Introduction to Legal Research: Research Plans & Organizing Tools

 Mind Map Inspiration - focuses on the visual and artistic aspects of creating mind maps but very inspirational

 10 Ways to Use Mind Maps Over Text Notes, Asian Efficiency

Mind Mapping for Lawyers

Evaluate

• Free or paid. Use the free products to develop the mind mapping habit then you'll know which features you must have and which you can do without. Many of the for pay services have basic plans that allow you to create three free maps.
• Offline or online. How good is your connection?  Do you deal with any confidential or sensitive information? Will you be collaborating and/or sharing?
• Ease of use.  Compare any software you pick with the ease of pen and paper. The ease and speed of putting your thoughts on screen matters in brainstorming.
• Look and feel. The aesthetic appeal is a factor, if you need to display your maps to a team or make presentations. Beautiful mind maps are just more pleasant to use.
• Template variety. Templates save time when every mind map is imagined around a few common organizational processes.
• Import and export options. Does the tool accept other formats for import. An export format like PDF is necessary. Export to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, or Project helps with document integration.
• Collaboration/Sharing. Critical when working with teams, managing partners, and clients.

Academic Orientation - designed for or with special features for students and researchers like reference and literature management

• Docear - Cross platform
• Mindmeister - Cross platform, collaboration features
• Qiqqa - Windows, Android
• Visual Understanding Environment - Cross platform

Mind Map Maker - works with Google Drive

Other Applications - usually with a business orientation

• Bubbl.us - Web
• Coggle - Web, Chrome *
• MindMaple - Windows, Mac, iOS
• Novamind - cross platform
• Sketchboard - Web, Chrome
• WiseMapping - Web
• Xmind - Windows, OSX, Linux

* Law Librarian pick

To Do Lists & Task Managers

 Any.do

  Evernote

   Todoist

Flowcharts & Decision Trees

Canva - free flowchart maker

 Creately - free flowchart templates

    Edraw - free flowchart templates

  Lucidchart - flowcharts and decision trees

  Smartdraw - decision tree

Polls

AnswerGarden

DirectPoll

Poll Everywhere

Research Services

• Westlaw
  • Build Your Plan

Research Plans

• ALR: Research Planning & Process, University of Illinois
• Five Step Legal Research Process, University of Florida
• First Year Legal Research Guide: Research Strategy, Loyola Chicago
• Legal Methods: Developing a Research Plan, Widener University
• Legal Research Strategy, Harvard

Articles

• Art & Craft of Strategic Legal Research
• A Methodical Approach to Legal Research: The Legal Research Plan

Search Strategy Builder -  a tool designed to teach you how to create a search string using Boolean logic.

• It is not a database and is not designed to input a search but you may be able to cut and paste the results into the standard database search boxes.
• The search strategy builder was actually developed by the University of Arizona Libraries but I think the one from Missouri is nicer looking.

  Mastering Legal Workflows: A Guide to Note-Taking Software for Attorneys

  Clearbrief analyzes documents and then finds the best evidence you have to support your argument.

Milanote is an organizing tool with more of a focus on images and visual boards.

Notion is a note taking and organizing tool

PowerNotes helps with online research by gathering and keeping track of source materials, staying organized, and creating a research outline.

• Available for free through GALILEO, Georgia's Virtual Library

   Roam is a note taking and organizing tool

Juris M is Zotero for legal materials. It is based on Zotero but it has been modified to specifically support legal writing and research.

• Tutorial on Juris-M from Georgetown Law Library

Case Organization

CaseMap - sign-in with your Lexis+ account