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  2. Research Guides

Resources for Law Student Research Assistants

Questions to Ask

Questions to Ask Upfront:

  • "What format would you prefer for the deliverable?"
  • "Are there particular jurisdictions I should prioritize?"
  • "How current does the law need to be?" (historical vs. cutting-edge research)
  • "Are there particular sources you want me to avoid or emphasize?"
  • "What's your timeline for different phases of this project?"
  • “Is it OK to use X tool?” (especially for AI!)

Managing Expectations:

  • Timeline realism: Legal research often uncovers more questions
    • Overestimate the time you need to complete the research.
  • Scope boundaries: When to stop researching and start writing
  • Communication schedule: Check-ins vs. milestone updates

Quality Assurance Checklist

Before Submitting Anything:

  • [ ] All citations verified in primary sources
  • [ ] All cases Shepardized/KeyCited for current validity
  • [ ] Quotes checked against original sources
  • [ ] Grammar and spelling reviewed -- this may seem obvious, but it is very important! Don't undermine the good research work you've done by presenting it in a sloppy or careless way.
  • [ ] Format consistent with faculty preferences
  • [ ] Sources organized logically

Flagging Complications:

How you present your research gaps and issues you come up with is important. Avoid negatives, such as "I didn't find anything" or "There was nothing," and reframe it to offer an explanation of your process.

  • "I found conflicting authority on X" rather than "This is confusing"
  • Circuit splits: Identify and explain clearly. Identify which circuits follow what argument, including which circuits don't follow either.
  • Unsettled law: Acknowledge uncertainty and explain the different arguments.
  • Research limitations: "I was unable to locate authority on X despite checking Y and Z" or "Although I wasn't able to find authority on X, here is what I did, but if you have suggestions on what else to do, I will implement them: ....." rather than "I didn't find anything"

Types of Deliverables

Research Memos Annotated Bibliographies Citation Standards
  • Executive summary: Answer first, explanation second
  • Methodology note: Brief description of research approach
  • Confidence levels: Strong authority vs. best available guidance
  • Limitations: What you couldn't find or verify
  • Beyond citation: 2-3 sentence description of relevance
  • Organization: By strength of authority, by legal issue, chronologically
  • Usefulness test: Could someone else pick up your research effectively?
  • AI Use Case? Once you’ve read the materials and taken notes, ask AI to summarize them to 3 sentences max.
  • Bluebook compliance: BB online is a great, searchable material. Zotero or Powernotes if you want to save time.
  • Chicago Style? We have access to the Chicago Manual, for free, through the VU Library. See below link for access.
  • Pinpoint citations: Don’t forget! It is harder to find them later. Specific page numbers for quotes and key points.
  • Parentheticals: Brief explanatory information when helpful (for future you!)