What method is effective for finding federal regulations on Westlaw and Lexis?

The effectiveness of reviewing annotations in the United States Code Annotated or the United States Code Service and then shepardizing or KeyCiting an enabling statute lies in the comprehensive legal research methodology it offers. This approach allows for an understanding of how statutes relate to various federal regulations.

When you review the annotations, you gain insights into court interpretations and applications of the laws, which can help you identify relevant regulations linked to a specific statute. Following this, using citation tools like Shepard's or KeyCite enables you to verify the status of that statute and explore any regulations that were enacted under it, creating a connection between statutory law and regulatory provisions. This process enhances thoroughness in research as it ensures that the regulations you find are current and relevant.

In contrast, merely reviewing case annotations in the Code of Federal Regulations, utilizing a generic search engine, or consulting a legal advisor does not provide the targeted and structured approach that is essential for effective legal research on federal regulations.