Which method can be used on both Westlaw and Lexis to locate relevant Key Numbers and topics?

The correct approach to locating relevant Key Numbers and topics on both Westlaw and Lexis is to review headnotes from published digests. This method allows users to see the legal principles summarized in headnotes, which are often assigned specific Key Numbers that can help in organizing and categorizing case law. Headnotes provide a concise overview of key legal issues and can direct researchers to relevant cases under the same topics across the systems.

While consulting index sections would provide guidance on where to find legal topics, it may not specifically lead to the identification of Key Numbers. Similarly, reviewing headnotes from the “best” and “good” cases may offer some insights but does not systematically lead to all relevant Key Numbers or comprehensive topics, as it could miss cases that are less prominent but still relevant. Searching by citation is often focused on specific cases rather than a broader legal topic or Key Number classification.

Thus, utilizing headnotes from published digests effectively connects researchers with the categorized legal principles they are exploring, making it the best method for locating Key Numbers and associated topics on these legal research platforms.