KU Law Blog

Several times this semester I have run into some people who are a bit confused about Westlaw’s headnote and key number system — and quite understandably! For something that is used so much, it seems that little attention is given to explaining exactly what is going on. Well, I would like to cure that right here, right now!

First, let’s look at a headnote taken from the case Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954).

>[4] Constitutional Law k. 3278(1)

The doctrine of “separate but equal” has no place in the field of public education, since separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. U.S.C.A. Const. Amend. 14.

What we are looking at are actually two completely different things: the key number and the headnote. As I’m sure you already know, West’s key number system was developed and is used to label different legal topics, making it easier to search case law. It uses a broad topic name (there are more than 450!) followed by a narrower number. It looks something like, “Constitutional Law k. 32878(1)” where “k” represents a tiny picture of a key.

Well to make things a bit more complicated, we also have headnotes. Headnotes are quotes taken from the case pertaining to an area of law and placed at the beginning in order of appearance. So the part of the case addressing “constitutional law, equal protection in general” would be one headnote, and “constitution or law of state contravening constitution of United States” would be a difference headnote. There is no uniform system of numbering with headnotes, so “constitutional law, equal protection in general” in one case may be headnote 4, while it’s headnote 2 in another case. It really just depends where it falls within the case.

Now that West has the key numbers and headnotes all lined up for each case, searching out your area of law becomes easier. West prints off all of the topics and key numbers in a series of books called The Digest. The legal topics are in alpha-numeric order, and each jurisdiction has its own. Kansas has the Kansas Digest, and Missouri has the Missouri Digest. There are also regional digests that include cases from states within a set region. Under each topic and key number, you will find the headnotes from the cases. So if you are looking for other cases that touch on “constitutional law, equal protection in general,” you would look up “constitutional law k. 32878(1).”

You can do all of this online if you desire. However, if you are looking online, “constitutional law” will be turned into a number, which just happens to be “92”.

So where does “92” come from? Well, if you were to list all of the legal topics in alphabetical order and then assign it a number, “constitutional law” would be “92.” Of course, I find it easier to grab any Digest volume and look at the front. The topics and their numbers are listed, starting with “1 abandoned and lost property” going through “414 zoning and planning.” So “constitutional law k. 32878(1)” is the same as “92k.32878(1).” Or it usually is. But that’s another story.

>Here is what the same headnote will look like online:

>[4] KeyCite Citing References for this Headnote 92 Constitutional Law
   92XXVI Equal Protection
       92XXVI(B) Particular Classes
           92XXVI(B)8 Race, National Origin, or Ethnicity
               92k3275 Education
                 92k3278 Public Elementary and Secondary Education
                   92k3278(1) k. In General.
                     (Formerly 92k220(2.1), 92k220(2), 92k220) The doctrine of “separate but equal” has no place in the field of public education, since separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. U.S.C.A.Const. Amend. 14.

All of the extra information is showing you the Digest outline so that you get a feel for where you are. So “92k3278(1)” is constitutional law> equal protection> particular classes> race, national origin, or ethnicity> education> public elementary and secondary education> in general.

The key number system is proprietary. You will only find it in West products and on Westlaw. LexisNexis, though, has developed its own version, which works much the same. Unfortunately, there is no book version of Lexis’ headnote system.

I hope this makes sense. As always, let me know if you need help!

Blake Wilson
Instructional and Research Services Librarian

One of the main reasons I chose KU Law was the wide range of clinical opportunities provided for students. The effort the faculty and staff put into these programs is a true testament to the level of investment they have in each of us students, and it shows their desire to help make us the best legal professionals we can be. I knew that this level of encouragement and support I would receive from my professors and other staff members would make an enormous difference in my legal education.

This past summer I was fortunate to participate in the Judicial Clerkship Clinic. Students in the program are paired with judges in the Lawrence, Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita areas in both state and federal courts. I worked with a bankruptcy judge in Topeka and enjoyed the experience immensely. I learned more than I ever could have anticipated prior to beginning the clerkship. This clinic was a great way to get both practical legal experience and to make meaningful connections with members of the legal community.

I had received encouragement to make use of the clinical programs once I was here, and I could not be more thankful that I did. Not only did I learn and develop skills from the work projects I was assigned, but I also had ample opportunity to observe in the bankruptcy court as well as in federal district court and magistrate court. The time spent observing was one of the best learning experiences I believe I will have during law school. It was wonderful to see all of the procedure I read about in my first-year classes come to life. This experience helped complete my understanding of what will serve to be the foundation for the rest of my legal education and career.

I believe that KU Law is truly unique in the 11 clinical opportunities that it provides, and the benefit of these programs is extraordinary.

Kristen Koenen, 2L and Student Ambassador

Library to offer BNA training session

In 1926, David Lawrence launched what he called the country’s “first truly national newspaper,” The United States Daily. He established the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) in 1929 as a division of U.S. Daily. BNA’s purpose was to report, interpret and explain the increasingly complicated workings of the federal government and their far-reaching impact on the economic life of the nation. In 1946, Lawrence offered to sell BNA to his top editors, who, in turn, opened up ownership to all BNA employees, making BNA the largest independent publisher of specialized news and information for professionals in business and government.

Today, BNA is a leading publisher of print and electronic news and information, reporting on developments in health care, business, labor relations, law, economics, taxation, environmental protection, safety and other public policy and regulatory issues. It is licensed for all KU Law students, faculty and staff connecting to the Internet through the Wheat Law Library.

BNA publishes – in print and electronic formats – more than 350 daily, weekly, monthly and up-to-the-minute news services covering the full range of legal, legislative, regulatory and economic developments that impact the business environment around the nation and the world. BNA’s full-service research and data division offers custom research, data and document retrieval services that augment the value of BNA publications.

More than 600 reporters, lawyers and editors working from the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, along with a network of national and international correspondents, deliver the highest editorial quality in the industry, providing timely, comprehensive, focused coverage so BNA customers spend less time on reading and research.

Year after year, customer groups recognize BNA’s leadership in editorial quality. American Lawyer Media’s annual survey of law librarians at the nation’s 200 largest law firms has given BNA the top rating on content quality among legal and business publishers since 2002.

Being that there are more than 350 news services available through BNA, I will only list some of my favorites.

• BioTech Watch provides up-to-date information on the field of biotechnology.
• Computer Technology Law Report covers areas ranging from anti-piracy to trademarks to open government. It’s not only applicable to those practicing law but also to those who use technology. Like everyone.
• Daily Environment Report may sound like a segment on The Weather Channel, but you will not find your local forecast here. What is provided for you is analysis and perspectives on key issues shaping the laws and legislation that, in turn, affect the environment.
• Health Law Reporter may be of particular interest as health care reform is being tested in Congress.
• Tax and Accounting Center, also known as Tax Managment Portfolios. Anyone who has done any type of tax work will be familiar with BNA’s Tax Management Portfolios. Did you know that these are available online?

Of course, showing you what is available is only one step. The next is showing you how to use BNA. Want to learn? Attend our training session!

Tuesday, October 20
3:45 pm, 106 Green Hall

I hope to see you there!

Blake Wilson
Instructional & Research Services Librarian

Just as the seasons change, our goals and dreams may also evolve or change over time. Now is a great time to assess your personal and career goals and take the necessary steps to get or stay on the right path.

Consider assessing your:

• Personal goals: Although there are several assessment tools readily available, a familiar one is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality inventory. Your personal style influences many things, from how you address others to the type of work environment you prefer.
• Skills and interests: Interested in exploring new career paths or want to learn if your job is the best fit for your skills and interests? The Strong Interest Inventory is one type of assessment test to help you with these particular questions.
• Career goals: When was the last time you took stock of where you are and where you want to be this time next year, or in five years? Some questions to ponder:
  
  • What is your attitude toward your career right now?
  • If you could do it again, would you go to law school?. Why?
  • At work, what do you enjoy doing the most, the least?
  • What accomplishments during law school or your career are you most proud of and why?
  • Are you satisfied with the amount of time spent with your family and friends? Is there anything you would like to change?
  • If you couldn’t practice law, what would you do instead? Why?

There are many excellent resources available to help get you started, including:

• “The Official Guide to Legal Specialties,” by Lisa Abrams
• “Life After Law: Second Careers for Lawyers,” by Mary Ann Altman
• “What Can You Do With a Law Degree?” by Deborah Arron
• “What Color is Your Parachute?” by Richard Bolles
• “The Opportunity Maker,” by Ari Kaplan
• “Guerilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Jobs of Your Dreams,” by Kimm Walton

All of these books, and many others, are available at the Office of Career Services library.

Don’t forget to take advantage of your local resources. As a student or alumnus of KU, the University Career Center offers assessment tests at a discounted rate, including the Strong Interest Inventory and the Do What You Are personality assessment test. Todd Rogers and Karen Hester can counsel you on available opportunities based on your goals and information gleaned from your self-evaluations. There are also career coaches, some of whom specialize in working with attorneys, who can help you identify your goals and the steps you need to take.

Karen Hester, Director of Career Services

The first year of law school is a wholly unique experience. Everything is new: people, textbooks and even the law itself. Law school requires you to develop a method of studying that best aids your learning, and it also requires you to take notes differently than you did in undergrad. New experiences are always exciting, but they can also be a little bit intimidating – my 1L year was no exception.

I had a different feeling this year as a 2L: lots of the same people, same heavy books and the law itself was more familiar to me. The basic confidence that you gain by successfully completing your first year of law school makes the following year a much different experience. Confidence is important in many areas of your life, but it is particularly important in law school. The more nervous your are, the more difficult it is to perform well in Socratic.

This semester I am taking Business Associations, Constitutional Law, Evidence, Juvenile Law and Professional Responsibility. Although I am still enrolled in a couple of required courses, it was nice to be able to develop my own schedule. It is also neat to be able to enroll in elective classes that are of particular interest to me. I am enjoying all of my classes, but Evidence is probably my favorite so far.

Well, until next time…

Chelsea Barnett, 2L and Student Ambassador