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Legal Research for Beginners

Information about various legal research resources and how & when to use them.

Basics of Legal Research

Primary Sources

Primary legal sources include:

  • bills;
  • statutes;
  • ordinances;
  • regulations issued by state agencies; and
  • court decisions.

They are the authoritative, written statements of the law itself. See the Primary Sources page to learn more.

Secondary Sources

Secondary legal materials are resources that explain, analyze, or comment on the law. They include:

  • legal treatises;
  • encyclopedias;
  • restatements of the law;
  • nutshells and hornbooks; and
  • law reviews.

Some secondary sources provide basic introductory information on a topic. Others offer detailed, in-depth analysis of the law and how it functions. See the Secondary Sources page to learn more.

Where should I start my research?

A secondary source like an encyclopedia is an excellent starting place to start your legal research.

Secondary sources tell you where you can find laws on the topic, how the law has been interpreted, and how the law has been applied. Secondary sources will often also recommend further resources to research.

If what you're seeking is what the law says about a specific topic, starting with a primary source like the Texas statutes may be sufficient.

See the What Resources Should I Use? page of this guide for more tips.

Research Guides

Webinars

The Law Library of Congress offers monthly webinars that give attendees a basic overview of the legal research process and resources. Learn more at the link below.

Who can I contact?

Our library is happy to help you get started with legal research. Reference librarians are available by phone and email to answer questions about appropriate resources, how to use our materials, and how to formulate a search strategy. Visit our Ask A Librarian page.

Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.

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