International Research: Tap Resources Your Overseas Offices Use—Via the lexis.com Seamless Interface
By Liz Peoples
Do you ever get a jolt of panic when you get questions about insurance laws in the United Kingdom, fishing treaties in Australia, or maybe a patent question that needs U.S. and German guidelines?
Conducting international legal research can be a challenge. When launching into an international research request, I have done a variety of things:
- searched for international sources via the Web,
- tried to gain access to a law school’s international collection sources, and/or
- dialed and e-mailed the consulates, embassies, trade organizations, etc.
All the while I’m wondering: Are these sources the most current? Did I get it all?
When I want to learn about sources for topics unknown to me, I often utilize Zimmerman’s Research Guides—The Online Encyclopedia for Legal Researchers, which is available through the LexisNexis InfoPro Web site (www.law.lexisnexis.com/infopro) Andrew Zimmerman states in the International Law section: “It can be exceptionally hard to find international law materials.”
I could not have said it better. But research has recently become much easier with the LexisNexis services. In addition to the thousands of international resources available through lexis.com, LexisNexis Global Research available as a seamless interface through lexis.com gives you easy access to the international legal content sources your overseas offices utilize as well.*
That’s more than 1,000 international legal sources from Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom—and more than 800 sources are brand new, i.e., not on the regular lexis.com interface.
Once your organization subscribes to LexisNexis Global Legal Research, you can link directly from lexis.com. The link will be located in the International Law practice area (select the Legal tab then International Law) and through the LexisNexis International Practice Center.
The Global Legal Research source list is very extensive: I like to browse and then choose my sources by topic and then filter by country. You can also choose your language type—English for me but German and French are also available, which is great for attorneys visiting from international offices.
In fact it’s great to offer LexisNexis Global Legal Research to visiting European attorneys. They’re already familiar with the platform. Voila! They are productive and providing results using LexisNexis Global Research—no down time learning a new system.
After completing a search, you receive the results categorized by source so that you choose between case law, treaties, and news materials.
In addition to important federal and state law reports, legislation, new journals, newsletters, and bulletins, the following key content—not available through lexis.com—is available via LexisNexis Global Legal Research:
- Commentary: Exclusive legal encyclopedia and treatises such as Halsburys Laws of England; Butterworths Corporate Law Service; Erman: Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (Erman on the German Civil Code)
- Forms & Precedents: Exclusive form books such as Atkins Court Forms (UK) and Australian Encyclopedia
of Forms & Precedents.
- Citators: Such as QuickCITE™ Citator (Canada); Halsburys “Is It In Force” (UK); Status Compendium (NZ)
- Reference Materials: Many new reference materials including Practice and Procedure (Australia); LexisNexis Rechtswörterbuch (German law dictionary); bills and rules of court.
- New Countries/Sources: German and EU case law, legislation, journals; Australian and New Zealand legislation.
- Exclusive Tax Sources: Simons Direct Tax Service and over 30 Tolley’s tax publications.
- Local content: Such as decisions from 99 Canadian boards and tribunals and Anthony and Berrymans Magistrate’s Court
Guide (UK).
Plus get links! Some encyclopedia and law reports will contain links to legislation, case law and other sources.
Cheerio! By using the LexisNexis Global Research you are off to having excellent access to International research resources on lexis.com.
*Not available to law school subscribers
