Headnotes are summaries of a point of law that appear at the beginning of a case. Headnotes are written by editors at Westlaw and Lexis (sometimes the language is verbatim from the text of the opinion). 
How do you use headnotes in Lexis?
Lexis Advance: Headnotes
- From a case you like, locate the Lexis Headnotes at the beginning of the case, and find the one(s) that most pertain to your research question.
- Look at the listing of topics and sub-topics above your headnote; click on the topic or sub-topic of most interest to you.
What is the use of headnote?
For each major issue, the editor then writes a short description called a headnote. These headnotes are typically found at the beginning of each opinion and help the reader quickly determine the issue(s) discussed in the case.
 
What is a headnote in literature?
Definition of ‘headnote’
a brief explanatory note prefacing a chapter, poem, story, legal report, etc. Word Frequency.
How do you make a headnote?
The elements of a headnote should be:
- brevity.
- clear writing.
- identification of issues.
- identification of useful points.
- listing of authorities (statutes, cases, and authors)
- identification of counsel.
 
Where are headnotes on Lexis?
Click the Expand Section arrow next to LexisNexis® Headnotes, Lawyers’ Edition Display, or Headnotes/Summary to display headnotes when viewing a case.
What do headnotes contain?
Headnotes are summaries of the issues in a case. They are not actually part of the opinion. Each headnote is numbered. Headnotes in a West reporter address a specific point of law in the case, including the relevant facts regarding that point of law.
 
How do you write a good headnote?
How to Write a Headnote
- Tell a story: Where does the recipe come from?
- Make it funny: In most situations in life, there is no better (or more memorable) way to win people over than to make them laugh — recipes are no different.
- Offer variations: Know a smart substitution for a hard-to-find ingredient?
What type of authority are headnotes?
A headnote is a brief summary of a specific point of law decided in a case. Headnotes appear before the judicial opinion and are generally written by a publisher’s editors. Headnotes are a great research tool but are not considered legal authority and should never be cited to.
 
How do Google Scholar headnotes differ from Westlaw Lexis headnotes?
Unlike Lexis and Westlaw, Google Scholar does not have all published U.S. case law. For example, coverage of state cases appears to begin in 1950 — even though there are free sources of California case law that have more coverage, including one source that extends back to 1850.
 
What is the difference between headnote and footnote?
Answer. Footnotes are used in various writing types to add supplemental information. Head notes in Nexis Uni are used to organize the key points of a case and refine legal research.
 
What are headnotes in Westlaw?
Headnotes are summaries of specific points of law addressed in a particular case, drafted by Westlaw Attorney Editors to ensure that topics include relevant cases even where those cases may use atypical language.
Where is the headnote located in a case?
Headnotes. Headnotes to a report sit above the decision. They are added by editors and should not be quoted as they do not form part of the decision. Key legal concepts and subject terms from the case.
 
What do Lexis headnotes in case law help you find?
Headnotes on Lexis
These headnotes summarize the points of law discussed throughout the case.
 
What is the difference between headnote and footnote?
Answer. Footnotes are used in various writing types to add supplemental information. Head notes in Nexis Uni are used to organize the key points of a case and refine legal research.
 
How do Westlaw headnotes work?
Finding one case on point will directly lead you to others through Key Numbers. Headnotes are summaries of specific points of law addressed in a particular case, drafted by Westlaw Attorney Editors to ensure that topics include relevant cases even where those cases may use atypical language.
What are headnotes in a Judgement?
A headnote is a brief summary of a particular point of law that is added to the text of a court decision to aid readers in locating discussion of a legal issue in an opinion. As the term implies, headnotes appear at the beginning of the published opinion.