Secondary Sources: Using Legal Encyclopedias
Using Legal Encyclopedias
To use legal encyclopedias in print, look up your topic in the index volume(s) and note the topic under which your issue is discussed. Then consult the volume containing those sections. When using Am.Jur. or C.J.S., you’ll notice that each major topic includes detailed outlines of what the article covers. You’ll also find a scope note that describes the article’s coverage and provides cross references to other topics. Print versions of legal encyclopedias are kept up-to-date with replacement volumes and annual pocket-part supplements which appear at the end of each volume. It is also possible to locate relevant encyclopedia topics online. C.J.S. is available on Westlaw and Am. Jur. is available on Westlaw and Lexis. Moreover, many of the state legal encyclopedias are available on one or both systems. See the Harvard Law School guide to using state and national legal encyclopedias for a listing of their availability on Westlaw or Lexis. You can locate the encyclopedia entries online by performing a Boolean search in the appropriate database or library. Electronic versions of legal encyclopedias incorporate updates right into the text.