Each legal issue in a case published by West is identified, summarized, and assigned to at least one topic and key number by West attorney-editors. West topic and key numbers help you focus your research and quickly retrieve cases in any jurisdiction with the same or similar issue(s).

To run a topic and key number search, access an appropriate case law database and type the topic number, the letter k and the key number. For example, to search for cases containing topic 379, Torts, and key number 15, Proximate Cause of Injury, type 379k15.

You can find topic and key numbers in case law headnotes, West's digests, and the online Key Number expandable outline and Custom Digest.