Follow these tips to save time while ensuring that you get the information you need from each issue of Arkansas Case Reports.

• First, narrow your scope by using the topics line to find the cases that you consider relevant to your practice.

  • The topics line is the first line of every summary, bolded to make it stand out.
  • The type of case is specified: civil, criminal or order (and if an order, whether it is in a civil or criminal case).
  • The major legal topics addressed by the court in reaching its decision are listed.

• Second, for most case, read only the legal points.

  • The legal points outline the court's legal reasoning and note any significant dicta.
  • For all but the most factually-complex cases, the legal points will give you sufficient information about the court's reasoning and decision.

• Third and finally, read the factual summary for the cases of most relevance to your practice or of most interest to you.

  • The factual summary contains all the material facts relied upon by the court in analyzing and deciding the issues.
  • The factual summary also provides the procedural history of the case.
  • Reading the factual summary in addition to the legal points will give you fullest picture of how and why the court decided as it did.