Collier Library - Pathfinder

 

LAW

 

SCOPE:  The purpose of this pathfinder is to introduce some of the resources available in Collier Library in the field of LAW. Please note that this guide is not a comprehensive listing of sources, but is intended to be a starting point from which students can begin their research according to their specific needs. Special areas of law, e.g. business, environmental, or criminal law, are not covered.

 

The Library of Congress Class that includes Law is K.  BROWSING the following CALL NUMBERS may produce helpful titles: (For a more complete listing see <http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html>

 

K 1 – 7720

Law, General

K 1401 – 1578

Intellectual Property

K 201 – 487

Jurisprudence

K 3154 – 3370

Constitutional Law

K 623 – 968

Civil Law

KF

Law of the United States

K 1000 – 1395

Commercial Law

KFA 1 – 599

Law of Alabama

 

In the event you do not find what you are looking for by browsing consult UNACAT, the online catalog.  The following are selected SUBJECT HEADINGS, which appear in UNACAT.

 

LAW

LAW--UNITED STATES

LAW AND POLITICS

 

Ø                  BEGINNING RESEARCH – SELECTED SOURCES

Introduction and overview material

§    Elements of Legal Style {Ref KF 250 G37 2002} by Bryan Garner

§    Law 101:  Everything You Need to Know About the American Legal System. [KF 387 .F45 2000] Jay M. Feinman

§    The U.S. Legal System  2 Vols. {Ref KF 387 U15 2004}

 

Literature Guides and Bibliographies

§    American Legal Literature:  A Guide to Selected Legal Resources [Ref  KF 1  .R42 1985] by Bernard D. Reams, et al.

§    Encyclopedia of Law and Society: American and Global Perspectives

    {Ref K 583. E53 2007}

§    How to Research the Supreme Court [Ref KF 8741 .A1 M36 1992] by Fenton S. Martin 

§    Legal Research: How to Find and Understand the Law {KF 240. E45 2004}

§    Law Library Reference Shelf: Annotated Subject Guide [Ref KF 1 .M33 1996] by Elizabeth W. Matthews. Also available as an Electronic Book (a link is provided in UNACAT to the online full text of this work)

§    Legal Information: How to Find It, How to Use It [Ref KF 240.  O365 2004]  by Kent C. Olson. Also available as an Electronic Book (a link is provided in UNACAT to the online full text of this work)

§    Magill’s Legal Guide {Ref KF 385. M35 2000}

§    National Survey of State Laws [Ref KF386.  N38 2003] by Richard Leiter

§    Subject Compilations of State Laws, covering 1979-1990. [Ref KF 1 .N93] by Cheryl Nyberg

 

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

§    1001 Legal Words You Need to Know [Ref KF 156  .A113 2003]

§    Black's Law Dictionary  [Ref KF 156  .B53 2004]       

§    Duhaime’s Law Dictionary Electronic Book (a link is provided in UNACAT to the online full-text of this work) by Lloyd Duhaime

§    Elgar Encyclopedia of Everyday Law {K 48. E42 2006}

§    Encyclopedia of Law and Society {Ref K 583 E53 2007}

§    Historic U. S. Court Cases, 1690-1990:  an Encyclopedia [Ref KF 385  .A4 J64 2001] John W.Johnson

§    Nolo’s Encyclopedia of Everyday Law {KF 387. N65 2003eb} 

§    Supreme Court Companion {Ref KF 8742.8914 2007}

§    The Oxford Companion to American Law [Ref KF 154 O96 2002]

§    West’s Encyclopedia of American Law [Ref KF 154 .W47 2005]

 

Directories and Handbooks

§    Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation [Ref KF 245 B58 2005]

§    The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (Latest Edition in Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe Online Database)

§    The Official Guide to ABA Approved Law Schools [Ref KF 273 .A86 2008]

§    United States Supreme Court Compendium: Data, Decisions, and Developments

    4th ed. {Ref KF 8742.S914 2007}

 

Other Relevant Sources

§    Indexes

o        United States Supreme Court Decisions:  An Index to Excerpts, Reprints, and Discussions.  2nd ed.  [Ref  KF  101.6  .G83] by Nancy A. Guenther 

o        Shepard's Acts and Cases by Popular Names, Federal and State [Ref KF 80 .S5]

           

§    Court Report

o        Federal Court Decisions

§         United States Reports.  v. 335-  1947-       [Gov Doc JU 6.8:]

 

§         Official Reports of the Supreme Court. (retained until superseded by above set)

                                    [Gov Doc JU 6.8/A:]

 

o       State Court Decisions

§         Alabama Reports.  (1846-1975)  (incomplete) [Ala KFA  45  .A3]

                        continued by:

 

                        Alabama Reporter.  1977- [Ala KFA 47  .A32]

           

§    Constitutions

o        Constitutions of the United States:  National and State.  2nd ed. 1974-

 7 vols.  [Ref KF  4530  .C6 1974]

           

§    Federal Legislation And Regulations

o        Codifications

§         United States Code.  1982 ed.  1983-[Ref KF 62 1982 .A2]See also http://uscode.house.gov/search/criteria.shtml for a searchable,
online version of the United States Code.

 

§         Code of Federal Regulations. (current edition).

[Gov Doc AE  2.106/3:            ]

See also http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html  for a searchable,
online version of the Code of Federal Regulations.

 

§         Federal Register.  (daily) Collier Periodicals Collection

See also http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html for a searchable,
online version of the Federal Register, 1995- .               

 

o        Statutes

§         United States Statutes at Large.  1937-Gov Doc AE 2.111:

 

§    State Legislation

o        Codification

§         Code of Alabama, 1975.  1977-  25 vols. [Ref KFA 30 1975  .A24]

See also: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/CodeofAlabama/1975/coatoc.htm
for a searchable, online version of the Code of Alabama, 1975.

o        Statutes

§         Alabama Laws (and Joint Resolutions) of the Legislature of Alabama. 1855-   (incomplete) [Ala KFA 25 .A3]

 

Biographical Sources

§    Alabama Appellate Courts.  (9th edition) [Ala KFA 512. A818x]

§    American National Biography. (online database)Access:  http://www.una.edu/library/databases.htm

§    Biographical Encyclopedia of the Supreme Court {Ref KF 8744 B56 2006}

§    Biography Resource Center.  (online database)
Access: http://www.una.edu/library/databases.htm

 

§    Biography and Genealogy Master Index (online database).Access: http://www.una.edu/library/databases.htm

 

Ø      SUGGESTED DATABASES FOR LOCATING PERIODICAL ARTICLES on Law:

 

            Criminal Justice Abstracts  (online database)

LegalTrac (online database)

            Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (online database)

 

 PERIODICAL titles held by the library can be identified by clicking the PERIODICAL HOLDINGS link under “Find Articles” on the library website at http://www.una.edu/library  or by searching in UNACAT. You can search by Journal title or perform a Subject Category search for Business & Economics to find relevant titles.

 

A few frequently used PERIODICALS in LAW are:

             ABA Journal

            Alabama Law Review

            American Business Law Journal

            American Lawyer

            Harvard Law Review

            Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology

            Journal of Law and Economics

            Labor Law Journal

            Law and Contemporary Problems

 

INTERLIBRARY LOAN It is possible to borrow books or obtain copies of articles from other libraries if the material is unavailable locally.  Inquire at the Reference Desk or consult the library’s web site for policy information and request forms at: http://www.una.edu/library/illindex.htm. 

 

Ø      SUGGESTED WEBSITES

Alabama Judicial System              http://www.judicial.state.al.us 

FindLaw                                      http:// www.findlaw.com

Web Guide to US Supreme Court Research http://www.llrx.com/features/supremectwebguide.htm

 

HAVE A QUESTION?  ASK A LIBRARIAN.

 

CN/07-08/Law