Publications

Illinois Bar Journal
Articles on Legal Research

A New Tool for Federal Legislative Research By Tom Gaylord November 2012 Column, Page 612 Congress.gov will soon succeed THOMAS as the go-to site for federal legislative research.
Federal Administrative Law Part 3: Agency Decisions and Guidance Documents By Tom Gaylord November 2011 Column, Page 586 Here's how to find these useful resources on the web.
The New, Online-Only Illinois Reports By Tom Gaylord September 2011 Column, Page 477 Now the supreme court publishes the official version of Illinois cases - here's what it means.
Vendor-neutral citation comes to Illinois By Helen W. Gunnarsson July 2011 Lawpulse, Page 330 Beginning July 1, the official version of Illinois opinions will be published publicly on the court's website, not privately in bound volumes.
Looking for Federal Government Documents? Try FDsys By Tom Gaylord May 2011 Column, Page 264 The U.S. Government Printing Office's FDsys website is a great place to find documents, too.
Is the Law You Cite Authenticated? Does It Matter? By Tom Gaylord January 2011 Column, Page 48 Should the government, not vendors, produce "official" versions of the law?
Federal Legislative History - Free Tools at Your Fingertips By Tom Gaylord May 2010 Column, Page 264 Great (and free) Web-based resources.
Research Resources from Illinois Academic Law Libraries By Tom Gaylord July 2009 Column, Page 368 Have a research project? Go back to law school, or at least to a law school library near you.
Sources of Illinois Legal Research By Tom Gaylord May 2009 Column, Page 264 These bibliographies help you find Illinois research tools on your topic.
Should You Use Fastcase and How? By Helen W. Gunnarsson April 2009 Article, Page 178 Whether you make it your primary online research tool or use it to supplement Westlaw or Lexis, Fastcase can save you money. Lots of it. Here’s how.
Evidence Resources or Illinois Practitioners By Tom Gaylord March 2009 Column, Page 154 A look at some free evidence-related online resources.
Illinois Statutory and Legislative Resources By Tom Gaylord January 2009 Column, Page 48 The statutes are online, of course. But here are other free resources.
Playing with PreCYdent: The move toward Free Online Primary Law By Tom Gaylord November 2008 Column, Page 588 Two Web sites are bringing free cases and more to the public
Professional Responsibility in Illinois: Rules, and MCLE By Tom Gaylord September 2008 Column, Page 474 There's a wealth of legal-ethics information online if you know where to look.
Finding Free Legal Articles on the Web By Tom Gaylord July 2008 Column, Page 370 A growing number of law-review articles are free for the viewing.
Helpful Resources from the Illinois Courts By Tom Gaylord March 2008 Column, Page 160 Every Illinois lawyer should visit the Web site of the Illinois courts.
Ready Reference for the Occasional Question By Tom Gaylord January 2008 Column, Page 52 Here’s a grab bag of miscellaneous and – mostly – free research sites.
Beyond the Regs: Illinois Administrative Law Online By Tom Gaylord July 2007 Column, Page 382 A look at state agency Web sites that offer the agency's administrative decisions and more.
New rule allows citation of unpublished federal opinions By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2007 Lawpulse, Page 66 Federal appellate courts used to restrict or prohibit citation of unpublished opinions in arguments to the courts. That changed January 1.
Legal Research and the Threat of the Available By Thomas Keefe November 2006 Column, Page 618 Is print research disappearing in the age of Google?
Free Online Research from Fastcase By Irene F. Bahr September 2006 Column, Page 456 This exciting benefit more than repays your dues investment.
A Primer on the General Assembly's Web Site By Thomas Keefe September 2006 Column, Page 504 It's now an excellent starting point for research.
Federal Government Info on the Web By Thomas Keefe July 2006 Column, Page 382 Much of the primary federal law once available only for a fee is now free on the Web.
Internet Legal Portals By Thomas Keefe May 2006 Column, Page 264 A look at some leading one-stop-shopping centers of legal research. 
Using the Internet for Legal Research By Thomas Keefe January 2006 Column, Page 46 The net is best used as a compliment to, not replacement for, traditional sources of legal information.
Finding Haystacks: Context in Legal Research By Thomas Keefe September 2005 Column, Page 484 A necessary first step in legal research is to identify what an answer might look like and where one might find it.
The 80/20 Rule of Legal Research By Thomas Keefe May 2005 Column, Page 258 The 80/20 rule has implications for how you do–and pay for–legal research.
Lexis and Westlaw Lite By Thomas Keefe March 2005 Column, Page 146 The Big Two legal data providers offer more affordable options than ever.
At Last, a New Guidebook for Illinois Legal Researchers By Phill Johnson May 2004 Column, Page 271 Here's review of the first new Illinois legal research tome in well over a decade.
Getting Your Research Bearings; Dead Reckoning v the Sextant By Paul D. Callister January 2004 Column, Page 49 Sometimes research still works best with books, and sometimes it works better on the computer. We're still trying to figure out why and when.
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