Resource Shelf covers the addition of legal materials to Google Scholar at http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/11/17/federal-and-state-legal-opinions-along-with-patent-info-added-to-google-scholar/ . The advanced search option allows targeted searching by jurisdiction and type of document (federal or state case, patent, article). As noted by Resource Shelf, many of these materials are already available on the web (Justia offers federal cases linked to Pacer dockets and there are several free sources for patents, including the U.S. Patent Office) but now these materials are part of the Google Scholar database. Google Scholar is also linking to materials (e.g. law review articles) in propriety databases, including Lexis and HeinOnline.
News and tips by and for staff providing reference services at the Newman Library, Baruch College (New York, NY).
