Secondary resources are materials that explain, describe, or analyze the law. Secondary materials can be scholarly in nature and directed toward academics, practical in nature and intended for the practitioner, or student-oriented. They may consist of a multi-volume set on a particular subject matter or a short article on a particular procedural point. Legal periodicals, legal encyclopedias, treatises, loose-leaf services, and study guides are all secondary sources frequently used by law students. A number of frequently used secondary sources are described below.
The American Law Reports, originally published by Lawyers Cooperative Publishing and now by West Publishing, provides encyclopedia essays discussing and analyzing particular points of law in depth with an illustrative case. The American Law Reports are in six series: (1) Federal provides coverage of federal topics from 1969 in over 190 volumes; (2) Fifth Series provides coverage of state topics from 1992 to present in over 115 volumes; (3) Fourth Series provides coverage of state topics from 1980 to 1992 in 90 volumes; (4) Third Series provides coverage from 1965 to1980 in 100 volumes and covers both state and federal topics from 1965 to1969 and only state topics after 1969; (5) Second Series provides coverage from 1948 to 1965 in 100 volumes and covers both state and federal topics; and (6) First Series provides coverage from 1919 to 1958 in 175 volumes and covers both state and federal topics.
American Jurisprudence 2d, a legal encyclopedia originally published by Lawyers Cooperative Publishing and now by West Publishing, includes both procedural and substantive law organized into 83 volumes. American Jurisprudence 2d covers over 430 topics which are subdivided into many sections. American Jurisprudence 2d includes an annual, multivolume index and annual cumulative pocket supplements. American Jurisprudence 2d places a greater emphasis on statutory law, federal procedural rules and uniform state laws than Corpus Juris Secundum. As legal encyclopedias present general propositions of law in narrative form with introductory explanations and citations to case law, statutory law and other resources, these publications are excellent introductions to new areas of law and provide a starting point for research.
Corpus Juris Secundum (Stack 221)
Corpus Juris Secundum, a legal encyclopedia published by West Publishing, includes both procedural and substantive law organized into 101 volumes. Corpus Juris Secundum covers over 400 broad topics which are subdivided into many sections. Corpus Juris Secundum includes an annual multivolume General Index and annual cumulative pocket supplements. As legal encyclopedias present general propositions of law in narrative form with introductory explanations and citations to case law, statutory law and other resources, these publications are excellent introductions to new areas of law and provide a starting point for research.
Texas Jurisprudence, a legal encyclopedia published by West Publishing, includes both procedural and substantive law organized into 77 volumes. Texas Jurisprudence includes an annual multivolume index, an annual multivolume table of cases, an annual table of laws and rules, and annual cumulative pocket supplements. As legal encyclopedias present general propositions of law in narrative form with introductory explanations and citations to case law, statutory law and other resources, these publications are excellent introductions to new areas of law and provide a starting point for research.