When searching for a substantial paper topic, consider the following sources. See below for source details.
Ultimately, pick a topic that genuinely interests you. You'll be spending considerable time researching and writing your substantial paper.
U.S. Law Week—from BNA publications, reports on the Supreme Court and lower court decisions expected to have broad and significant legal impact.
Seton Hall Circuit Review—Look for Current Circuit Splits in each issue.
Sunday Splits Blog—Blog which publishes information about new circuit splits each Sunday.
Fifty-State Law Surveys—University of Akron School of Law Library guide provides sources to 50 state surveys that have already been compiled.
Other fifty state surveys and charts are available from free websites and subscription databases, including HeinOnline, Westlaw, and Lexis.
ABA Journal Daily News—breaking legal news and analysis from the American Bar Association.
JURIST—provides legal news and commentary on current topics.
Law360—available through your Lexis Advance subscription; search under Legal News tab; covers entire spectrum of law practice, including major litigation developments in U.S. district courts, major lawsuits filed, major opinions handed down, and more.
Library of Congress Current Legal Topics—reports produced for members of Congress providing commentary and recommended resources on issues and events. Includes a comprehensive index.
Westlaw Bulletins & Topical Highlights—available through your Westlaw subscription; search under legal newspapers and newsletters in secondary sources tab; provides summaries of recent decisions in specific areas of the law.
bepress Legal Repository—working papers and published articles by institution and searchable by subject area.
SSRN Legal Scholarship Network—contains working papers, papers accepted for publication, and published articles. Good for discovering popular articles related to particular topics and what is upcoming.
Lexis—publishes Researching for Law Review or Journal, including a section on finding a compelling topic.
Westlaw—publishes Guide to Law Review Research, including a section on selecting a topic.
Major Newspapers—Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post are available through your Lexis subscription; look under the News tab.
ProQuest News & Social Media—available through the law library database; select ProQuest Congressional link; click on News & Social Media; includes political news and government, social media, and website posts.
Blogs
It is helpful to talk with law professors or lawyers you know or have worked with as you begin to narrow your topic. Before you discuss your paper topic with them, be sure you have already done some preliminary work. Email ahead of time letting them know what topic you are considering. If you have certain narrow areas you are not interested in writing about, mention these. Definitely ask others to help you with ideas; but go prepared. Don't expect them to hand you the perfect topic.