Legal Research The Basics Sources of Law Primary

Legal Research The Basics

Sources of Law Primary Sources of Law Secondary Sources of Law

Legal Encyclopedia • Provide a general description of the law • Steps to finding information 1. Index 2. Main volume 3. Update with pocket part in back

Treatises • Books or set of books written by an authority on the subject • Steps to finding information 1. 2. 3. 4. Subject Guide or Catalog Index Main volume Update (if any)

Other Secondary Sources • Legal Periodicals • Find articles through various indexes: – Index to Legal Periodicals, Legaltrac, Hein Online • American Law Reports – Provide in-depth discussion of a specific issue • Restatements of the Law

Statutes • Primary source of law • Enactments of the legislature

Statutes • How are statutes created and published? Bill Statute

Official/Unofficial Statutes • Official Statutes • Unofficial Statutes

Finding/Updating in Print 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Use Index or Popular Name Table Go to Statute section Update with Pocket Part Update with advanced code service Update with advanced legislative service

Cases • Compilations of judicial decisions are printed in case reports or reporters • Decisions are published chronologically, as received by the publisher

Finding Cases: Digests • Arranged by Jurisdiction or Level of Court • Finding Aids in Digest – Descriptive Word Index – Table of Cases – Topic Outlines – List of Topics – Words & Phrases

Digests • How to begin –Descriptive Word Index –Outline of Law/ Topic Outline –Use topics and Key Numbers from other cases

Updating Digests • Main Volume

Headnotes

Updating Digests • Main Volume • Pocket part or pamphlet next to main volume • Supplementary pamphlet at the end of the set • Mini-Digest in the REPORTER volumes