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Researching Secondary Sources in Law

This guide is designed as an introduction to researching secondary legal sources. Secondary sources are about the law rather than the law itself. They are great research tools that can save you time and money.

Overview

Legal dictionaries provide short definitions or explanations of terms and phrases. The sources for the definitions will vary by dictionary.  Legal dictionaries are great places to get an understanding of legal terminology but they are not particularly authoritative sources. 

Search the UC Library Catalog

Search UCLID for additional legal dictionaries by clicking the link below:

Law -- United States -- Dictionaries

Selected Legal Dictionaries

Citation Format for Dictionaries

Bluebook

Rule 15.8 and B15.1 of The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) governs the citation of dictionaries.

Elements

The citation should include the following:

  • Word (italicized)
  • Dictionary (underlined)
  • Edition
  • Year

Example

Replevin, Black's Law Dictionary (10th ed. 2014).

ALWD

Rule 22.1(a) of the ALWD Citation Manual (7th ed.) covers the citation of dictionaries.

Elements

The citation should include the following:

  • Title of the Dictionary (italicized of underlined)
  • Page number
  • Editor
  • Edition
  • Year

Example

Black's Law Dictionary 14291 (Bryan A. Garner ed., 10th ed. 2014).

 

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