LEGAL RESEARCH
Introduction to Secondary Sources
A guide to the guides that help you understand the law.
Introduction
Begin your research by understanding the law.
When an issue is new to you, Secondary Sources are the best tool to help you understand the law. They give commentary, background information, and citations to other sources - including primary law - to help start your research.
There are many types of Secondary Sources.
Encyclopedias
Cover a wide range of law with brief articles designed to help you get an understanding of the law.
American Law Reports
Organized summaries that analyze pertinent federal and state caselaw on particular legal issues.
Texts & Treatises
Treatises that provide scholarly depth or practical insight on an area of law.
Jury Instructions
A set of elements or explanations regarding matters arising in a typical case approved by a state bar association.
Restatements of the Law
An overview of basic doctrines governing certain areas of American law produced by leading scholars.
Law Reviews & Journals
Articles giving deep background and explanations of legal issues written by academics and legal professionals.
Browsing Secondary Sources
Browse thousands of sources.
Your first instinct might be to search across all secondary sources, but it's best to pick one that is best suited to your task. Luckily, you can browse all secondary sources by type, topic, jurisdiction, or by series. Just click on Secondary Sources under Content Tab.
Did you know?
There are encyclopedias that are tailored to specific states, such as New York, Texas, and California?
Navigating secondary sources.
As you discover relevant secondary sources, like treatises and practice guides, select the title to access that publication’s home page. You can search it, navigate the table of contents, or activate reading mode to easily read through continuous sections.
Secondary Sources Index
Find relevant Secondary Sources faster.
There are thousands of secondary sources on Westlaw, so how do you find one that is the most useful? The Secondary Sources Index. Search by jurisdiction, area of law, or even cause of action to find the titles of secondary sources most relevant to you.
Saving Sources
Your favorite Secondary Sources at your fingertips.
As you find useful secondary sources, it is helpful to keep them within arm's reach. Favorites let you do just that. Once you mark a favorite, you can find it at the top of the Secondary Sources landing page at any time.
American Jurisprudence
Unparalleled broad coverage of all principles of American law – state and federal, civil and criminal, substantive and procedural - arranged in more than 400 topics.
Corpus Juris Secundum
A continuously revised and updated legal encyclopedia offering authoritative analysis of American law and jurisprudence as derived from primary sources.
Causes of Action
An extensive reference collection that provides substantive overviews of causes of action and related defenses, including guidelines, checklists, and sample pleadings.
Federal Jury Practice & Instructions
Extensive resource on federal jury practice and instructions, answering common questions, and providing citations, practice tips, and forms.
Federal Practice & Procedure
Federal civil, criminal, and appellate procedure, rules, evidence, jurisdiction, relation of state and federal courts, multidistrict litigation, and other subjects.
American
Law Reports
ALR organizes, summarizes, and analyzes pertinent federal and state caselaw on particular legal issues while providing research references and practice pointers.
Federal Civil Procedure Before Trial
Authoritative guidance on pretrial practice in federal district courts. Includes jurisdiction, removal and remand, motion practice, discovery, and more.
Treatise on
Constitutional Law
An up-to-date analysis and synthesis of federal constitutional law focused primarily on the Supreme Court and the backgrounds of court decisions.
Dobbs'
Law of Torts
Authoritative, comprehensive, up-to-date discussion and analysis of the legal principles and rules governing tort law, offering thousands of citations to cases.
Secondary Sources Training
