Drafting Resources
Westlaw
- West's Sample AgreementsOn the main search page, from Content types, scroll down to Speciality areas > Sample Agreements. Sample Agreements provides access executed business agreements with language, clauses, and provisions drafted by leading law firms and in-house counsel. Agreements are sourced from EDGAR (SEC) filings, and coverage begins in 2000. You can search all sample agreements or limit your search by practice area.
- Expert MaterialsContains selected reports, affidavits, depositions (both full and partial), and trial transcripts from expert witnesses from the state and federal courts of the United States. See specific jurisdiction for coverage information.
- Westlaw's Drafting AssistantAllows you to upload a document for review using Westlaw's tools and features, like citation verification and formatting.
- Westlaw's Outline BuilderEasily build an outline of your research as you work without switching applications and export to Word when you are done. Located on the Westlaw homepage under Key Features.
Lexis
- Jury Verdicts & SettlementsContains all available Federal and State jury verdicts and settlements.
- Jury InstructionsInclude actual and proposed filings submitted in selected cases from selected jurisdictions which include U.S. Federal courts, California, Delaware, Ohio, and Texas.
- Expert Witness MaterialsContains access to information associated with reported and unreported 'evidentiary gatekeeping' cases; all available expert witness curricula vitae; all available reports relating to hundreds of thousands of expert witnesses - in all key practice areas and disciplines - who have testified/appeared in litigation; and all available Federal and State expert witness affidavits, declarations, transcripts, depositions and reports.
- CourtLink (Dockets)Offers access to federal and state dockets and allows for keyword searching across dockets and documents.
Forms
Generally, you should use legal forms as a starting place and then tailor to your specific needs. While they are labor-saving devices for attorneys, forms are written in response to the requirements of the law in a specific transactional, jurisdictional, or procedural setting, so be sure to always check that the form has been adapted or can be adapted to comply with the requirements of the jurisdiction in which they are to be used.
There are sets of forms for federal practice, most states and specialized subject areas. Some form sets include annotations, checklists, and citations to cases in which the forms were used. Most law firms also maintain in-house collections of forms relating to their specific areas of practice.
Finding Forms Using the Catalog
There are many different ways to use the catalog to find form books. A general title search that contains the words forms and the subject area you are interested in can be effective. For example, bankruptcy forms.
To find form books for a particular state, you might run a subject heading search in the Law Library's catalog for the name of your state and the word forms. For example, Forms -- Ohio.
Finding Forms Online
- Lexis has forms on their traditional research platform. You can search these forms by navigating under Content > Sample Forms. You can also search by jurisdiction and practice area.
- How to Access: From the main platform, use the product switcher (grid icon) at the top left hand corner to navigate to Practical Guidance, or use the icons to the left hand side of the page.
- From Lexis' Practice Guidance platform, you can choose from a number of practice areas such as "Trusts & Estates" and "Bankruptcy."
- Each subject page provides helpful drafting resources organized by topic such as template forms, practice notes, and checklists.
For additional training resources, see Tools & Resources > Training Videos, or visit the Lexis Practical Guidance Resource Page to learn more. Also, watch Director Dustin Johnston-Green's workshop on Lexis Practical Guidance and Westlaw's Practical Law.
- West's Legal Forms provides extensive transactional forms, commentary, checklists, analysis, and expert guidance in over 14 major areas of law.
- On the main search page, access the Form Finder by navigating Content Types > Forms. This category page contains text forms, fillable PDF forms, clauses and checklists available on Westlaw from numerous national and state form sets, including legal and business, transactional, litigation and pleading and practice forms. You can search all forms, or further limit your search by jurisdiction, practice area, or publication type.
- On the main search page, from Content types, scroll down to Speciality areas > Sample Agreements. Sample Agreements provides access executed business agreements with language, clauses, and provisions drafted by leading law firms and in-house counsel. Agreements are sourced from EDGAR (SEC) filings, and coverage begins in 2000. You can search all sample agreements or limit your search by practice area.
Lane's Goldstein Litigation Forms
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Provides with over 1,000 practice-proven litigation forms with checklists, designed to cover every phase of the litigation process.
American Jurisprudence Pleading & Practice Forms Annotated
- From the main platform, navigate to the top left hand corner and click on the down arrow.
- You can do a universal search in Practical Law or limit your search by practice area or resource type.
- Practical Law provides access to helpful resources such as standard documents (forms) and clauses, practice notes, and checklists.
You can find legal forms on the internet, but be wary of costs and verify the quality of the source. Some online sources include Findlaw Forms, Upcounsel, and the IRS forms page.
You can also check if your public library has access to Nuwave.
- Supreme Court of Ohio - Legal Forms
A list of all form categories with links to their respective pages.
- Franklin County Law Library - Legal Forms
Includes a selection of forms for various Franklin County Courts separated by topics.
- Cuyahoga County Courts - Forms & Applications
Includes a selection of forms for various Cuyahoga County Courts separated by topics.
- Hamilton County Court - Forms & Procedures
A selection of of forms for Hamilton County Courts
- Hardin County Courts - Forms
A selection of of forms for Hardin County Courts.
- Lucas County Courts
A selection of forms separated by courts - Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, and Automobile and Watercraft. Separate courts can be found on the left hand side of the page.
- Westlaw's Ohio Form Finder
The category page contains Ohio specific text forms, fillable PDF forms, clauses and checklists available on Westlaw, derived from a number of sources including, but not limited to, state specific analytical titles and state and local courts.
- Ohio Jurisprudence Pleading & Practice Forms
A comprehensive treatment of civil practice law along with a collection of forms keyed to the organization of the Ohio civil rules.
Recommended Titles
Legal Drafting in a Nutshell by Call Number: KF250 .H34 2021ISBN: 9781684675289Publication Date: 2020-12-21
- American Jurisprudence, 2nd ed. (AmJur 2d)Available in Law North; also on Lexis and Westlaw
Reference Appointments
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