Legal materials can fall into two different categories: (1) Primary and (2) Secondary. Secondary sources are about the law. They explain, analyze, interpret, discuss, and cite to primary sources. Examples of secondary sources include:
- Legal Dictionaries
- Legal Encyclopedias
- American Law Reports
- Restatements
- Legal periodicals
- Treatises
Secondary sources can only be persuasive, they can never be mandatory or binding on a court of law. The persuasive value of a secondary source depends on its author. Using secondary sources can save legal researchers time and money.
Practice Tools are a subset of secondary sources. Examples of practice tools are:
- Form books
- Desk books
- Jury verdict and settlement reporters