Master Legal Research Skills: Advanced Legal Research for LLM Students

Question 1

Which legal database is widely utilized for accessing case law in the UK legal system?

Accepted Answer

BAILII

Answer

LexisNexis

Answer

Westlaw

Answer

JSTOR

Question 2

Which search strategy is most suitable for locating specific statutory provisions in legal documents?

Accepted Answer

Boolean searching with specific keywords

Answer

Natural language searching

Answer

Precedential searching

Answer

Citator searching

Question 3

In the UK legal system, which type of legal precedent holds binding authority for lower courts?

Accepted Answer

Ratio decidendi

Answer

Obiter dicta

Answer

Headnote

Answer

Dissenting opinion

Question 4

What is the primary function of a legal thesaurus in the context of legal research?

Accepted Answer

Identifying synonyms and related legal terms to expand search queries

Answer

Providing case summaries and legal analysis

Answer

Generating citations in various legal citation styles

Answer

Translating legal terminology into non-legal language

Question 5

Which of the following legal databases is considered a primary source of law in the United Kingdom?

Accepted Answer

Halsbury's Laws of England

Answer

LexisNexis

Answer

Westlaw

Answer

JSTOR

Question 6

Which of the following is the most recommended technique for managing legal citations in advanced legal research?

Accepted Answer

Using a citation management tool

Answer

Manual note-taking

Answer

Xeroxing relevant passages

Answer

High-lighting physical textbooks

Question 7

Which of the following is a characteristic of a persuasive authority in law?

Accepted Answer

It provides guidance to legal practitioners

Answer

It is binding on lower courts

Answer

It can be cited as precedent

Answer

It is considered a primary source of law

Question 8

What is the primary purpose of using a research outline in advanced legal research?

Accepted Answer

To plan the research process

Answer

To organize research findings

Answer

To identify relevant legal sources

Answer

To evaluate the reliability of legal sources

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of a secondary legal source in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Textbooks

Answer

Legislation

Answer

Case law

Answer

Law dictionaries

Question 10

What is the primary role of a law librarian in advanced legal research?

Accepted Answer

To provide guidance and support on legal research

Answer

To conduct legal research on behalf of clients

Answer

To draft legal documents

Answer

To interpret legal statutes

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using legal databases for advanced legal research?

Accepted Answer

Free access to all content

Answer

Access to a wide range of legal resources

Answer

Up-to-date information

Answer

Advanced search capabilities

Question 12

Which of the following is a type of advanced legal research technique that involves using statistical or quantitative analysis to draw inferences from legal data?

Accepted Answer

Big data analysis

Answer

LexisNexis

Answer

Boolean searching

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a Boolean operator used in legal research databases?

Accepted Answer

Plus

Answer

AND

Answer

NOT

Answer

OR

Question 14

When conducting legal research, it is essential to:

Accepted Answer

Utilize multiple reputable legal databases

Answer

Limit the search to a single legal database

Answer

Rely solely on search engines

Answer

Use outdated legal databases

Question 15

In the UK, which of the following is considered a primary source of law?

Accepted Answer

Statutes

Answer

Treaties

Answer

Academic journals

Answer

Legal encyclopedias

Question 16

Which of the following is an effective search strategy for identifying relevant legal cases?

Accepted Answer

Employ specific keywords related to the legal issue

Answer

Browse through all available cases

Answer

Focus solely on cases from a specific jurisdiction

Answer

Limit the search to recent cases

Question 17

In legal research, which ethical consideration is of utmost importance in relation to plagiarism and copyright?

Accepted Answer

Citing sources accurately to avoid plagiarism.

Answer

Using only open-access resources to prevent copyright infringement.

Answer

Prioritizing speed and efficiency over thorough research.

Answer

Ignoring the potential societal impact of research findings.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a primary benefit of using citation management software?

Accepted Answer

Intentionally increases plagiarism

Answer

Streamlines the citation process

Answer

Reduces the risk of errors

Answer

Facilitates collaboration among researchers

Question 19

To narrow search results and retrieve documents containing all search terms, which Boolean operator should be utilized?

Accepted Answer

AND

Answer

OR

Answer

NOT

Answer

() (parentheses)

Question 20

When drafting legal documents in the UK, which citation style is commonly employed?

Accepted Answer

OSCOLA

Answer

APA

Answer

MLA

Answer

Chicago

Question 21

Regarding open-access legal databases, which statement is true?

Accepted Answer

They provide free access to legal information online.

Answer

They offer comprehensive legal resources only through paid subscriptions.

Question 22

Is it accurate to assume that all legal sources hold equal reliability and can be used uncritically?

Accepted Answer

No

Answer

Yes

Question 23

How does open access legal research contribute to the democratization of legal knowledge?

Accepted Answer

It makes legal information more accessible to the public, fostering greater engagement with legal issues.

Answer

It guarantees that all legal research is freely available to everyone.

Answer

It has little impact on the dissemination of legal knowledge.