Finding your on-point Key Number has never been easier.

The West Key Number System® is the master classification system of U.S. law and widely regarded as the cornerstone of effective legal research. This new Key Numbers search tool offers a convenient way for legal researchers to quickly find the right West Key Number for their issue and link to all of the on-point cases.

Why use the West Key Number System?

• It's comprehensive and precise. West attorney-editors index cases into more than 400 topics and 100,000 points of law, allowing you to quickly find other cases that address your exact point of law - in any jurisdiction.
• It helps you search for legal concepts. Legal research is often a hunt for a principle or concept not easily retrieved with a word search. Only West Topic and Key Numbers enable you to find cases stating or applying a legal concept even if those terms aren't in the opinion.
• It helps you find what you need faster.

Why use the new Key Numbers search tool?

• It helps you quickly find an on-point Key Number so you can identify and locate cases with the same or similar legal concepts and principles.
• It lets you use natural language searching, so there's no need to formulate complex queries.
• It helps you find what you need even faster.

How is this different from KeySearch®?

With the new Key Numbers search tool, you start with a natural language query and select a jurisdiction(s). It then displays up to five West Key Numbers for each jurisdiction that matches your query. Clicking on a Key Number displays all the matching case headnotes.

With KeySearch (and Key Number Digest Outline), however, you browse a hierarchy of legal topics and drill down to the Key Number related to your issue. At that point you can specify a jurisdiction or search terms.