Legal research blog
Practical guides for attorneys on research, citations and tools.
Court case type codes explained for federal and state courts
What court case type codes are, how they appear in case numbers, and how nature of suit codes work on the federal civil cover sheet.
Criminal case type codes and how to read them
A practical guide to criminal case type codes in federal and state courts, including cr, mj and felony or misdemeanor prefixes, and how they differ from statutes.
How to verify case citations before you file
A step by step method to verify case citations: check the reporter cite, the case name, the court, the year and the pin cite, then read the opinion.
AI hallucinated citations and what they mean for sanctions
Why courts sanction attorneys for AI generated fake citations, what the orders say, and a simple verification routine that keeps a brief safe to file.
Westlaw alternatives for small firms and what to compare
How small firms can compare Westlaw alternatives: coverage, citation checking, pricing model, seats and what you give up when you leave a full platform.
Best legal research software for small firms and how to choose
What to look for in legal research software if you run a small firm: verified citations, fair pricing, coverage you can read and workflow for a team.