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If you're writing practice area pages or legal content for law firms, your credibility rests on the accuracy of your research. This guide breaks down how to find reliable legal sources, how to cite them properly, and common traps to avoid. It's a legal-focused companion to our general research guide and our medical research tips.
Articles in the legal space fall into what Google considers YMYL territory, topics that intersect with "your money, your life." These topics are high-stakes, and misinformation can have serious consequences for real people. Researching and writing well isn't only about trying to rank highly — it's about a responsibility to your readers.
Always start with research first. Don't try to reverse-engineer a piece by writing what you think is correct then trying to find sources to back up your claims. Briefs, guidelines, and outlines can be wrong or misleading, so do your research first to make sure you don't need to ask any questions about the direction of the piece, and you'll save yourself some headaches.
Where To Find Information
Where To Find Information
Use Primary Legal Sources Whenever Possible
Use Primary Legal Sources Whenever Possible
Primary sources are the bedrock of legal content. That means statutes, regulations, and case law — not blog posts from other firms.
Good places to start:
State legislature websites for official statutes
→ Link to state-by-state statute directoryGoogle Scholar – Case law (https://scholar.google.com/)
→ Select “Case law,” pick a jurisdiction, and search for relevant decisions.Federal law:
If a brief mentions a rule or legal test, try to find the statute or a recent case that explains it. Read it yourself — don’t rely on third-party summaries.
Go-To Tools
Google Scholar (Case law tab): For finding recent rulings and language courts use to describe rules.
U.S. Courts Glossary: https://www.uscourts.gov/glossary
Casetext: For reading opinions and citing from the text.
State statute portals: Most up-to-date version of laws.
Bonus tip: When searching statutes on Google, include the name of the state, the topic (e.g., “statute of limitations personal injury”), and the word “site:.gov” to filter out competitors.
Tips for phrasing your search:
Put legal terms or phrases in quotes to force an exact match. This helps avoid vague or off-topic results.
Example: “strict liability dog bite”
Combine multiple phrases with AND to find results that discuss both. Use this format when you want to see how two concepts relate to each other.
Example: “comparative negligence” AND “bicycle accident”
Add the state name to narrow your search to the correct jurisdiction. You’ll often need to match the law to a specific state.
Example: “premises liability law” AND “Florida”
Include the year to prioritize the most recent cases or statutes. Especially helpful when searching Google Scholar or verifying statute updates.
Example: “statute of limitations personal injury Texas” 2023
Use site:.gov to restrict your results to official government websites. This filters out competitor sites and ensures you're seeing accurate legal info.
Example: “uninsured motorist coverage minimum California site:.gov”
Cite Everything That's a Legal Rule, Stat, or Claim
Cite Everything That's a Legal Rule, Stat, or Claim
When compiling your research, focus on these principles to ensure you're showing your work and ensuring veracity.
Cite Everything That’s a Legal Rule, Stat, or Claim
Cite Everything That’s a Legal Rule, Stat, or Claim
Just like with medical or technical content, you must cite:
Legal rules (statutes, court-made doctrines)
Thresholds or caps (e.g., “$50,000 PIP cap in NY”)
Filing deadlines (e.g., “two-year statute of limitations”)
Court processes or agency procedures (e.g., EEOC steps)
How to cite:
First use: hyperlink the source to the relevant phrase (or link in brackets, depending on the style guide).
Subsequent uses: put the full link in brackets at the end of the sentence.
→ Example: Injured workers may need to file a claim within 30 days [https://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/InjuredWorker.htm].
Common Sourcing Mistakes
Common Sourcing Mistakes
Review this list of common sourcing mistakes we've seen across legal content — and avoid them!
Laws vary widely by state. The most common mistakes we see?
Using the wrong statute of limitations
Misstating comparative negligence thresholds
Confusing federal standards with state-specific rules
Always confirm the rule in the specific jurisdiction your page is targeting. If you're unsure, check:
The brief (some include links)
Recent case law from that state
Official state agency resources
🚫 Never link to:
Competitor law firm websites
Sites that serve law firm ads (e.g., Nolo, Justia, FindLaw, Wex/Cornell)
These are great for scoping out topics but not for sourcing. If a brief links to one of these and says "okay to link," double-check. It’s often better to find an official or government source instead.
✅ Always okay to link:
Official state/federal government websites
Court systems and dockets (when not behind a paywall)
Government agency pages (e.g., DMV, EEOC, OSHA)
Google Scholar cases
Casetext (if free-access)
If you absolutely must cite a source that isn’t available on a non-competitor site, include the link in brackets at the end of the sentence, but don’t hyperlink it.
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