Member Benefits

• Publication year: 2015
• Pages: 0072
• Citation: Vol. 21 No. 1 Pg. 0072

Member Benefits Vol. 21 No. 1 Pg. 72 Georgia Bar Journal August, 2015

Fastcase Frequently Asked Questions.

Sheila Baldwin, J.

When working with any software you plan to use more than a few times, whether it be for personal or professional use, it's a good idea to look over the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to get a general idea of how it works, what it does and where to go for more in-depth instruction. This article looks at a few common questions addressed in Fastcase's FAQs.

What are Boolean searches, Natural Language searches and Citation searches?

"Boolean" (or "keyword") searches are familiar to most users who search the web. They allow searchers to use terms such as AND, OR, NOT, etc., to find cases germane to a research question. For a complete list of Boolean operators, select Keyword Search on the search screen and check the Show Search Tips box (see fig. 1).

Natural language searches are much less precise, but are a good place to start if you don't have exact search terms. Natural Language searches return the best results for your search, even if some of your terms don't appear in the results. This search works well if you want to include certain words in your search that may or may not appear in each search result. For example, if you wanted to use the query Rule 11 sanctions for frivolous filing using a Boolean search, the results would only list cases that include the word "frivolous," whereas a Natural Language search would return the most relevant results, even if the word "frivolous" did not appear.

Using Citation Lookup, you can paste a passage of a case into the search box, and your search results will be those cases cited in that passage.

When pulling up a case by its citation, be sure to put in the volume number, the reporter identifier and the first page of the case only. For example, 254 Ga. App. 579, or simplify the search by eliminating capital letters and periods: 254 ga app 579. For more information, view the search tips listed below the search box for a list of correct citation formats.

I'm not getting the results that I expect using the OR operator.

The search connectors in Fastcase use an order of operations, just like connectors do in math. This can lead to unexpected results if you're not careful, so remember that it's always best to group your OR terms in parentheses.

Can I browse through statutes without entering a search?

To look through statutes without searching for an...