NFPA Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE)Legal ResearchEasy
A paralegal is using an online legal research database to find cases that interpret a specific phrase, 'due process,' within a particular state statute. The paralegal wants to ensure that the search results include cases where 'due process' and the statute's citation appear in close proximity to each other. Which search operator would be most effective for this purpose?
- A/s
- BAND
- COR
- D!
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. /s
The '/s' proximity connector (or 'within the same sentence') is used in online legal research databases to find terms that appear within the same sentence, ensuring close proximity and relevance to the specific phrase being researched.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. AND requires both terms to be present in the document but not necessarily in close proximity.
- C. OR retrieves documents containing either term, which is too broad for proximity.
- D. The '!' operator is typically a root expander (e.g., 'govern!' for 'governor,' 'governing'), not a proximity connector.
Proximity Connector (/s)
A search operator used in online legal research databases to specify that search terms must appear within the same sentence.
- Ensures terms are closely related in context
- Commonly used to refine searches for specific legal phrases or concepts
- Different databases may use slightly different symbols (e.g., W/S, /s)
Memory trick: Proximity connectors put words 'together,' like 's' for sentence.