Find a place to begin
An unfamiliar question is easier to approach when you know what to investigate first. Begin with the legal issue, identify possible sources and keep a short list of the points you need to resolve.
Use Lex to develop a research starting point. Ask a focused question, identify the authorities it suggests and keep a note of what you still need to establish. Treat the response as material to examine, rather than a conclusion to adopt.
Read beyond the summary
Open the judgment or statute behind an answer. Work through the facts, issue, reasoning and decision. Identify the passage that supports the proposition you want to use, and consider whether the surrounding text changes its meaning.
In case law, practise separating the point decided from other observations. In legislation, read definitions, connected provisions and relevant amendments. These habits matter whether you found the document through Lex, an index or a colleague.
Make checking a routine
- Check the source. Confirm the citation and obtain the underlying text.
- Check the context. Identify the jurisdiction, court, date and legal framework.
- Check the connection. Explain why the authority is relevant to the facts of your matter.
- Check what follows. Investigate later treatment, amendments or a competing line of authority.
If you cannot explain the connection in your own words, return to the source. A polished answer can still omit a qualification or rest on an assumption you need to examine.
Bring uncertainty to the discussion
You do not need to hide a gap in understanding. Make it specific. Identify the passage you are unsure about, the competing interpretations and the fact that may change the answer.
Bring those questions to a supervising practitioner, lecturer or colleague. Ask them to examine your reasoning and research trail. A discussion grounded in actual sources is more useful than asking whether an AI-generated conclusion is simply right or wrong.
Keep a record of your reasoning
For each research task, record the question, sources consulted, working conclusion and unresolved points. Write the conclusion yourself. Note what changed when you read the authorities or received feedback.
As your experience develops, your questions and your use of research tools will change. The habits remain valuable: careful reading, clear distinctions and an account of why you reached your view. No tool removes the need for those habits.
See How it works for a practical sequence and Responsible use for the review checklist. Get access opens Lex Chambers.