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research-start

Create a structured legal research roadmap from a broad or uncertain issue.

109|20|Updated Mar 7, 2025
Search Tags:#legal research#case law#citation verification#research roadmap#statutes#courtlistener#westlaw
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/stakwork/stakgraph --skill research-start-stakwork
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: research-start
Source: https://github.com/stakwork/stakgraph/tree/main/mcp/skills/legal-clinic/research-start
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/stakwork/stakgraph --skill research-start-stakwork

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill turns a broad or uncertain legal question into a focused research roadmap, helping students identify where to begin without treating unverified leads as authoritative legal advice.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Issue Framing: Narrow broad legal questions into specific, researchable issues using jurisdiction and practice-area context.
  • Research Roadmapping: Identify likely statutes, case law areas, administrative sources, secondary materials, and targeted Westlaw or CourtListener search terms.
  • Safety and Gap Detection: Surface seed documents, label uncertainty, attribute sources, identify missing research, and clearly distinguish leads from verified authorities.
  • Use Case: A law student researching a habitability defense to a nonpayment eviction can receive a jurisdiction-specific starting map covering statutes to verify, procedural issues to investigate, secondary sources, and search queries.

Quick Start

Use the research-start skill to create a verified-by-the-student research roadmap for the legal issue of a habitability defense to nonpayment eviction in the relevant jurisdiction.

Frequently Asked Questions about research-start

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I build a legal research roadmap from a broad legal issue?▼

To build a legal research roadmap, narrow broad legal issues into specific researchable topics using jurisdiction and practice-area context. Identify likely statutes, case law areas, regulatory frameworks, and targeted Westlaw or CourtListener search terms.

What is the best way to organize case law and statutes for a law school clinic project?▼

Organize case law and statutes by framing the issue within its specific jurisdiction, then map secondary sources and administrative materials. Clearly distinguish between research leads and authoritative legal conclusions to maintain source attribution.

Can I use uploaded research seed documents to find relevant statutes and case law?▼

Yes, you can synthesize uploaded research and clinic seed documents to identify relevant statutes and case law areas. The process applies citation verification warnings and uncertainty labels to ensure leads are not treated as verified authorities.

Does this legal research approach work for jurisdiction-specific statutory analysis?▼

Yes, this approach works for jurisdiction-specific statutory analysis by applying jurisdiction and practice-area context to frame issues. It surfaces targeted search queries and identifies missing research gaps for comprehensive coverage.

How do I verify citations when researching courtlistener or westlaw search terms?▼

Verify citations by applying explicit source attribution and citation verification warnings generated during the research roadmapping process. This ensures clear distinction between unverified research leads and authoritative legal conclusions.

Why do legal research roadmaps include uncertainty labels for secondary sources?▼

Legal research roadmaps include uncertainty labels to prevent treating unverified secondary sources as authoritative legal advice. This safety mechanism helps identify missing research and clearly distinguishes leads from verified authorities.

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