeal outcome rates across all federal courts, with the option to run comparisons across jurisdictions, and filter by company, law firm, and attorney.

Use the Judge tab to glean insights from cited opinions, and past and current decisions by motion and appeal outcomes. Also view litigation analytics in the right rail of court opinions.

Docket search can also offer intel on your opponent. Has your opponent filed similar lawsuits or made similar arguments before? How did those cases pan out? You can learn a lot about an opponent from past appearances in court.

How do I validate case law citations?

Checking the status of case law is essential in legal research. Rely on Bloomberg Law’s proprietary citator, BCITE. This time-saving tool lets you know if a case is still good law.

Under each court opinion, simply look to the right rail. There, you will see a thumbnail icon for “BCITE Analysis.” Click on the icon, and you will be provided quick links to direct history (opinions that affect or are affected by the outcome of the case at issue); case analysis (citing cases, with filter and search options), table of authorities, and citing documents.

How should I use technology to improve my legal research?

A significant benefit of digital research platforms and analytics is increased efficiency. Modern legal research technology helps attorneys sift through thousands of cases quickly and comprehensively. These products can also help aggregate or summarize data in a way that is more useful and make associations instantaneously.

For example, before litigation analytics were common, a partner may have asked a junior associate to find all summary judgment motions ruled on by a specific judge to determine how often that judge grants or denies them. The attorney could have done so by manually searching over PACER and/or by searching through court opinions, but that would take a long time. Now, Litigation Analytics can aggregate that data and provide an answer in seconds. Understanding that such products exist can be a game changer. Automating parts of the research process frees up time and effort for other activities that benefit the client and makes legal research and writing more efficient.

[Read our article: Six ways legal technology aids your litigation workflow .]

Tools like  Points of Law ,  dockets  and  Brief Analyzer  can also increase efficiency, especially when narrowing your research to confirm that you found everything on point. In the past, attorneys had to spend many hours (and lots of money) running multiple court opinion searches to ensure they did not miss a case on point. Now, there are tools that can dramatically speed up that process. For example, running a search over Points of Law can immediately direct you to other cases that discuss that same legal principle.

However, it’s important to remember that digital research and analytical tools should be seen as enhancing the legal research experience, not displacing the review, analysis, and judgment of an attorney. An attorney uses his or her knowledge of their client, the facts, the precedent, expert opinions, and his or her own experiences to predict the likely result in a given matter. Digital research products enhance this process by providing more data on a wider array of variables so that an attorney can take even more information into consideration.

[Get all your questions answered, request a Bloomberg Law demo , and more.]

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Legal Research Strategy

Preliminary analysis, organization, secondary sources, primary sources, updating research, identifying an end point, getting help, about this guide.

This guide will walk a beginning researcher though the legal research process step-by-step. These materials are created with the 1L Legal Research & Writing course in mind. However, these resources will also assist upper-level students engaged in any legal research project.

How to Strategize

Legal research must be comprehensive and precise.  One contrary source that you miss may invalidate other sources you plan to rely on.  Sticking to a strategy will save you time, ensure completeness, and improve your work product. 

Follow These Steps

Running Time: 3 minutes, 13 seconds.

Make sure that you don't miss any steps by using our:

• Legal Research Strategy Checklist

If you get stuck at any time during the process, check this out:

• Ten Tips for Moving Beyond the Brick Wall in the Legal Research Process, by Marsha L. Baum

Understanding the Legal Questions

A legal question often originates as a problem or story about a series of events. In law school, these stories are called fact patterns. In practice, facts may arise from a manager or an interview with a potential client. Start by doing the following:

• Read anything you have been given
• Analyze the facts and frame the legal issues
• Assess what you know and need to learn
• Note the jurisdiction and any primary law you have been given
• Generate potential search terms

Jurisdiction

Legal rules will vary depending on where geographically your legal question will be answered. You must determine the jurisdiction in which your claim will be heard. These resources can help you learn more about jurisdiction and how it is determined:

• Legal Treatises on Jurisdiction
• LII Wex Entry on Jurisdiction

This map indicates which states are in each federal appellate circuit:

Getting Started

Once you have begun your research, you will need to keep track of your work. Logging your research will help you to avoid missing sources and explain your research strategy. You will likely be asked to explain your research process when in practice. Researchers can keep paper logs, folders on Westlaw or Lexis, or online citation management platforms.

Organizational Methods

Tracking with paper or excel.

Many researchers create their own tracking charts.  Be sure to include:

• Search Date
• Topics/Keywords/Search Strategy
• Citation to Relevant Source Found
• Save Locations
• Follow Up Needed

Consider using the following research log as a starting place: 

• Sample Research Log

Tracking with Folders

Westlaw and Lexis offer options to create folders, then save and organize your materials there.

• Lexis Advance Folders
• Westlaw Edge Folders

Tracking with Citation Management Software

For long term projects, platforms such as Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley, or Refworks might be useful. These are good tools to keep your research well organized. Note, however, that none of these platforms substitute for doing your own proper Bluebook citations. Learn more about citation management software on our other research guides:

• Guide to Zotero for Harvard Law Students by Harvard Law School Library Research Services Last Updated Sep 12, 2023 327 views this year

Types of Sources

There are three different types of sources: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary.  When doing legal research you will be using mostly primary and secondary sources.  We will explore these different types of sources in the sections below.

Secondary sources often explain legal principles more thoroughly than a single case or statute. Starting with them can help you save time.

Secondary sources are particularly useful for:

• Learning the basics of a particular area of law
• Understanding key terms of art in an area
• Identifying essential cases and statutes

Consider the following when deciding which type of secondary source is right for you:

• Scope/Breadth
• Depth of Treatment
• Currentness/Reliability

For a deep dive into secondary sources visit:

• Secondary Sources: ALRs, Encyclopedias, Law Reviews, Restatements, & Treatises by Catherine Biondo Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 5385 views this year

Legal Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Legal dictionaries.

Legal dictionaries are similar to other dictionaries that you have likely used before.

• Black's Law Dictionary
• Ballentine's Law Dictionary

Legal Encyclopedias

Legal encyclopedias contain brief, broad summaries of legal topics, providing introductions and explaining terms of art. They also provide citations to primary law and relevant major law review articles.  

Here are the two major national encyclopedias:

• American Jurisprudence (AmJur) This resource is also available in Westlaw & Lexis .
• Corpus Juris Secundum (CJS)

Treatises are books on legal topics.  These books are a good place to begin your research.  They provide explanation, analysis, and citations to the most relevant primary sources. Treatises range from single subject overviews to deep treatments of broad subject areas.

It is important to check the date when the treatise was published. Many are either not updated, or are updated through the release of newer editions.

To find a relevant treatise explore:

• Legal Treatises by Subject by Catherine Biondo Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 4737 views this year

American Law Reports (ALR)

American Law Reports (ALR) contains in-depth articles on narrow topics of the law. ALR articles, are often called annotations. They provide background, analysis, and citations to relevant cases, statutes, articles, and other annotations. ALR annotations are invaluable tools to quickly find primary law on narrow legal questions.

This resource is available in both Westlaw and Lexis:

• American Law Reports on Westlaw (includes index)
• American Law Reports on Lexis

Law Reviews & Journals

Law reviews are scholarly publications, usually edited by law students in conjunction with faculty members. They contain both lengthy articles and shorter essays by professors and lawyers. They also contain comments, notes, or developments in the law written by law students. Articles often focus on new or emerging areas of law and may offer critical commentary. Some law reviews are dedicated to a particular topic while others are general. Occasionally, law reviews will include issues devoted to proceedings of panels and symposia.

Law review and journal articles are extremely narrow and deep with extensive references. 

To find law review articles visit:

• Law Journal Library on HeinOnline
• Law Reviews & Journals on LexisNexis
• Law Reviews & Journals on Westlaw

Restatements

Restatements are highly regarded distillations of common law, prepared by the American Law Institute (ALI). ALI is a prestigious organization comprised of judges, professors, and lawyers. They distill the "black letter law" from cases to indicate trends in common law. Resulting in a “restatement” of existing common law into a series of principles or rules. Occasionally, they make recommendations on what a rule of law should be.

Restatements are not primary law. However, they are considered persuasive authority by many courts.

Restatements are organized into chapters, titles, and sections.  Sections contain the following:

• a concisely stated rule of law,
• comments to clarify the rule,
• hypothetical examples,
• explanation of purpose, and
• exceptions to the rule  

To access restatements visit:

• American Law Institute Library on HeinOnline
• Restatements & Principles of the Law on LexisNexis
• Restatements & Principles of Law on Westlaw

Primary Authority

Primary authority is "authority that issues directly from a law-making body."   Authority , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).   Sources of primary authority include:

• Constitutions
• Statutes 

Regulations

Access to primary legal sources is available through:

• Bloomberg Law
• Free & Low Cost Alternatives

Statutes (also called legislation) are "laws enacted by legislative bodies", such as Congress and state legislatures.  Statute , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).

We typically start primary law research here. If there is a controlling statute, cases you look for later will interpret that law. There are two types of statutes, annotated and unannotated.

Annotated codes are a great place to start your research. They combine statutory language with citations to cases, regulations, secondary sources, and other relevant statutes. This can quickly connect you to the most relevant cases related to a particular law. Unannotated Codes provide only the text of the statute without editorial additions. Unannotated codes, however, are more often considered official and used for citation purposes.

For a deep dive on federal and state statutes, visit:

• Statutes: US and State Codes by Mindy Kent Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 3741 views this year
• 50 State Surveys

Want to learn more about the history or legislative intent of a law?  Learn how to get started here:

• Legislative History Get an introduction to legislative histories in less than 5 minutes.
• Federal Legislative History Research Guide

Regulations are rules made by executive departments and agencies. Not every legal question will require you to search regulations. However, many areas of law are affected by regulations. So make sure not to skip this step if they are relevant to your question.

To learn more about working with regulations, visit:

• Administrative Law Research by AJ Blechner Last Updated Apr 12, 2024 668 views this year

Case Basics

In many areas, finding relevant caselaw will comprise a significant part of your research. This Is particularly true in legal areas that rely heavily on common law principles.

Running Time: 3 minutes, 10 seconds.

Unpublished Cases

Up to  86% of federal case opinions are unpublished. You must determine whether your jurisdiction will consider these unpublished cases as persuasive authority. The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure have an overarching rule, Rule 32.1  Each circuit also has local rules regarding citations to unpublished opinions. You must understand both the Federal Rule and the rule in your jurisdiction.

• Federal and Local Rules of Appellate Procedure 32.1 (Dec. 2021).
• Type of Opinion or Order Filed in Cases Terminated on the Merits, by Circuit (Sept. 2021).

Each state also has its own local rules which can often be accessed through:

• State Bar Associations
• State Courts Websites

First Circuit

• First Circuit Court Rule 32.1.0

Second Circuit

• Second Circuit Court Rule 32.1.1

Third Circuit

• Third Circuit Court Rule 5.7

Fourth Circuit

• Fourth Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Fifth Circuit

• Fifth Circuit Court Rule 47.5

Sixth Circuit

• Sixth Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Seventh Circuit

• Seventh Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Eighth Circuit

• Eighth Circuit Court Rule 32.1A

Ninth Circuit

• Ninth Circuit Court Rule 36-3

Tenth Circuit

• Tenth Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Eleventh Circuit

• Eleventh Circuit Court Rule 32.1

D.C. Circuit

• D.C. Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Federal Circuit

• Federal Circuit Court Rule 32.1

Finding Cases

Headnotes show the key legal points in a case. Legal databases use these headnotes to guide researchers to other cases on the same topic. They also use them to organize concepts explored in cases by subject. Publishers, like Westlaw and Lexis, create headnotes, so they are not consistent across databases.

Headnotes are organized by subject into an outline that allows you to search by subject. This outline is known as a "digest of cases." By browsing or searching the digest you can retrieve all headnotes covering a particular topic. This can help you identify particularly important cases on the relevant subject.

Running Time: 4 minutes, 43 seconds.

Each major legal database has its own digest:

• Topic Navigator (Lexis)
• Key Digest System (Westlaw)

Start by identifying a relevant topic in a digest.  Then you can limit those results to your jurisdiction for more relevant results.  Sometimes, you can keyword search within only the results on your topic in your jurisdiction.  This is a particularly powerful research method.

One Good Case Method

After following the steps above, you will have identified some relevant cases on your topic. You can use good cases you find to locate other cases addressing the same topic. These other cases often apply similar rules to a range of diverse fact patterns.

• in Lexis click "More Like This Headnote"
• in Westlaw click "Cases that Cite This Headnote"

to focus on the terms of art or key words in a particular headnote. You can use this feature to find more cases with similar language and concepts.  ​

Ways to Use Citators

A citator is "a catalogued list of cases, statutes, and other legal sources showing the subsequent history and current precedential value of those sources.  Citators allow researchers to verify the authority of a precedent and to find additional sources relating to a given subject." Citator , Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019).

Each major legal database has its own citator.  The two most popular are Keycite on Westlaw and Shepard's on Lexis.

• Keycite Information Page
• Shepard's Information Page

Making Sure Your Case is Still Good Law

This video answers common questions about citators:

For step-by-step instructions on how to use Keycite and Shepard's see the following:

• Shepard's Video Tutorial
• Shepard's Handout
• Shepard's Editorial Phrase Dictionary
• KeyCite Video Tutorial
• KeyCite Handout
• KeyCite Editorial Phrase Dictionary

Using Citators For

Citators serve three purposes: (1) case validation, (2) better understanding, and (3) additional research.

Case Validation

Is my case or statute good law?

• Parallel citations
• Prior and subsequent history
• Negative treatment suggesting you should no longer cite to holding.

Better Understanding

Has the law in this area changed?

• Later cases on the same point of law
• Positive treatment, explaining or expanding the law.
• Negative Treatment, narrowing or distinguishing the law.

Track Research

Who is citing and writing about my case or statute?

• Secondary sources that discuss your case or statute.
• Cases in other jurisdictions that discuss your case or statute.

Knowing When to Start Writing

For more guidance on when to stop your research see:

• Terminating Research, by Christina L. Kunz

Automated Services

Automated services can check your work and ensure that you are not missing important resources. You can learn more about several automated brief check services.  However, these services are not a replacement for conducting your own diligent research .

• Automated Brief Check Instructional Video

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This guide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License .

You may reproduce any part of it for noncommercial purposes as long as credit is included and it is shared in the same manner. 

• Last Updated: Sep 21, 2023 2:56 PM
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A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Do Legal Research

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When it comes to the practice of law, we often think about court appearances. But crafting a winning legal argument requires a lot of research.

Well-conducted legal research empowers your arguments and gives substance to your legal work, leading to a better outcome for your clients.

To become a pro, you need to understand the tools available to you, and developing a research strategy. Learning to conduct effective legal research isn’t glamorous. That said, it will save you time while helping you conduct stronger outcomes.

This guide reviews the fundamentals of the legal research process, including what sources you should turn to—and when. We’ll also discuss how and why you should check that you’re using “good” law, and offer tips for how you can improve your legal research skills—at any stage in your career.

Click here to watch our on-demand webinar with our lawyer in residence, Joshua Lenon, to learn how to take your legal research to the next level. 

What is legal research?

Legal research involves identifying, finding, and cite-checking information and applicable laws needed to support your legal decision-making. The primary and secondary legal sources for this research include statutes, constitutions, regulations, court orders, and more.

How to do legal research

While the techniques and tools you use may vary, the goal of legal research is simple: You want to find the relevant information and resources (i.e. laws) that apply to the facts of your case, so you can support legal decision making.

With this in mind, the legal research process can be broken down into three basic elements:

• Understanding the key details and questions of your legal issue
• Finding laws and information to support your legal argument checking that what you’ve found is still relevant
• Achieve your research goals in seven easy to follow steps:

Gather critical information about your legal issue

When presented with a legal issue, it’s natural to want to dive in and start looking for cases. But it’s in your best interest to first collect key details about the legal issue at hand.

Pausing to gather and record critical details (like the who, what, when, where, and how of your case) lays the foundation for a more focused, streamlined legal research process.

Establish your legal issue and your goal

Next, use your case’s critical information to pinpoint your legal issue. By establishing legal issues and your client’s ideal outcomes before you start researching, you can construct a well-defined framework that allows you to:

• See what you know about your legal issue—and what you need to find out
• Narrow the field of potential search terms
• Identify the jurisdiction you need to focus your research within

Learn and understand the precedent in your jurisdiction

While researching, pay special attention to the geographical location where your legal issue will be resolved. Is the precedent controlling already in your jurisdiction? Or is it merely a persuasive precedent that has not yet been adopted in your jurisdiction?

Determine the type of legal sources you need

Each of the three types of legal sources you’ll work with has a purpose in the legal research process. Here’s a quick overview:

Primary legal sources are key to legal research because they establish the current law on whatever legal issue you’re working with. You can find primary sources by searching legal research databases like Fastcase or Casetext , include:

• Federal and state constitutions
• Statutes or legislation (such as laws enacted by legislative bodies like Congress and state legislatures)
• Regulations (such as rules or regulations made by either federal or state agencies)
• Annotations
• Case law (such as court opinions or decisions issued by federal or state courts)

Secondary legal sources explain or interpret legal principles in detail, or summarize the current state of the law—giving a better understanding of a particular area of law. These sources are also useful for identifying primary sources for your case (more on that later). Examples include:

• Law review articles and journals
• Practice guides
• Legal treatises

Learn more about the best free legal research tools available.

Begin your legal research with secondary sources

When it comes to legal research sources, start in the middle with secondary sources.

In addition to providing important background information on your legal issue, secondary sources save time: Instead of starting from scratch, you can leverage the expert work that’s already been done.

Think of it this way: In order to create and publish the material, experts had to go through a legal research process themselves. If a secondary source is reputable, the writer reviewed all of the available primary resources to determine what was most applicable. So, by noting the primary sources that are cited in law reviews, law journals, and case-law documents, you can take advantage of the research already done.

Note: Also keep in mind that useful cases don’t necessarily have to have the same legal outcome as your goal. If you find relevant case law where the outcome didn’t match your client’s desired outcome, you shouldn’t necessarily disregard it. If the laws are aligned, you can use that case to show how the fact patterns in your client’s case are different to strengthen your own argument.

Check that you’re using “good” law

Another key step to legal research is verifying that any cases and statutes you come across in your legal research are still “good” law—that is, that any legal decision you’re looking to is still valid and relevant. Using an overruled or unconstitutional statute won’t help you win your case.

Can older cases be “good” law?

While more recent cases are preferred (after all, they’re more likely to reflect the current legal changes that could impact the case law—and are thus less likely to have been rendered obsolete), recency isn’t mandatory.

A decades-old case could be considered “good” law—if it hasn’t been overruled in court or otherwise made irrelevant, an older case that fits with your case’s fact pattern and applicable law could be helpful.

Verify you’re using “good law” with a citator

How can you check if you’re using “good” law? Use a citator. Citators let you verify a case’s authority by giving you a cataloged list of cases, statutes, and legal sources—along with a history and precedential value for those sources—so you can then check that it hasn’t been overruled, questioned, or made irrelevant.

When using a citator, focus on the negative material (by checking a case in a citator, you can look for flags that indicate any negative history). Specifically, use a citator to check that you don’t miss a case that invalidates your argument—which could undermine your credibility.

Major legal databases all have their own citator tools. For example, Casetext offers SmartCite , which “uses a system of flags to indicate the treatment of cases.” Casetext can also “help you evaluate whether a case is good law and find other relevant cases citing that opinion.”

Report your results to check for gaps

Compiling your research into a legal memorandum is a necessary part of conducting legal research, as it allows you to identify any gaps in information that may present consequences at a later stage. Legal writing presents challenges within itself, and it’s not a bad approach for you to supplement your legal case research with a book from a local law library on how to present your findings. Generally speaking, a legal memorandum does five things:

• States the facts of the case
• Identifies the issue
• Applies “good” law to the facts
• Predicts any counterpoints
• Makes an assessment of the outcome of the case

How can I improve my legal research skills?

Whether you’re new to legal research or you’ve conducted legal research for years, once you have a solid understanding of the process, take advantage of strategies and tools to maximize legal research efficiency. Here are three strategies to consider:

Conduct more efficient research remotely

In the past, the legal research process was arduous—partly because it tied the researcher to a physical location—whether that was a local law library or a law office computer—to access resources through legal databases.

Today, online legal research software can be used remotely when integrated with a cloud-based practice management software like Clio Manage. Having the flexibility to research from anywhere streamlines the legal research process and enhances efficiency. Here are a few examples:

• By signing into an online legal research service like Fastcase with Clio, for example, you can remotely access resources and primary sources like cases and statutes, as well as secondary sources like law review articles. CourtTrax provides real-time online access to State and Federal courts across the United States. With CourtTrax’s Clio integration, you can link your search results to specific client matters, and have the results injected directly into Clio as a document.
• Cloud-based online research software like Tracers lets you search for pertinent information (such as contract information or social media activity) remotely. You can also request a Tracers search directly from a matter in Clio for an even more efficient process.

Double-check your memos and briefs with advanced legal research AI

Casetext Logo

Effective legal research needs to be thorough and accurate—which, traditionally, is time-consuming. Legal research AI can help speed that process up without sacrificing the quality of your research.

Here are a few tools to help streamline your legal research process:

• ROSS Intelligence is an AI-driven legal research platform with an automated review tool that allows you to do more thorough research in a fraction of the time. ROSS lets you highlight statements in your pleadings and briefs to instantly search for cases and statutes discussing similar points of law. You can also use ROSS to identify negative case treatment in your pleadings and law briefs—without the manual searching.
• Casetext’s CARA artificial intelligence search technology and automated review tool enhance and speed up your legal searches. You can use Casetext to start your research with a complaint or legal brief from a matter in Clio to find highly relevant, tailored search results and resources. Casetext will not just find authorities on the same facts and legal issues—it will also find them in the same jurisdiction. Casetext’s citator functionality also makes it easier to check and flag any bad law.

Document your research with secure, cloud-based fact management software

Don’t let your research go to waste or let facts slip through the cracks because of a poor documentation system. By using secure, cloud-based fact-management software, you can record your research in an efficient, organized, and accessible way.

Software like Clio Manage and apps like FactBox , for example, keep you organized by connecting all the facts, notes, and ideas in your cases. Using this type of tool helps you prepare for depositions, hearings, client briefings, and trials faster—and with more confidence that you aren’t missing facts.

You may like these posts

What is an e-discovery lawyer, what is a motion hearing, a guide to post-trial motions, lawyer depression: recognizing the signs and dealing with it, final thoughts on how to conduct legal research.

Whether you’re a student in law school or an experienced attorney, learning how to do thorough legal research (or how to enhance your existing legal research process) is a skill that can give you a competitive advantage.

Learning great legal research techniques—from developing a more efficient research process to adopting cloud-based tools to conduct better, faster, and smarter legal research—helps you better support your cases, and clients.

Explore how you can conduct more efficient legal research with Clio Manage and the host of Clio software integrations .

How do you do legal research?

Lawyers conducting legal research often consult online legal databases, such as LexisNexis and Westlaw. They might also pore over print resources, case law reports, statutes and regulations, and secondary resources (such as legal encyclopedias, dictionaries, and treatises). That said, there’s no one-size-fits-all process.

How do I start a legal research paper?

Start by determining your topic—this should be specific and something you find interesting. Then, conduct the necessary research to form a well-supported thesis. Create an outline to structure your thoughts before writing an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Finally, edit and proofread.

How to do legal research as a paralegal

First, ensure you understand what you’re researching. Then, start with secondary sources (law reviews, practice guides, and treatises), consulting a citator to ensure it’s “good” law. Lastly, fill in any gaps with primary sources, including constitutions, treaties, regulations, and case law.

We published this blog post in October 2020. Last updated: November 15, 2023 .

Categorized in: Uncategorized

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How do I research a law firm and when should I start?

The training contract application process can be quite long winded. Before you commit yourself to it, you will need to be confident that this is a career path you want to pursue. So when should you start your research and how can you  find out which law firm might be the best fit for you?

Early doors

It’s never too early to start researching.

Many firms run open days or insight schemes for prospective trainees. Often there are targeted events for first-year students, regardless of degree subject, so you really can start to learn about a firm as early as you want.

If you’re thinking about a career in law or want to show your dedication to becoming a lawyer, sign up for an open day. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn about the firm and the legal industry more widely. It also shows the firm in question that you’re keen!

A law firm’s website is a good place to start your research. You can also consult guides such as Future Lawyers and The Legal 500 to find out what a firm’s specialisms, strengths (and weaknesses!) are.

Law/careers fairs

Most universities will have a law or careers fair, usually in the autumn term. Attending one of these fairs is a good way to start your research as there will be many firms exhibiting in the same place at the same time.

Law firms will usually send a variety of people to represent them at the fair. This could be a mix of trainee solicitors, graduate recruitment managers and sometimes NQs.

Have a look at the attendees ahead of time and start narrowing down which firms you might like to speak to. Once you have made a list of which firms you want to approach, jot down a few questions you might like to ask them.

When it comes to filling out an application form, you could mention that you met representatives from the firm at the law fair, so be sure to get their names!

Vacation schemes

If you’re a second-year law student or a final year student in another subject, you can start applying for vacation schemes. A vacation scheme is normally one to two weeks long and is essentially a period of work experience but where you are assessed throughout. There will probably be an interview at the end of the scheme too.

Although this may seem daunting, spending a week or two at a law firm is a great way to get to know the business. It’s also a chance for you to experience life as a solicitor and to decide whether you can see yourself doing it long term.

Some law firms run autumn or winter vacation schemes. The applications for these will usually close in September or October.

Most firms run summer vacation schemes and you will normally need to apply for these by the end of January.

Check our vacation scheme deadline table for exact dates.

Find out as much as you can from other people. Do you know anyone who works in the legal industry? If so, ask them to meet up for a coffee or a chat.

Of course, not everyone has contacts in the legal industry so you might have to think outside the box.

A friend of a friend, a classmate’s sibling, or one of your neighbours could all be of help. You could also ask your university’s careers service.

Slowly does it

You need to leave enough time to do your research before you start filling out application forms.

And if you don’t get a vacation scheme in your first year of trying, don’t give up! You can continue applying in subsequent years and once you have graduated.

Just remember that every application form or interview is good practice.

• How to research a firm... properly
• Chambers Student

'Why do you want to work for this firm?' is an almost guaranteed interview question, and law firms deserve a decent response to it. Here's how to tackle it.

Recruitment is in many ways like dating  – the business often uses woolly, unhelpful terms like 'clicking' and 'chemistry', and in the same way that y ou don't get very far on your first date if you're not attentive, a law firm also likes to feel wanted and special when they're interviewing you.  'Y ou were the only ones who offered me an interview' may be your most honest response to the 'Why this law firm?' question, but is definitely the wrong answer. Recruiters need to see that you've researched them  –  this may be where the parallels with dating should end: don't tell your date how much you've researched them.

What you the applicant needs to do is wow the recruiters with your insights. Research will show you understand the business, the environment in operates in, where it's going, and how your skills fit into that vivid picture you have. But how do you go about it? What is the proper way to research law firms?

Here at Chambers Studen t we make it our job to distinguish between firms and explain why you might want to pick one over another. We also spend almost all our time researching law firms, so in this feature we'll lay out the steps your research should take to uncover the answer to the question 'why do you want to work for this firm?

Step one: Use Chambers Student

You saw that one coming, didn’t you? The fact is, Chambers Student is an ideal starting point for your research. In the True Picture features on law firms we aim to tell you about...

• the work a firm does
• how well it’s doing and its strategy for the future
• its culture – what makes it tick
• the structure of the training contract and what work trainees can expect
• the social life

We know just how much importance firms place on commercial awareness, so wherever possible, the True Picture features aim to raise relevant commercial themes. Try and follow up with general web research on themes raised in your favoured firm’s feature (more on this later). For example you might want to look into the emerging importance of renewable energy or the effects of Brexit on the City. If you can show that you have some level of knowledge about these issues, it is quite likely to lead a recruiter to view you as a commercially aware candidate who understands the issues of most relevance to their firm.

The Chambers Student  True Picture  is also a great resource for comparing different aspects of a firm and the trainee experience: the hours, the culture, supervision, responsibility levels, the clients etc. What aspects of a firm matter most to you? Maybe it's one of these that attracts you to the employer. Don't just compare firms on obvious factors like the hours or training (though those are both good things to look into). Investigate more fundamental aspects of a firm: its strongest practice areas; new areas the firm's moving into; its strategy for the future; how the culture is changing.

If you're researching a US-headquartered firm consider using our US sister publication Chambers Associate . It basically does the same as Chambers Student but in the US. Each year we interview 100s of junior associates Stateside, just as we interview trainees here. We also talk to law firm managing partners about their future strategy – useful stuff if you want to impress interviewers. Do bear in mind that the UK offices of US firms are often quite different culturally from their headquarters. However, it’s good to get an idea of how a firm is perceived on the other side of the pond, and there may well be something in the culture that has crossed the Atlantic. For instance, Skadden has a pretty hard-nosed reputation while Covington & Burling is an academic, intellectual sort of place. These statements seem to apply on both sides of the pond. We’ve also produced a list of every single US firm with an office in the UK (there are over 100), and which ones offer training contracts.

Step two: Check out the main Chambers & Partners directories

Okay, this feature isn’t meant to be an extended plug for Chambers & Partners, but our main directories are an ideal second step for your research. They rank law firms and lawyers across the world. Want to know who the best business lawyer in Gibraltar is? Or the top firm in Angola? Or what’s going on in the world of Norfolk agricultural law? Respectively, Chambers Europe ,  Chambers Global and Chambers UK will tell you the answers. Chambers USA   can give you useful information about US-headquartered firms.

The Chambers main directories are powerful tools. Let's take a look at an individual firm by way of example: Pinsent Masons . Look at its Chambers UK rankings – there are a lot of them but don't get intimidated. The firm's website will tell you it has four English offices: London, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham. Let's look at the key commercial areas of corporate, banking and litigation in those locations. In the Midlands (Birmingham), the North West (Manchester) and Yorkshire (Leeds) the firm is Band 1 for banking and (except in Birmingham) for corporate M&A; the firm is ranked in Band 2 for litigation in all three areas too and is ranked in around ten other areas too. That's pretty good going – the firm is clearly very highly regarded by businesses and other lawyers in these regions. What about London? Well, the firm wins a lot of rankings here too, but it's in Band 4 for banking, ranked in the mid-market for corporate M&A and not ranked at all for litigation. Its corporate practice ranks alongside well-regarded London firms like CMS , Dentons and Stephenson Harwood but doesn't square up to the biggest beasts in the City. What is the firm most highly regarded for? Well, it's ranked Band 1 for both construction and planning. These are clearly top areas for the firm: click on the construction ranking and you'll see the firm has nearly 100 construction lawyers – that's over twice as many lawyers as there are in the M&A team. It looks like construction is a particular strength of the firm, particularly in London.

So, from knowing nothing about  Pinsent Masons ten minutes ago, you have already started to paint a picture of its main strengths in different parts of the country. It’s still broad brushstrokes, but nuances are starting to emerge. Think how useful all this information could be when filling in an application form or answering that tough question about why you're interested in the firm at interview. Be aware that a top chambers ranking for a practice area may not mean that's a big area of work for the firm – it may just be that there are one or two lawyers in a firm of 100s who are particularly good at, say, sports law. In that case you'll look a dunce if you go on and on about how much you want to work in sports law in your application. In most cases Chambers UK will show you how big a department is if you click on the relevant ranking, which is really helpful.

As a final point, it's going to help you to know that many firms are seeking to develop their business by way of sector expertise. Popular sectors firms are focusing on right now include technology, energy, private wealth and financial services. Use the Chambers website in conjunction with what the organisations say about themselves to ascertain which client sectors they are targeting. Picking a firm for its target sectors is a good strategy, particularly if you already have something useful to offer in relation to one of its chosen sectors.

Step three: Look at a law firm's recruitment website and literature

If you've ever been to a law fair you will have been bombarded by different firms' graduate recruitment marketing, campaigns, images, freebies and slogans. 'Press Play', 'Be Different', 'Broaden your horizons' and 'Law worth talking about' are among the hazier straplines we came across in 2017. Mosey over to law firms' websites and you'll find that bigger firms have dedicated graduates careers web pages – often with brighter colours and bolder lettering than their more sober main websites. But what does it all mean? Well, it's all so murky that we've written a separate 12-point guide to law firm marketing  on the subject.

Here's a basic idea of what to look out for. You'll notice that almost all law firms say much the same thing about themselves (leading firm, client focused, etc) but they don’t all say it in the same way. This is important. Let’s compare the grad recruitment pages of a few firms.

Compare this to Stephens Scown, a regional firm based in Devon and Cornwall . 'Do you share our passion about the success of the South West?' says its friendly website. Above are some quirky pictures of (presumably) trainees in a hodgepodge of odd outfits: one has a rucksack and passport, one a broken umbrella and a map – two are in jackets and ties but are wearing tennis shorts and cricket whites below the waist. The message is clear: we're more than just lawyers; we're sporty, adventurous, and did we mention we're a bit countryside-y? The firm's commitment to the region is palpable and should be noted.

Another firm to contrast: Travers Smith. Its very sensible website doesn't do straplines. It has a picture of a chap in smart shoes and trouser dashing up some old steps; and another of graduates eagerly clutching flouncy degree certificates. The text is in a conservative serif font and the background is parchment-coloured. Like Weil, Travers is trying to come across in a serious way, but it doesn't feel as scary – or modern. It feels like it would be quite a sedate place to work, and maybe just a tad traditional.

So, graduate recruitment websites can tell you two things. First, they give a first idea of the type of person the firm might be looking for: Weil wants serious, hard workers; Stephen Scown is more on the hunt for the bubbly sporty type. They may also hint at the firm's broader identity: Stephens Scown is firmly committed to the South West; HFW has a strong focus on particular sectors. Both of these types of information can help you answer that question we mentioned at the start: 'why did you choose to apply here?' So, every time you view a law firm’s web pages, ask yourself: what is it trying to tell me? You already do this subconsciously. Do it consciously from now on.

Graduate recruitment website have definitely got more generic in recent years. Some used to be downright alarming. Weil 's graduate recruitment website used to include images of a tiny bug-like person in the glare of a spotlight with the slogan 'DO SOMETHING THAT SCARES YOU'. Yikes. This was targeting a specific type of person. Sometimes a firm's grad recruitment slogans can be a bit misleading. For example, White & Case used to sell itself as having a small trainee intake and offering a training contract focused on the individual. In fact it recruits quite a lot of trainees (50 a year!) and is a big corporate giant where the focus is unlikely to be about the individual. So the campaign was a bit of a disaster. The firm ended up with a bunch of very demanding trainees who expected the firm to move the earth for them (that's what they'd been promised after all), but in fact they had to fit into the corporate straightjacket. These days White & Case's campaign is more transparent, targeting ambitious types looking for a global career: if a firm pushes terms like 'global', take note. So make sure you use other resources to corroborate the impressions you glean from grad recruitment materials. Again, the Chambers Student True Picture is a good place to start.

Step four: Trawl through a firm’s main website

There is so much to be gained from crawling over a firm’s website, and if you take away all the superlatives and self-praise you’ll get a decent understanding of what a firm does. As these sites are designed primarily for clients, the usual approach is to say what the firm does and for what type of client. Firms will usually present themselves in a way that emphasises the breadth of their activities. But be aware that this won’t necessarily tell you which things a firm is best at and which they are just getting into. A firm may be repositioning itself in the market and pushing certain practice areas which don't actually make up a large proportion of its work.

Here are some good things to look for on a firm's website:

• a message or annual report from the managing partner/chair/CEO
• the way in which the firm divides itself, ie by department or by key client sectors
• the relative size of departments or practice groups
• the geographical spread of the firm
• biographies of trainees or partners who might be on the interview panel
• any information about community or charitable activities (CSR is the often used term – it means corporate social responsibility)
• the gender/ethnic balance among partners/trainees
• news about the firm – information about recent deals and cases is especially useful
• press releases, opinion pieces or blogs about areas of law the firm is active in

All these things can help you expand your factual knowledge about a firm and get a feel for the place. You might notice, for example, that a lot of partners and staff come from certain universities. A lead partner might spell out what the firm’s game plan is for the next few years. You might notice that particular practice groups have expanded (though firms will rarely make it obvious where they have contracted). Or you might find a blogpost about a recent Supreme Court case affecting one of the firm's key practice areas. Absorb the information but retain a degree of healthy scepticism about the trumpet blowing.

Step five: Keep an eye on the legal press, blogs and social media

The Lawyer , Legal Week ,  The Times ' Law Supplement and The Law Society Gazette are all good sources for daily and weekly information about what’s going on at firms.  The American Lawyer will have information for US firms. Now, we're aware that most of these websites are behind a paywall. Is it worth paying for a subscription? Probably not. If you can wangle a subscription somehow that's great, but the headlines will usually tell you most of the story and relevant news will often be reported on a firm's website too.

Look out for big deals, financial results and stories making a splash in the profession to judge how well a firm is performing. Not everything reported on in the legal press will be relevant to your research on firms: the appointments of a new managing partner or the story of a firm in demise may not be that relevant. That said, a lot of stories in the legal press can have an angle to them that's useful to you as a budding lawyer. For example, has a new managing partner got a different strategy they want to pursue? What lessons can be learnt from the example of a firm that goes into administration?

Legal blogs are a great way to stay up to date on the developments in specific areas of law. We've come across useful blogs on topics ranging from Brexit and M&A to art law and privacy. Elsewhere on this website we've curated a list of recommended legal blogs , plus some useful podcasts you might want to listen to.

There's also a handful of legal gossip websites that focus on stories and intrigue which you can take a look at. Beware, though, these sites should not be a key research tool. You'll probably also be aware that there are other law careers publications besides Chambers Student out there. Use those that you find most useful. Some are better than others: we find that certain of our rivals produce content which presents an overly glitzy and Pollyanna view of a career in law, while others bring out articles and listings which are genuinely helpful or insightful. Take your pick. The more independent and critical of law firm's content is the more useful it'll be.

Social media is a great tool for keeping up to date on what law firms are doing and the latest developments in the legal world. But who to follow? Well you can start with @chambersstudent (and like us on Facebook while you're at it). We post regular news about law firms, deadline reminders, commercial awareness stories and more. Law firm graduate recruitment accounts are well worth following, as are prominent lawyers, university careers services, and legal and news publications...

Step six: Read the news on areas you're interested in

The mainstream press can be a good source for finding out more about business, law firms and the legal profession. For example, the business sections of broadsheet newspapers and the BBC News website are a great place to find out more about everything from the details of corporate deals firms are working on to the affects of legal aid cuts. Publications varying from The Economist to Buzzfeed may have specific articles about trends affecting the legal profession. These are all really valuable for boosting your commercial awareness.

When researching smaller firms, especially regional ones, we often resort to very broad Google searches. You should try the same. You might be surprised what turns up: local press articles; links with community and charitable organisations; references to things the firm has sponsored; really bad news about dodgy dealings (on rare occasions!); articles the firm’s lawyers have written for industry journals; reported cases; and local business awards. Just one of these snippets of info could turn into a useful talking point at an interview.

If you're interested in certain sectors or areas of law consider reading trade publications relevant to those fields, whether that's Wired   or Family Law Week . Even if you're not interested in a certain sector, but are interested in the commercial world in general it's worth picking a certain story to follow over the course of the year or more when you're making applications – for example, you might follow the fortunes of mid-market supermarkets like Tesco or Sainsbury's, or the effects of government cuts on social welfare cases. Make a habit of following news and developments in areas of law or business that you're interested in. Get into a ritual: maybe read the  industry newsletters you've subscribed over breakfast, and the  BBC Business  headlines at lunch. And ideally this shouldn't feel forced: the areas you're reading up on should be ones you're genuinely interested in.

Step seven: Use your network

We’re always banging on about networking and we know it's something that law students and even qualified lawyers can feel intimidated by. There’s really no need to feel this way and if you don’t get over your initial inhibitions then you’re doing yourself a real disservice. Read our Nine networking tips here. Make networking and attending events a habit. Here are some tips on how to get started:

• Write a list of all the people you know. Start to enquire if any of them have contacts in the profession or contacts that could give you some kind of assistance. You might end up with a contact at a firm you’re trying to target and you might also be surprised at how willing people are to give you helpful advice. Even the odd sliver of info could be useful. Remember to include friends, neighbours, university or law school contacts, people you have worked for, people you meet at social events, people on your sports team… and so on.
• Use social networking sites to ask friends if they have potential contacts for you. LinkedIn and Twitter are both great way to engage with contacts – but make sure you're polite and not pushy at all times.
• Attend as many careers events, presentations and open days as possible. Be the person who stays to chat.

The only thing left to say is don’t OVER-research and rattle on at interview about every deal the firm has ever done. Remember, recruiters just want to see that you have a broad understanding of what the firm is about. But the more detailed your prior research is, the more sophisticated and commercially aware your answers will sound.

This feature was first published on our website in June 2010.

It was fully revised and updated in December 2017.

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How To Research Legal Employers: Resources for Researching Law Firms

• Resources for Researching Law Firms
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Researching Law Firms

Are you preparing to interview with a law firm? Don't go in cold. Learn the ins and outs of hundreds of firms using the resources below. 

What Are You Looking For?

With the variety of resources to use, it can be difficult to know which one to explore.

Law Firm Rankings and Surveys

• ALM Intelligence Legal Compass. ALM's rankings and surveys are highly regarded by anyone doing research on the legal profession. This data is synthesized with external intelligence from government and firm websites and social media to create an unparalleled suite of interactive charts, maps and data visualization tools.
• Vault.  Vault surveys thousands of full-time professionals and interns every year. From the results of these surveys, Vault ranks the top employers and internship programs in various industries in prestige, diversity, quality of life, and overall best companies to work for.

Law Firm Information

• NALP Directory.  The freely accessible NALP Directory provides specific information on law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, and corporations, including lawyer demographics, practice areas, compensation and benefits, diversity and inclusion practices, and other valuable information about legal employers.
• Martindale.com. This site contains listings for more than one million lawyers and law firms. Go beyond Big Law to find attorneys and firms by practice area and location.
• Leadership Connect.  This guide is the best for locating organizations and persons associated with federal and state government, including law and lobbying firms, nonprofits, and news media.

Attorney Records and Rankings

• Chambers and Partners.  Search Chambers and Partners to find the top lawyers and law firms according to practice area and location.
• The Legal 500. The Legal 500 also ranks lawyers and firms by practice area and location, taking its information from client surveys.
• Lexis+ Litigation Profile Suite.  This database connects attorneys to actual cases, briefs, and news associated with their careers. Use this Suite for real-world data on how much of an attorney's practice is focused on various practice areas.

Student-Focused Guidance

• Vault. This site is designed to help law students and new attorneys navigate the legal profession. The Career Advice section includes help  with resumes, interviews, networking, and more. Explore Vault Guides for information on breaking into particular fields.
• Chambers Associate.   "The Student's Guide to Law Firms in America," this site has guides to help students evaluate law firms based on their personal preferences and interests.

News and Public Image

• Lexis+ Law360.  Law360 provides high quality legal news. It is a great place to find out if a firm or attorney is currently involved in particular litigation or has otherwise made the papers.

ALM Intelligence Legal Compass

• Chambers & Partners

Leadership Connect

The Legal 500

Martindale.com

ALM's Surveys, Lists & Rankings include the AmLaw100, the AmLaw Summer Associates Survey, the NLJ 250, and the A-List, which tracks factors such as pro bono, associate satisfaction, and diversity. ALM's Law Firm Reports provide historical financial and demographic data for individual law firms, reaching back 10 years. Access to ALM is provided to members of the MLaw community.

Vault is a subscription-based website that includes full-text access to guides covering national and regional law firms, non-legal careers, and the job search process, information on over 500 law firms and their hiring practices, information on the work environment at 3000 companies, and access to a nation-wide message board where information about law firms and employers can be shared.

Accessing Vault

The first time you visit the Vault site you will need to create an account. Registration will be free for University of Michigan Law students. Use your umich.edu email address to register.

Note: The guides are designed for viewing within your browser, but they can be downloaded as ePUB files. For help using these files, please see this how-to article . 

NALP Directory

NALP Directory includes many filters to help users zero in on available law firm options. This database provides specific information on law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, and corporations, including lawyer demographics, practice areas, compensation and benefits, diversity and inclusion practices, and other valuable information about legal employers.

Chambers Associate

Chambers Associate bills itself as "The Student's Guide to Law Firms in America." This site is designed to help law students effectively research new employers. In addition to law firm rankings by geography, practice area, associate satisfaction, diversity, and other facets, this site has guides for how students can evaluate law firms based on their personal preferences and interests.

Learn what it is really like to practice with guides to 57 different practice areas. Read up on how to differentiate among Wall Street, global, and other types of firms. Use the comparison tool to visualize the differences among various actual firms.

Chambers and Partners

Chambers USA ranks the top lawyers and law firms across the country. Use this database to evaluate over 18,000 different lawyers and 2,300 different firms.

Lexis+ is home to a number of useful databases. Use the "product switcher" in the top left of any page to select a different database.

Litigation Profile Suite

Dig deep into individual attorneys using the Litigation Profile Suite in Lexis+. Find briefs, opinions, and news involving an attorney, as well as visualized data assessing their practice history.

Law360, a trusted source of legal news and analysis, also provides law firm rankings, data, and analysis. Members of the MLaw community can access Law360 through their Lexis+ accounts or through the link below.

Need to know who to contact within an organization? Leadership Connect is perfect for creating a list of contacts. This tool allows searching and browsing within individual directories or across 14 different federal directories using single or multiple criteria, such as name, job title, industry, and geographical location.

This searchable database includes biographical information about federal government employees, companies, and organizations by type, industry, job function, geographic location, size, or keyword. Leadership Connect is ideal for searching NGOs, government agencies, board memberships, and not-for-profit organizations. Access to this database is provided to current members of the MLaw community.

This website uses client feedback to assess the strengths of law firms in over 150 jurisdictions. They claim "highlight the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel."

In each practice area, top firms and power players are ranked by tier. Firm profiles include lists of key attorneys and clients within each practice area. 

If you are looking beyond Big Law, Martindale.com is a directory of lawyers and law firms of all sizes. 

  Call us at 734-764-9324

  Email us at  [email protected] . Emails are answered by Librarians during standard business hours, Monday-Friday. Patrons may expect a response within 1-2 business days for most emails.

  Consult with us.  Schedule an appointment  to meet with a Reference Librarian.

  Visit us at the Information Desk on Sub-1 for immediate in-person assistance. Open 8 am - midnight, Sunday-Thursday, and 8am - 10pm, Friday-Saturday*

The chat service is available to all of our patrons but is designed to meet the legal research needs of U-M students, staff, and faculty.

Chat is monitored from 1-6 pm Monday-Wednesday and 1-5 pm Thursday-Friday on days when class is in session.

* Excluding University holidays and semester breaks--check  library hours  for more information. The Building and library are available to law school community ONLY after 6 pm, and are closed to all but law school community on home football Saturdays.

• Next: Resources for Researching Judicial Clerkships >>
• Last Updated: Mar 26, 2024 4:13 PM
• URL: https://libguides.law.umich.edu/research_employers

Copyright © Regents of University of Michigan

How to Do Legal Research: The Ultimate Overview

By The MyCase Team

Sep 25, 2023

Whether you’re brand new to practicing law or a seasoned pro, effective legal research is one of the cornerstones of being a successful lawyer. Throughout your career, legal research skills can help you stay abreast of evolving precedent. 

However, it’s not just the law itself that’s changing but many of the methods for conducting legal research have transformed in the digital age. These days, crafting a perfect legal argument takes a winning combination of experience, intuition, and the ability to leverage technology.

To make sure you’re getting the most from your legal research, we’ve put together a guide that covers the basic steps of effective legal research and the latest tools and best practices at your disposal.

What is Legal Research?

Legal research is the process of finding relevant laws, case summaries, and other information to back up your legal arguments and decision making. In addition to preparing for a filing or trial, an attorney may do legal research to accurately answer a client’s questions and provide guidance.

Specific laws and decisions also are subject to change over time. So while doing research, legal experts must also make sure they’re using “good” law–in other words, that the decision or specific case they’re citing is still relevant.

Why is Effective Legal Research Important?

Without a solid foundation of quality legal research, it can be difficult to know if a given argument or precedent is valid or will work. Beyond that, using well-researched arguments backed by the most up-to-date citations will help you:

• Get a complete and accurate picture of the case at hand
• Achieve better outcomes for clients
• Develop smarter and more sophisticated case strategies
• Help you stay up to date on the law and legal trends in your practice area

Additionally, using legal analytics and other digital tools to supplement your research can also help you predict success rates, understand the costs and time of a given case, and work more efficiently overall. 

How to Conduct Legal Research in 5 Steps

For many years, a lawyer’s best research tools were largely limited to libraries, books, and physical documents. Now, there is a plethora of available online tools and resources to help. However, even the most sophisticated tools aren’t worth much unless you already have a solid understanding of how to conduct legal research..

Regardless of what you use to research, there are several basic steps that go into effective legal research:

1. Gather the Facts 

Before building an argument, you need to understand the exact nature of the issue you’re faced with. The initial fact-finding process helps you determine:

• What is the jurisdiction?
• Is it a federal or state issue?
• A reasonable goal/desired outcome to expect
• The facts of the case: who, what, where, when, how

By answering these initial questions, you can then narrow your search to be more specific. Many legal experts use case management software to assist with tracking client and case information right from the intake stage. Software will also make it easier when locating or attaching relevant documents in the future as well.

2. Create a Research Plan

Using the facts you’ve already gathered, you’ll then determine what primary sources and case law will be most relevant to your case. Instead of diving straight into the research, it can be extremely helpful to develop a research plan first. 

At this stage, it’s less important to know exactly what sources you’re looking for and more about creating a list of relevant legal terms and what filters you should apply (more on that later). You do this by analyzing the facts of the case, assessing what you still need to learn, and creating a list of potential search terms. 

3. Gather Sources

Armed with a list of relevant terms and facts about your case, it’s time to get into law research. You’ll generally find two types of sources valuable. 

Primary Sources: Primary legal sources are formal documents issued by a state or federal government that establish law such as:

• Court decisions
• Regulations
• Constitutions

Secondary Sources : Secondary sources provide summaries of legal matters and court decisions. Some examples of secondary sources include:

• Legal articles
• Practice guides
• Legal dictionaries

Ultimately, the most important citations you can provide will be primary legal sources—but often the fastest route to finding them is by mining secondary sources that point you in the right direction. It also lets you see what other legal experts have said about similar issues, giving you further insights into what direction your strategy and research should take.

While physically going to the library and cracking the books still has its place, technology has made the initial research stages much easier. There are a number of free and paid online resources , like Google Scholar , available for lawyers — which you use depends on your budget, how big your firm is, and what kind of advanced features you’re looking for.

Search tools that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) let you use natural language or informal search terms to find relevant documents, significantly accelerating the research process. AI can also be used to provide succinct summaries of lengthy documents like cases, laws, deposition transcripts, and more. 

4. Ensure That You’re Using “Good” Law

As we touched on briefly before, it’s vital to make sure you’re using “good” law. What is “good” law? Basically, it’s making sure a legal decision, case, or other source you’re using is in good standing with the courts and still relevant. A perfect example from a ruling might seem great at first until you find out the decision was overturned at a later date, appealed, or made obsolete by a new law. 

A good rule of thumb is to try and find recent cases as they are more likely to still be relevant. Of course, that doesn’t mean old cases should be avoided outright. 

Using a citator—a legal tool that cross references your document with other citations—is vital to ensuring the document you’re using doesn’t have any negative history. Many newer citators will also provide a summary of the findings and point you towards similar cases. 

In addition to looking only for negative history (like decisions that were overturned), it’s also important to note differentiators or unique factors that contributed to one outcome or another. This is another area where legal analytics and AI can shine, helping you understand meaningful patterns in case law.

5. Check Your Work

The legal research process can get intense, and sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the details. Before finalizing, it’s a good idea to summarize your findings to show how your full body of research supports your desired conclusion. This is also called a legal memorandum, and while it might seem redundant, a legal memo can be useful for:

• Fostering internal collaboration within your law firm
• Communicating strategy with your clients
• Documenting your legal processes and findings

Tips to Improve Your Legal Research Skills

With a solid foundation of basic legal research skills you can take advantage of the latest best practices and tools to make your law research process even more efficient. When determining how to improve your legal research skills, here are some important starting points.

Use Legal Technology

Effectively representing your clients and drafting winning arguments comes from utilizing every tool at your disposal. Specialized legal software comes with a number of built-in capabilities that streamline legal research and ensure it’s more effective. Supplementing this with the capabilities of leading case management software can help further with things like:

• Custom Workflows : Workflows can be set up based on the type of case to automate tasks, create deadlines, pull specific documents, and more.
• Case Analytics : Analytics tools provide a 360-degree view of every case that leads to actionable insights. Analytics tools not only help during the research process, but can also be used to better understand your own case history and workflows in order to find areas for improvement or gaps.
• Time Tracking and Scheduling : Case management can make it easier to track the time you spend on research and other tasks. Not only does this make tracking billable hours easier, it allows you to stay on top of important deadlines which is vital when handling multiple cases at once.
• Document Management : Keep all relevant case files in one place with comprehensive document management tools. Software like MyCase ensures all of your documents are organized, accessible, and secure—bolstering collaboration and helping to establish a single source of truth.

Leverage AI to Check Your Work

The topic of AI has exploded within the last year and generated a lot of excitement. When you look at its capabilities within the legal field, it’s easy to understand why. There are already several tools out there that help speed up research without losing quality or accuracy. 

AI tools can help check your work by summarizing your sources, pointing you towards others, and checking for anything you’ve missed. While many traditional online searches get stuck when you fail to use the exact right wording, AI helps get around this by generating tailored search results based on plain language. 

Boost Your Legal Research Efficiency With Best-In-Class Technology

Learning how to conduct legal research effectively is crucial for the long term success of any lawyer. Having a solid research process not only helps lawyers achieve better outcomes for their clients, but allows them to use their time more efficiently.

Leading law firms across the country rely on MyCase to help centralize their documentation, client communication, calendaring, and more. Features like full text search , which allows you to instantly search for terms within your digital files, are also crucial for finding relevant documents quickly.

By leveraging a best-in-class case management platform to support their research processes and workflows, law firms can boost efficiency and collaboration like never before.

Sign up for a 10-day free trial or schedule a MyCase demo today to learn more.

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• 5 ways to research a firm
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5 things to get right when researching law firms

There's no point joining a firm just for its prestige if you're not going to be happy or productive there. In fact, if the firm is a bad match with your personality and aspirations, you’re unlikely to even get a job there. Every associate we interview tells us why they think they were successful: most often it’s down to finding the right match.

“It is important to do your homework on a potential employer and determine whether it seems like a fit.” Leslie Ripley, chief recruiting officer, Gibson Dunn

1. The Work

Are you entrepreneurial and go-getting or do you prefer to work through tasks you're given every day? Would a free market or allocated work system suit you best? Do you like to juggle multiple tasks at once or work on one big long-term project? Do you get a buzz from thinking globally or feel more at home operating in a region you know well? Are you more comfortable working as part of a big or a small team? Will you be ready to focus on one area of law as a first-year associate or would you prefer to sample several areas for a few years before deciding? Do you relish the prospect of cultivating clients personally or want to keep them at arms' length as much as possible?

“It really shows when someone is speaking from the heart about what they want to do. ” Carrie Wagner, director of attorney recruiting, Cooley

2. Culture and Offices

Big city or small town? Do you want to be one of many associates working for few partners or few associates working for many partners? Are you a stickler for tradition or do you like to shake things up? How important is technology to you? Or flexible working options? Dress code? Would working with 'world famous' lawyers excite or intimidate you? Do you love or loathe firms that market themselves as quirky or fun(ny)? How about those that barely feel the need to invest in marketing because their reputations speak for themselves? Would you adore the whiff of polished mahogany in your own office or prefer open-plan, steel and glass?

“We've never had any self-proclaimed hotshots bossing everyone else around, even when famous names like Mary Jo White were here. ” Associate, Debevoise

3. Hours & Compensation

Is money your be-all and end-all? Would you sacrifice some pay check for better work/life balance? Do you favor lockstep or a more merit-based system? Or eat-what-you-kill (or bill) versus more predictable salary and bonuses? Would you rather be given an annual billing target or trusted to deliver what you think you can manage (and is appropriate)? How important is the possibility of alternative schedules (eg. reduced hours) to you? How about the firm's attitude to taking vacation? Or working all-nighters and weekends? Are you wedded to the billable hour model or excited by alternative billing methods?

“If one doesn’t put time and care into the billing process, sorting out the resulting issues can be frustrating and time-consuming.” Jonathan Blake, former chair, Covington & Burling

4. Pro Bono and Diversity

Would you be happier at a firm that incentivizes pro bono, or at one that doesn’t let it get in the way of your billing work? What type of pro bono work interests you and does the firm do it? If not, might it allow you to? How important is it to you that a firm can demonstrate its commitment to diversity through tangible programs and initiatives? Is there a diversity committee and head of diversity? Do you care?

“Nice guys can, in fact, finish first (or at least near the front of the pack), while still caring about collegiality, pro bono and diversity.” Keith Wetmore , former chair of MoFo

5. Strategy

Do you want to join a firm that's constantly growing through mergers and acquisitions, or one that will only ever grow conservatively and organically? Is global domination high on your check list, or operating unflashily in a proven niche? Do you want to work for a firm that only promotes from within or regularly hires in big-hitting lateral partners to build practices? Is future national or international expansion important to you? Do you have language skills or experience that would be an asset to a firm as it grows? Do you plan to be with the firm in five years? Ten?

“You must ask yourself the magic question: "What do I want?" Be ruthlessly honest in your answer. This is the crystallizing question.” Jeff Cohen , cofounder, Cohen Gardner LLP (who once played 'Chunk' in The Goonies )

How To Research Law Firms

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Where to Start…

To start your research off I put together a research document on my laptop for each firm I intend to research, but a notebook dedicated to each firm would work just as nicely! In order to establish what you want to know about the firm it is a good idea to make a list of questions you want to research such as basic details such as age of firm, location, practice areas and deadlines for applications.

To take your research further, you can have a look into recent cases and deals and why these are important for the firm and maybe think about why these intrigued you. It is good to also have wider knowledge of the firm such as who their competitors are, who the main clients are what they strive to be, any recent developments in the firm and much more! It is also a good idea to get an idea of the graduate information such as how many trainees they take on, the retention rates and specifically what attracts you to the firm. The best place to start is always the firm’s website. Here you can find out about the firm’s sectors, services, locations, values and much more. This is always a good foundation for your research to get an understanding of the firm generally and whether they include sectors you are interested in. The website also includes some interesting information on what awards they have won, and most firms include their gender and ethnicity reports which can be interesting to look at to analyse the diversity and inclusion within the firm. Within the website you can sometimes find information on graduate recruitment whereas some have a separate website. The graduate recruitment section tells you about the recruitment process, what they look for in trainees and key dates for applying.

Chamber Student, Legal 500, Lex 100 and more

These are all great websites to take your research further and find information on the firm that may be more detailed and specific to the office you are applying for. Chamber Student allows you to find out the Firm’s Rankings in each department and gives you firsthand feedback from colleagues at the firm about various things such as the seats in the firm, some of the clients and what trainee life is life. Legal 500 is a great way to get contacts from each firm and get an understanding of what practice they work in and what key clients the firm has.

Lex 100 gives you the opportunity to look at trainee feedback for firms giving a breakdown from client contact, social life to inclusiveness. Other useful sites which provide similar information and insight is LawCareers.net and Legal Cheek. Legal Cheek is particularly helpful as it provides information on the average arrival and leaving time, chances of secondments, diversity statistics and the breakdown of what universities current trainees attend.

Social Media

Many firms now have Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts and they are a great way to keep up to date with events and trainee life. Many firms allow members of the firm to do takeovers on their platforms which is a great opportunity to get specific questions answered that you cannot find on websites. Also, their social media accounts allow you to stay up to date on the key dates of the application process and any events they have going on such as Insight or Open Days.

LinkedIn is also fantastic for research and can also be used as a tool to network with specific individuals from the specific office or area you are interested in.

Attend Events

By attending events by the firm, you are able gain further information on the firm on the general culture and feel of the office and employees. It is also a great way to network and put yourself out there if you know that you are going to later apply for the firm. Other organisation such as Queer Lawyers of Tomorrow, The Corporate Law Academy and even your university law societies and careers teams hold events with different firms which are well worth attending!

Google Alerts and News

The best way to keep up to date with what the firm is doing and to stay commercially aware is through setting up Google Alert and keep an eye on the news. You can also keep an eye out on the firm’s website for any articles or podcasts they produce as they can give great insight into big deals they have done or or developments in specific areas of law. You can set up Google Alerts by:

• Go to Google Alerts
• In the box at the top, enter a topic you want to follow.
• To change your settings, click Show options. You can change: How often you get notifications. The types of sites you’ll see.
• Click Create Alert. You’ll get emails whenever we find matching search results.

Remember when researching a firm try and get an all-encompassing knowledge but always have in the back of your mind why this interests you and why it is important to you because this can be helpful later if you get an application or interview question on why you want to work for the firm!

Oluwabunmi Adaramola

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Researching law firms

updated on 10 January 2024

Before applying for a firm’s vacation scheme or training contract , you need to do some research. This is important for two reasons:

• If recruiters see that you haven’t engaged with or found anything out about the firm (besides the information they put online) they’ll most likely reject your application. Firms want to see that you’ve taken the time to thoroughly understand who they are and what they do before you apply.
• Research will help you to identify whether a firm could be for you or whether you should apply somewhere else.

We suggest using the set of questions below (originally from The University of Law ) as a starting point when researching a potential employer.

For a more in-depth guide to researching law firms, read our Feature ‘ How to research law firms when applying for vacation schemes ’, which runs through the key places you should be conducting your research.

This episode of the LawCareers.Net Podcast is all about researching law firms and includes tips from graduate recruiters at firms, including RPC , Osborne Clarke LLP and Baker McKenzie . 

A lot of the answers to the below questions can be found on the LawCareers.Net directory pages – just  search  for the firm name. And don’t forget that you can use our  training contract search tool  to narrow down your options based on various criteria.

Basic details

• Name of firm
• Age of firm
• Number of partners
• Location(s)
• Number of offices
• Category (eg, corporate, national or high street)
• Main practice areas
• Deadline for applications

Recent cases/deals

• Identify some recent cases/deals.
• What do these cases say about the firm/organisation?
• What did the organisation do?
• Who were their opponents?

Place in the profession

• Who are their competitors (eg, in practice areas or location)?
• Who are their main clients?
• What’s the ethos or culture of the organisation?
• Does it have a mission statement or guiding principle?
• What’s the organisation’s reputation and what’s this based on?
• Has anything happened to the organisation recently (eg, merged or become an alternative business structure)?
• Are there likely to be any major changes soon (eg, looking to merge)?

The firm and you

• What are your career prospects at the organisation?
• What are the retention rates?
• Where could you go if you decided to move on after qualification?
• Have you met any employees of the organisation?
• Have you asked anyone else in the legal profession their view of the organisation?
• Is the firm somewhere you can imagine yourself working?
• Do your values align with the firms?

To find out even more on how to research firms thoroughly, read this feature: How to research law firms when applying for vacation schemes .

We hope this is a useful place to start. To perform well during the application process (and particularly at interview) you must understand what makes the firm tick and that'll require many hours of research – in various forms.

Armed with information, you can then work out what you still need to find out and can ask some probing questions of the recruiters and lawyers you speak to.

The key to law firm research is unearthing the reasons as to why it’s an attractive place for you – something only you can decide when you’ve taken the time to thoroughly research the firm.

Get a free copy of NCL's Law Firm Insiders' Guide

How to research law firms.

Who is Next City Lawyer?

We are a team of qualified lawyers from US, Magic Circle and Silver Circle law firms law firms.  We publish articles like this one every fortnight to give you the inside scoop on how to secure your training contract.

With years of experience analysing and reviewing documents for some of the world's most sophisticated clients, we've channeled the same level of care and attention into curating our database of successful applications to world's best commercial law firms.

Introduction

As we enter the summer months, students begin to consider vacation scheme and training contract applications. However, as most candidates know, sending in an application form is easier said than done. Candidates first need to ask themselves:

• Which law firms should I apply to?
• What should I research about each firm?
• How do I research each firm?

This blog article will answer all three of those questions.

Which Law Firms Should I Apply to?

Know yourself.

Before you can dig into researching one firm in particular, you first have to research what types of law firms you want to apply to. At a certain level, this is a numbers game. We recommend that candidates submit as many high-quality applications as they can. However, if you have a particular interest or are set on a certain kind of work, you will need to ensure you apply to the correct firms.

You must ask yourself:

• What kind of work would I like?
• What kind of work would I be good at?
• Do I want to train at a regional or international firm?

These initial questions are essential and you should not sweep them aside. For example, if you want to be involved with personal injury or private client work, the Magic Circle or Elite US firms (as defined below) are not the best choices for YOU. However, if you want to be involved with private equity or structured finance, they definitely will be the best picks for you!

Nevertheless, it is critical not to limit your options. You may decide that you really want to do international arbitration. However, this severely limits your choices and may cause you to join a firm that, after your training contract, you decide you no longer want to work at. Many newly qualified solicitors will tell you that they ended up qualifying into a department they never expected to join – they began a training contract at the firm intending to qualify into ‘Department A’ but ultimately found they would be happier in ‘Department B’.

In general, if you are considering traditional ‘Big Law’ firms, you should be thinking of applying to:

• The Magic Circle firms (e.g. Clifford Chance and Linklaters)
• Elite US firms (e.g. Latham & Watkins and Kirkland & Ellis)
• Anglo-American firms (e.g. Hogan Lovells and Norton Rose Fulbright)
• Other high-ranking firms (e.g. Herbert Smith Freehills)

As a start, this should give you at least 15-20 firms to apply to.

Bonus tip: keep track of all your applications in a spreadsheet. Keep track of the firm's name, the application window dates, whether you have applied or not (and its status) and any additional notes.

We also go into further detail on how you should target firms based on your own unique profile in our last blog post: ‘ Stop Undervaluing Yourself! ’.  If the financial draw of elite US firms stands out to you, read our article on whether to follow the money when applying for training contracts .

What Should I Research About A Law Firm?

Candidates often struggle to know what exactly to research when preparing for vacation scheme and training contract applications. Should I research certain deals? Do I need to know who the managing partner is? And – of course – how do I find out all of the necessary information?

We recommend dividing your research into three distinct areas:

• Culture (and miscellaneous)

These areas cover most of what you need to know about the firm in question, and they also aid in assessing the most important (and the least important) bits of information: research about the “work” is of the highest priority, whilst “culture” is of the least.

How Do I Research A Law Firm?

When you are researching a firm’s work ahead of applying for a vacation scheme or training contract, you should be trying to answer for yourselves:

• What practice areas does the firm specialise in?
• What is unique about the kind of work that the firm does in the above areas?
• What are some good deals or examples of that type of work?
• What is my opinion on those deals or examples – why do I find them interesting or appealing?

With this in mind, you can now begin identifying where to uncover the answers to these questions.

First, you should check the firm’s main website and their graduate recruitment website (if they have one). This should give you some ideas of what the firm specialises in. If it does not, or you want some more information, look at the Legal 500 or Chambers practice area rankings. Some top firms will rank highly in many areas, so use this information judiciously and read beyond just the headings. The Legal 500 or Chambers guides will typically have a little blurb about the firm, which will give you a better insight into what the firm itself proclaims to specialise in. Of particular note is the Chambers Student ‘ True Picture ’ series: this gives an insight into not only the work that the firm does but also its training and culture, which, as we will discuss, is also vital!

Next, you will have to employ your judgement. Within the areas that you have identified as the firm’s specialist practice areas, you must now try to determine what the law firm’s unique angle is. For example, if a firm specialises in leveraged finance, try to determine whether they predominantly work on the sponsor (i.e. borrower) side or the lender side. If, for example, they primarily work on the lender side, what exactly is it about that work that interests you? Why do you want to work for a bank concerning these specific deals?    

As part of this, you should think about the firm’s business model and strategy. Why does this firm specialise in “Practice Area A” and specifically take on “Type of Work B” in that sector? For example, some Elite US firms limit their number of international offices and only take on work that has the highest profit margins for the firm. A great example is private equity – many Elite US firms specialise in that practice area because most private equity activity (historically) is in the US and Europe, which means they do not need to expend more resources on hiring big teams in APAC. Do not forget to consider your own opinions – do you think this is a good strategy? What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved with the firm’s strategy and business model? How do you fit into all this?

To uncover some of this information, you will need to refer to your research in ascertaining those specialist practice areas. You should look at what the Legal 500 says – do they mention any particular angles the firm specialises in within the practice area itself? Alternatively, you could look at the IFLR 1000 to see their deal history and see whether you can notice any trends.

Once you’ve narrowed down the firm’s specific prowess within a particular practice area, you can then move on to finding some concrete examples. These should generally take the form of some major deals that the firm has completed (preferably recent ones!).

Researching deals should not be a scary task. First, start with the firm’s website. Most large commercial law firms (and small ones too!) put out short summaries of deals they have recently completed (similar to press releases). If you cannot find much information on the firm’s site (or you have found a deal that you want to research in more detail), look at Lexology, The Lawyer, Law360, Law.com , Legal Week, Reuters.com , and Legal Business. Some publishers lock this information behind a subscription service, so do not be afraid to Google a deal (for example, “CD&R’s purchase of Morrison’s”) to see if you can find any information about it for free.

Once you have that information – it is now up to you! Why is the deal interesting to you? What impact does it have on the firm, the market, or both? If you are struggling to articulate the reasons why, you should continue to read around the deal. Some legal or financial commentators may have written some articles on the deal that will give you an insight into their thoughts, which can, naturally, inspire your own opinions.

Ultimately, you are applying to a firm for a training contract. Although you may technically be applying for a vacation scheme, the vacation scheme is only there to serve as a pathway to getting that highly-coveted training contract. As you probably know, these are now more competitive than ever . Therefore, you should expect to show off your research concerning a firm’s training programme. After all, you want to be trained by the firm, and the firm would like to know why!

When you are researching a firm’s training contract, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is the seat structure? How many seats are there? Is it a rotational or non-rotational structure?
• Are there any mandatory seats?
• Are there any unique seat choices?
• Is a secondment mandatory? If not, what are the chances of getting a secondment?
• What additional training opportunities does the firm offer outside of the traditional programme?

The best way to begin to research the answers to these questions is to refer to the firm’s website or graduate recruitment website (if they have one). Almost all firms will make the essential information regarding their training contracts public. For example, on Freshfields’ graduate recruitment website, they tell you the number of seats involved (eight - which is unusual) and what the mandatory seats are (one in dispute resolution and two in “global transactions”). There is also some more information on the kind of support you would receive during your Freshfields training contract.

You should expect to go beyond the firm’s website and marketing materials. Once you have scoured those sources and amassed all the information possible, consider reaching out to trainees from the firm you are researching on LinkedIn. There is no better way to understand what additional opportunities trainees have at that firm than asking them yourself! However, please be aware that trainees face an overwhelming number of messages on LinkedIn. Hence, you may have to send multiple messages to multiple trainees – and keep those messages short. Be polite but direct. Here is one example of what a good LinkedIn message might look like to a trainee:

Hi [Trainee],

Thank you for connecting with me.

I am currently applying to [Firm X] and would like to learn more about the training and development opportunities offered by the firm. It’s my dream firm and I would hugely appreciate any time you could spare.

Would you be free for a 10-minute call at any time over the next two weeks?

Thank you very much!

[Candidate]

If no trainees are available to speak with you (be aware that some trainees will prefer to message you rather than talk over the phone!), try to attend firm-specific graduate recruitment events. For example, some firms run online “insight days”, and others do “Meet the Firm”-style online presentations. Remember, the best way to learn about the firm is if you can secure an in-person open day – if you get this opportunity do as much research about the firm before you go. Then you will be best placed to ask the most pertinent questions on the open day itself and make full use of the experience.

If you have exhausted all of those options or cannot secure the opportunities mentioned above, do not forget Chambers Student. Although this is not a fantastic substitute for the other sources we have discussed, it will provide at least some information on the firm’s training contract – so, at the very least, you do not leave this stage of research empty-handed. However, you must remember that everyone has access to this information. Therefore, you should employ your own analysis when using such generic research to stand out!

After conducting all of your research about the firm’s training contract, you must remember to relate it to you. Why are YOU best suited for this kind of programme? How would YOU use the various development opportunities if you were a trainee?

“Culture” is a challenging term to define. Unfortunately, most candidates think that “culture” pertains to whether a firm is “friendly”. Such a response is vague and honestly irrelevant. Many firms dislike being called “friendly”, “nice” or “caring” by candidates that they interview – they do not want you to get the wrong impression that you would get an easy ride by working there or that they aren’t respected by clients and feared by opponents!

A better way to think about culture is to reflect on the firm’s mentality . For example, what is the firm’s stance on self-development? Would they encourage you to learn another language, gain ‘rights of audience’ or take the New York bar exam? A further example includes situations where you are looking to work in a highly technical area (for instance, you might want to work for Bird & Bird in their life sciences team). See if the firm would support you in taking an additional qualification or supplementary training course whilst you are a trainee there.

The reason for investigating these points is because it says something about the firm itself. You might be someone who is very invested in improving yourself and so be keen on a firm that aligns with your mindset. In a different vein, you might be very focused on sport, music or extracurriculars and look for a firm that would respect your work/life balance.

Believe it or not, many firms do not have all these opportunities, and some firms would encourage you to drop those hobbies to better focus on your work. So if you can demonstrate you have a particular passion (whether that be charitable volunteering, sport, music, languages, self-development, technology and so on), you should research whether the firm can support you with such interests and whether you can contribute to that same culture!

You may be sceptical about discussing these points. However, when candidates talk about culture concerning the firm’s work or training supervision, the answers are generic. All firms are hardworking, all firms provide you with a decent level of supervision and training, and all firms will proclaim to be friendly and open. Hence, you need to look beyond these generic points and research the more quirky or eccentric elements of the firm and see how you would fit in there.

Of course, researching these areas is easier said than done. Whilst the firm will publish some marketing material on its culture, the single best way to understand a firm’s culture is to talk to its lawyers. Much like researching a firm’s training contract, reach out to trainees and associates on LinkedIn as discussed above. Attend graduate recruitment events and presentations, and, if you can, go on an open/insight day. If you know you will have the opportunity to ask questions, do as much research as you can beforehand so you use your Q&A comment to its most significant effect.

Here is an example of a question (without the necessary pleasantries bookending it!) you could ask either at an event or on LinkedIn:

“ I have intermediate Python coding skills. Would this be useful for the firm? And if so, what opportunities does [Firm X] offer to encourage its trainees to use and develop their coding abilities? ”

This question hits two areas: it gives you a sense of the firm’s training and development opportunities and will provide you with an insight into the firm’s mentality concerning self-development and supporting its trainees’ interests!

It’s worth mentioning again that guides like Chambers Student and lawcareers.net may be helpful to supplement your research. Nevertheless, these online resources are not as good at providing usable information about a firm’s culture compared with its work and training. Culture is subjective, so there is no better evidence for it than first-hand experience (or talking directly with someone who has had that experience!). If you rely too heavily on published written material to evidence your research about a firm’s culture, your answers will sound superficial. Therefore, where you can, get some open days, attend in-person or online graduate recruitment events, and talk directly with trainees and associates!

Additionally, if you end up connecting well with someone at a law firm event, you could ask them whether they would be happy for you to reference your conversation with them in an application. Most people will agree to let you do so and those kinds of references make an application really stand out! Regardless, always remember to connect with people you talk to on LinkedIn – it takes no time at all and it gives you a connection you can draw on later.  

As a small aside, international students should also make sure any law firm they are applying to sponsors foreigners for training contracts before they waste time researching and writing an application. Check out our special guide for international applicants for more detail.

Over the course of this article, we have looked at what law firms you should apply to and how to research a firm’s work, training and culture. We have provided you with some guidance on what sources to use and what questions you should be asking yourself along the way to guide your research.

In summary:

• Submit as many high-quality vacation scheme or training contract applications as you can. Candidates often undervalue themselves and lose out on opportunities due to sending out too few applications.
• Focus on researching a firm’s work, training and culture. These are the core areas on which firms will question you during the application process.
• Begin your research with the firm’s website and graduate recruitment page (if they have one).
• Use sources like the Chambers Global and Student guides, Legal 500, Lexology, The Lawyer, Law360, Law.com , Legal Week, Reuters.com , and Legal Business to research a firm’s work.
• Contact trainees and associates on LinkedIn to learn about a firm’s training and culture.
• Try to attend open days and graduate recruitment presentations concerning researching a firm’s training and culture.

We hope you found this article useful – if you did, please share it with other candidates who might find it helpful!

So, what next?

If you are ready to move from research to action, you should look at our application database BEFORE you put pen to paper on your applications. You wouldn't walk into an exam hall without carefully reviewing past papers.  It's exactly the same with applications to law firms. If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.

Most candidates read a few well-intentioned but obvious articles on how to apply to law firms.  Most candidates then spend a couple of hours writing an application before optimistically submitting it.  But most candidates don't even get an interview.  Every year, thousands of candidates are part of the 90% that are rejected at first round.

Join us as part of the successful 10% instead. Let us give you an unfair advantage: through our comprehensive analysis of successful applications to every major law firm, our qualified lawyers will break down the ingredients of a phenomenal application.  We will help you beat the odds, secure your interview and then avoid final-round failure at your assessment centre.

Related posts

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How to Write a Cover Letter for a Law Firm

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Pay for Lawyers is So High People Are Comparing It to the N.B.A.

Enormous pay packages are popping up for top lawyers, especially those favored by well-heeled private equity clients.

Credit... Guillem Casasús

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By Maureen Farrell and Anupreeta Das

• July 1, 2024 Updated 3:14 p.m. ET

Hotshot Wall Street lawyers are now so in demand that bidding wars between firms for their services can resemble the frenzy among teams to sign star athletes.

Eight-figure pay packages — rare a decade ago — are increasingly common for corporate lawyers at the top of their game, and many of these new heavy hitters have one thing in common: private equity.

In recent years, highly profitable private equity giants like Apollo, Blackstone and KKR have moved beyond company buyouts into real estate, private lending, insurance and other businesses, amassing trillions of dollars in assets. As their demand for legal services has skyrocketed, they have become big revenue drivers for law firms.

This is pushing up lawyers’ pay across the industry, including at some of Wall Street’s most prestigious firms, such as Kirkland & Ellis; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Davis Polk; Latham & Watkins; and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Lawyers with close ties to private equity increasingly enjoy pay and prestige similar to those of star lawyers who represent America’s blue-chip companies and advise them on high-profile mergers, takeover battles and litigation.

Numerous people compared it to a star-centric system like the N.B.A., but others worried that higher and higher pay had gotten out of hand and could strain the law firms forced to stretch their budgets to keep talent from leaving.

“Twenty million dollars is the new $10 million,” said Sabina Lippman, a partner and co-founder of the legal recruiter Lippman Jungers. In the past few years, at least 10 law firms have spent — or acknowledged to Ms. Lippman that they need to spend — around $20 million a year or more to lure the highest-profile lawyers.

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The Fastest Growing Am Law 200 Firm Over the Last 5 Years

A look at the firm's growth and strategy is a case study on how a law firm can add market share, climb the rankings, and grow profits, all at the same time.

July 01, 2024 at 05:00 AM

6 minute read

Andrew Maloney

Share with email, thank you for sharing, what you need to know.

• Since 2018, Spencer Fane has grown from 243 lawyers to about 419 and gone from 15 offices in 8 states to 26 offices in 14 states and the District of Columbia.
• The firm's chair said he and his partners are 'agnostic' about growth, though Spencer Fane has done a little bit of everything to expand their reach and add talent.

The fastest-growing Am Law 200 firm by revenue over the last half-decade isn’t necessarily who you’d expect.

Spencer Fane, once a regional firm mostly known in the Midwest, has leapfrogged 21 spots in the Am Law 200 rankings in the last two years to No. 142 this year, generating $266.8 million in 2023. Overall, the Kansas City-founded firm has increased revenue by roughly 139% since 2018, the highest growth percentage of any Am Law 200 firm in the span of time, including among the New York and West Coast elite firms.

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• Applications Discussion

How to research law firms

• Thread starter Ritika Acharya
• Start date Jul 28, 2020
• Tags application help application tips

Ritika Acharya

• Jul 28, 2020

Hey everyone, I recently started to research law firms to decide which ones to apply to for a vac scheme next year, and I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. I feel confused between different law firms. If someone has tips on how to go about the research step-by-step to figure out which firm is the perfect fit for you, I'd really appreciate it if you could help me out! I'm an international student studying in India. I've observed that a lot of firms require their applicants to physically be present at the firm on the assessment day. Financially, this is a challenge for me because I would have to fly all the way to London from India for that one-day interview/assessment. Are there more firms like Linklaters that conduct their assessment days in India itself for Indian students? Thanks for reading this, have a nice day! Best regards, Ritika Acharya  

Jessica Booker

Legendary member.

Ritika Acharya said: Hey everyone, I recently started to research law firms to decide which ones to apply to for a vac scheme next year, and I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. I feel confused between different law firms. If someone has tips on how to go about the research step-by-step to figure out which firm is the perfect fit for you, I'd really appreciate it if you could help me out! I'm an international student studying in India. I've observed that a lot of firms require their applicants to physically be present at the firm on the assessment day. Financially, this is a challenge for me because I would have to fly all the way to London from India for that one-day interview/assessment. Are there more firms like Linklaters that conduct their assessment days in India itself for Indian students? Thanks for reading this, have a nice day! Best regards, Ritika Acharya Click to expand...

• Jul 30, 2020

Jessica Booker said: A&O also used to have an Indian Clerkship programme - don’t know if it still exists. Some firms will reimburse some travel expenses to London, and the increase of virtual assessment centres will mean attending an assessment centre is easier than you think. Your biggest issue is that most firms will not apply for a visa for internships as they are expensive and make little sense for such a short internship. My advice would be to work out which firms you want to apply to. Think about your own criteria first and then contact the firms that meet that criteria and ask them whether they will apply for a visa for you for an internship. That will then allow you to focus your application to those you are eligible to apply for (I suspect it won’t be a large number unfortunately). Click to expand...

D said: Hey Ritika, One excellent piece of advice I was given by a trainee during a Scheme at a Magic Circle firm was to be clear on the following: - What type of work does the firm do? - What does their training scheme look like? - What is their business strategy/model? - What are the people like? I used this "model" when I was looking at firms to answer my questions on why I was interested in that particular firm, linking those points back to me. Click to expand...

futuretraineesolicitor

What are the differences if an Indian student is applying to Linklaters via the India programme vs the normal route that most people in the UK take? @Jessica Booker could you please explain? Infact, not just Linklaters, what is the difference if we apply to firms via the UK route if they already have an India based program? Will they say that you should apply via the India program and reject our application if it is made via the UK Route?  

futuretraineesolicitor said: What are the differences if an Indian student is applying to Linklaters via the India programme vs the normal route that most people in the UK take? @Jessica Booker could you please explain? Infact, not just Linklaters, what is the difference if we apply to firms via the UK route if they already have an India based program? Will they say that you should apply via the India program and reject our application if it is made via the UK Route? Click to expand...

Understood @Jessica Booker , thank you. One question, what to do if the Grad Rec doesn't respond to email? Please help  

futuretraineesolicitor said: Understood @Jessica Booker , thank you. One question, what to do if the Grad Rec doesn't respond to email? Please help Click to expand...

• Jul 31, 2020

Hello @Jessica Booker Hope you are doing well Ma'am. Just one question, please. Linklaters has an India Internship programme, so do the students who are selected for the Vacation Scheme from the India Internship programme, experience the same scheme which is being run for the UK students? I mean are all the students ( the ones selected via the UK Route and the ones selected via the India Internship programme) part of the same vacation scheme? If yes, then is this pool of Vacation Schemers assessed on the same basis regardless of their application route? As in, do the interviewees ask more or less the same questions to everyone regardless of whether the Vacation Scheme student has come from India or the UK? I mean some questions are really UK specific in interviews- for example a person's views on SQE and Brexit etc etc. So if a Vac Schemer has come from India- is he expected to know all this or is there a specific set of interview questions for him/her since he is not from the UK? Thank you.  

futuretraineesolicitor said: Hello @Jessica Booker Hope you are doing well Ma'am. Just one question, please. Linklaters has an India Internship programme, so do the students who are selected for the Vacation Scheme from the India Internship programme, experience the same scheme which is being run for the UK students? I mean are all the students ( the ones selected via the UK Route and the ones selected via the India Internship programme) part of the same vacation scheme? If yes, then is this pool of Vacation Schemers assessed on the same basis regardless of their application route? As in, do the interviewees ask more or less the same questions to everyone regardless of whether the Vacation Scheme student has come from India or the UK? I mean some questions are really UK specific in interviews- for example a person's views on SQE and Brexit etc etc. So if a Vac Schemer has come from India- is he expected to know all this or is there a specific set of interview questions for him/her since he is not from the UK? Thank you. Click to expand...

@Jessica Booker Ma'am, all this is so confusing but thank you so much.  

futuretraineesolicitor said: @Jessica Booker Ma'am, all this is so confusing but thank you so much. Click to expand...

Star Member

• Aug 2, 2020

One excellent piece of advice I was given by a trainee during a Scheme at a Magic Circle firm was to be clear on the following: - What type of work does the firm do? - What does their training scheme look like? - What is their business strategy/model? - What are the people like? I used this "model" when I was looking at firms to answer my questions on why I was interested in that particular firm, linking those points back to me.[/QUOTE] I struggle with understanding the firm’s business/strategy model. Could you give some tips on how to do it? Thank you in advance.  

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Elektrostal

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Elektrostal , city, Moscow oblast (province), western Russia . It lies 36 miles (58 km) east of Moscow city. The name, meaning “electric steel,” derives from the high-quality-steel industry established there soon after the October Revolution in 1917. During World War II , parts of the heavy-machine-building industry were relocated there from Ukraine, and Elektrostal is now a centre for the production of metallurgical equipment. Pop. (2006 est.) 146,189.

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