Skip to Main Content

Basic Legal Research Process

General tips for successful legal research

When To Stop

It can be hard to determine when to stop researching. While the answer is context dependent, a good rule of thumb is to stop when you seem to be getting the same few sources over and over again.

It is important not to stop too soon, however. As you approach the end of your research, review the first part of this guide: Read & Think. Make sure you have answered the question asked of you in the appropriate format.

If you feel like you keep hitting dead ends, or are struggling to find any relevant laws on a given issue, go to the next page, Need Help? for information about how to contact a reference librarian. We are always happy to help.