Quick Links
- Finding Case Law Research GuideThis research guide covers how to find case law when you a) have the name of a party or have a citation, b) are conducting legal research on a subject, or c) have "one-good case" and want to find more. This is a good place to start if you need more case research assistance.
- Illinois Practice GuidePlease visit this guide if you need Illinois specific criminal and civil litigation resources. This guide includes links to practice guides for Illinois civil and criminal procedure, as well as evidence and pattern jury instructions.
Overview
For research related to litigation, you will often need to review the history of a particular case in order to see the documents filed and to see the outcome of the case (both for federal courts and state courts). This case history, known as a docket, is available using the tools below.
Remember that, if you are filing legal documents yourself, you will need to make sure that you review applicable local rules, in addition to federal and state rules of procedure. Judges may also have rules regarding how different motions must be presented or how many days' notice is required for a motion hearing.
Searching Dockets
PACER
Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) is the federal government's public access service for obtaining case and docket information online from federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts. You can search PACER to locate dockets, as well as the underlying pleadings and other filings in federal cases.
Bloomberg Law
There is a charge for each docket and filing accessed via PACER, and the search interface is not user-friendly. Law School users should instead use the Litigation Intelligence Center on Bloomberg Law, as it is simple to use and allows you to search some local and state dockets and a few foreign and international dockets, in addition to federal court dockets accessible via PACER. Bloomberg Law's docket search also allows you to access the underlying court filings.
Docket Coverage
Click "Docket Coverage" to see the jurisdictions and time periods where you can search dockets on Bloomberg Law.
Updating Dockets
When you are accessing an individual docket via Bloomberg Law, it is best practice to click the "Update Docket" link in the upper right corner of the screen to ensure that the case history is up to date.
Lexis and Westlaw
Lexis and Westlaw both have docket search functions, but they provide only limited access to the underlying filings.
Research Tip: Federal dockets tend to be much easier to find than state dockets, and even if you find the state docket, you might not be able to get the actual underlying filings. If the resources provided do not give you the information you need, then try the court's website or contact the clerk's office.
- Bloomberg Law (BLAW) This link opens in a new windowBloomberg Law's docket search function is simple to use and allows you to search federal, state, and a few foreign and international dockets.
- PACER This link opens in a new windowPACER is the official government source for finding dockets and underlying pleadings and other filings in federal cases. There is a charge for each docket and filing accessed, and the search interface is not user friendly. Law School users can search PACER via Bloomberg Law.
Other Practical Tools
- Practical LawPractical Law has a number of resources for litigation from commencing the lawsuit to discovery to the appeals process. The Checklists and Practice Notes in particular are very helpful.
- IICLE Online Library This link opens in a new windowThe following IICLE titles might be useful for clinics representing clients in litigation in Illinois: Causes of Action (Illinois): Estate, Business & Nonpersonal Injury Actions; Causes of Action (Illinois): Tort Actions; Chancery & Special Remedies; Civil Practice (Illinois): Opening the Case; Civil Practice (Illinois): Preparing for Trial; Civil Practice (Illinois): Trying the Case; Federal Civil Practice.
