Good legal research is not about reading everything — it is about reading the right things, in the right order, and knowing when to stop. These habits, drawn from our reference desk, will serve you for the whole of your career.
First, start with the question, not the source. Second, work from secondary commentary to primary authority, not the other way round. Third, always check whether a judgment is still good law before you rely on it.
Fourth, keep a clean trail of what you have read and why — your future self will thank you. And fifth, ask the librarian early; a two-minute conversation often saves a two-hour search.
