Name: 
 

Validating Authority


Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement
or answers the question.
 

 1. 
KeyCite and Shepard’s are considered what kind of authority?
a.
Primary
b.
Secondary
c.
Non-authority
 

 2. 
Which of the following can be validated using
KeyCite and Shepard’s?
a.
Only cases
b.
Only statutes
c.
Virtually any law can be validated
using KeyCite and Shepard’s
 

Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.
 

 3. 
KeyCite is found on which online research site?
 a.
Westlaw
 b.
Lexis
 c.
Law Library
 

 4. 
Shepard’s is found on which online research site?
 a.
Westlaw
 b.
Lexis
 c.
Law Library
 

 5. 
Which of the following indicates that the authority
is not valid (at least to one point of law) on
Westlaw or Lexis?
 a.
A red sign
 b.
A sad face :(
 c.
A red flag
 

 6. 
Where is the Shepard’s or KeyCite signal found?
 a.
Below the case caption
 b.
To the left of the case caption
 c.
To the right of the case caption
 

 7. 
When using online validation services, what
is the best way to find out exactly why a
case has been overturned, or if it hasn’t
been overturned, to find other cases that
have upheld the case I’m looking at?
 a.
Just click on validation signal
 b.
Conduct a search query using the same issues
 c.
Go to the traditional law library versions
 

Yes/No
Indicate whether you agree with the statement.
 

 8. 
If I have a citation already, is there a way to quickly
validate it using KeyCite on Westlaw?
 

 9. 
If I have a citation already, is there a way to quickly
validate it using Shepard’s on Lexis?
 

 10. 
We have talked mostly about cases that have been
invalidated. Is there any other reason to use
KeyCite or Shepard’s?
 



 
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