• Have you identified the issues?
• Have you identified the controlling cases?
• Have all cases and statutes been Shepardized or KeyCited?
• What is the fact situation of each of the controlling cases?
• How is each main case distinguished from, or similar to, other cases?
• What is the holding and what is the dictum of each case?
• Have you identified conflicts between circuits or between states?
• Have you researched code and statute annotations?
• Have you researched applicable legislative history?
• Are you familiar with the court rules of the appellate court?