Your research strategy should be informed by the answers to these questions (deliverable, duration, deadline). In addition, it is important to take the time to be aware of the answers to these questions:
WHO - Are you being asked to research the actions of particular individuals? Groups of individuals? Who are the parties that matter in your research? Prisoners? Federal agencies? Other countries?
WHAT - What exactly are you being asked to research? What are the actions that matter? A specific type of crime? A psychological decision? Imprisonment? A regulatory action?
WHEN - What is your time frame? Present? Past twenty years? All of time?
WHERE - Does jurisdiction matter? Are you dealing with federal government? A specific state? Another country? A state agency?
WHY - Why do you care? What is the end goal? Are you trying to prove a specific point? Gather all of the literature on a certain topic?
HOW - How is the WHY being achieved? Is a law review article being written? An empirical study being conducted? A film being made? A brief for a court case being drafted?
Keep the answers to the questions in your mind (or on a sticky note on your desk!) throughout your research. Use them to keep you focused on the actual issue that you have been asked to research. Use them to help you determine an effective research strategy. The answers to these questions should determine the resources you use, your organization of materials, the time you spend, etc.
DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE RESEARCH TASK YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN. Be wary of rabbit holes.