CoLPS: Introduction to Legal Research for 1L's

Operator

Example

Description

AND, &

libel AND damages

Results must contain both “libel” and “damages”

OR

premarital OR prenuptial

Results must contain either “premarital” or “prenuptial”

NOT

negligence NOT criminal

Results must contain “negligence” but not the word “criminal”

w/3, /3

custody /15 interrogation

Results must contain “custody” within 15 words of “interrogation.”

*, !

testif*

Results must contain some variation of the stem “testif” such as testified, testify, testifying, etc.

?

mari?uana

Results must contain m-a-r-i-_-u-a-n-a with any letter substituted for the question mark

“ ”

“estate tax”

Results must contain the exact phrase “estate tax”

(  )

(confront OR cross-examine)

Parentheses tells Fastcase to do the operations contained within it before doing things outside