secondary sources (including the internet) what? why? how?
TRANSCRIPT
Secondary Sources(Including the Internet)
What?Why?How?
What Are Secondary Sources?
An exclusive definition: Everything except cases, statutes and regulations.
An inclusive definition: dictionaries, encyclopedias, treatises, ALR, law review articles, casebooks, outlines, nutshells, hornbooks, etc.
Why Should You Begin Research with Secondary Sources?
Cite primary law (cases, statutes, regulations, treaties)
Explain discuss, and interpretProvide background and overviews in
unfamiliar areasAnswer many common questions
What Are They Good For?
Methodology ◦Analysis of problems◦Research
Words & phrases for use in searching◦Terms of art◦Common expressions of concepts
The Best Reasons!
The work has been done for youBenefit from an expert’s guidance to
identify and understand the lawSave time
Save moneyBecome an efficient & proficient
researcher
ExamplesDictionariesEncyclopedias: AmJur & CJSAmerican Law Reports (ALR)Treatises
◦Chisum on Patents [LexisNexis]◦McCarthy on Trademarks [Westlaw]◦Nimmer on Copyright [LexisNexis]
More Examples
Law review and newsletter articlesCasebooks and hornbooksFormbooksPractice manuals
How Do You Identify Good Secondary Sources?
Consult a legal research guide◦Patent Law Resources◦Research in Copyright Law◦Trademark Law Resources
Browse LexisNexis & Westlaw practice area pages
Harvard’s Legal Treatises by SubjectAsk a librarian
Using Treatises
Browse the table of contents (front of book)
Browse the index (back of book)Scan table of cases or statutesFollow references to relevant sections or
chaptersUpdate with pockets parts or online
supplements
Print vs. Online
Personal preferenceAvailabilityCostEfficiencyUsability
Clicking on the hypertext takes you to the text of that chapter. The only
way to search then is by browsing the text.
No online index.
Expand the Table of Contents by clicking in the box to the right of selected
chapters, then Expand Selections
Table of Contents from Trade Secrets: A Practitioner’s
Guide
Index from Trade Secrets
A Practitioner’s
Guide
Text Selection from Trade Secrets: A
Practitioner’s Guide
AmJur2d & CJS
Comprehensive set of brief articles Arranged in standard encyclopedia format
(A-Z) with an index at the end of the setRarely cited as authorityUse encyclopedias
◦To get an overview of an area◦To start finding cases
Pocket parts or online
Law Reviews & Newsletters
Useful for ◦New issues◦New thinking on old issues◦Focus and fine points
Scholarly v. newsyMine the footnotes
Finding Articles Indexes
◦LegalTrac◦Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals
Full-text searching◦LexisNexis◦Westlaw
Citators: find articles that cite to an article
American Law Reports ALR
Contains articles (called “annotations”) about specific area of the law
Comprehensive coverageCites to relevant primary materials and to
other practice materialsAnalyzes, interprets, explainsTracks recent trends and developments
ALRAnnotations may be cited Use the Quick Index and/or long IndexSearch full-textUpdated by pocket parts and online
What About the Internet?Proceed with cautionGovernment websites are reliable and
authoritativeDetermine if the source is trustworthyPrint or download important documentsSupplements other research; not a
substitute for other secondary sources
What About the Internet?Few of the secondary sources in the
Library or on LexisNexis and Westlaw are available for free on the Internet
Some Final Thoughts1. Update status of primary sources2. Evaluate the sources you use3. Keep a research log4. Create Bluebook citations as you go5. Take advantage of work done by others6. Ask a Reference librarian