TMLL Research Guide - Chapter 8

The Legal Process: State Law Sources

Analyze the facts and formulate a preliminary statement of issues.

Familiarize yourself with the court structure of the jurisdiction.

• Bluebook Table T. 1

Do background research to get an overview of the subject area, identify issues and terms, and get clues to primary sources.

• Hornbooks [Reading Room across from library desk]
• Law review articles [print - compact shelving on Level 1; Lexis; Westlaw]
• American Law Reports (ALR) [print on Level 2; Westlaw]
• Seek expert advice

Search for legal authority (relevant statutes & cases) using appropriate methods of updating.

• Annotated codes [print on Level 3 (Md.Code is on Level 2); Lexis; Westlaw]
• West digests [Level 3 (Md. Digest is on Level 2)
• full text case databases (Lexis; Westlaw; Internet sites)
• American Law Reports (ALR) [print on Level 2; Lexis; Westlaw]
• Shepard's [Lexis]
• KeyCite [Westlaw]

Read and evaluate primary authorities.

• Reporters [print on Level 3 (Md. reporters on Level 2); Lexis; Westlaw;
  Internet sites]

Make sure cases are still good law.

• Shepard's [Lexis]
• KeyCite [Westlaw]

Refine analysis & formulate conclusion.

• Treatises [Level 2; check the library's online catalog]
• Law review articles