A Research Plan

A research plan doesn't have to be anything formal -- just jot down

1) a brief statement of what you hope to find;

2) the most likely sources of information, (our checklist of legal research sources can help you come up with ideas, or you can consult a reference librarian for advice);

3) how you plan to access those sources (e.g., the searches you plan to try on Lexis, the questions you want to ask another associate or a librarian).

You will add to and modify the plan as you go along. Not only will this help you do effective research, the notes will also be very helpful for you when the attorney asks a follow-up question six weeks later.