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Thinking About Legal Research Problems

By Paul D. Callister, JD, MSLIS

Library Director & Associate Professor of Law

Find out everything you can about the research problem.Define the kind of information problem.Determine whether primary, secondary or combined sources are most appropriate.Putting all of the factors together to find a relevant document.How to be thorough after you have found a relevant document.

For Primary Materials, Determine the Kind of Law, Jurisdiction and Appropriate Arrangement*
Institution
Kind of Law
 How the Law is Published (Arrangements)
Chronologically
 Topically Subject Search By Citation
 Pedigree
Legislature
 Statutory Law Session Laws Statutory Codes Shepard's/KeyCite/
Annotated Codes
Courts
 Case Law Case Reports Case Digests 
(Summaries of Primary Authority)		 Shepard's/KeyCite/ALR
Agencies and Executive Branch
Administrative Law
 Administrative
Registers or Regulations		 Administrative Codes Shepard's/KeyCite
*Table based upon Christopher G. Wren and Jill Robinson Wren, The Teaching of Legal Research, 80 Law Libr. J. 7, 35 (Matrix A) (1988).  See also Christopher G. Wren and Jill Robinson Wren, The Legal Research Manual 17 (fig. K) (2d ed. 1986).
Other Resources

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Last Update: 03/22/2008  


© 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Paul D. Callister