Skip to Main Content

Legal Research Jump Start: Encyclopedias

This guide is designed to help first year students learn about various types of legal research resources and how to use them effectively. As the fall semester progresses, new tabs introducing different resources will be added.

Page Explanation

The Process book covers legal encyclopedias in Chapter 3, pages 37-49.

The tutorial at the top of the center column is an introduction to legal encyclopedias, looking at what they are, where you can access them, and when you would use one.

The tutorial in the middle of the center column looks at how use a specific legal encyclopedia, American Jurisprudence 2d (Am. Jur. 2d) in print.

The tutorial at the bottom of the center column look at how to cite to a legal encyclopedia entry using The Bluebook.

At the bottom of the left column is a sample research trail in encyclopedias using the constructive eviction scenario found on the Research Trail tab.

Below are some additional guides on legal encyclopedias from other law schools, and on the far right are additional videos on the topic.

Guides from Other Schools

Guides from other schools on using legal encyclopedias:

Contact the Library

If you need more information on this topic, please contact the reference desk:

Phone: 651-290-6424

E-mail: reference@mitchellhamline.edu

IM chat on the library's website

Sample Research Trail/Log

Below is a sample research trail using American Jurisprudence 2d in print. The plain text represent what was searched, the italicized text represent notes about what was found.

Research Terms:

landlord, tenant, constructive eviction, habitability, uninhabitable, apartment, mold, water damage, illness, non-payment of rent, unpaid rent

Am Jur 2d:

Index:

--Constructive Eviction --> Covenants of Title (this index)
-- not relevant to this issue
--Constructive Eviction --> Landlord and Tenant (this index)
-- Check this one
--Landlord and Tenant --> sec. 598 - Constructive Eviction

 

Main Volume:

--Landlord sec. 598 - Constructive Eviction
-- summary of CE, references to cases and other resources
--Check the pocket part for updates (dated May 2014).
-- No new content, one new case, not relevant.

Legal Encyclopedias - Introduction

LEgal Encyclopedias - Am.Jur.2d in Print

LEgal Encyclopedias - Citation

Other Resources

A quick, tongue in cheek, overview of legal encyclopedias.

(Click on the pop-out icon to view this video larger).

Other Resources

An overview of legal encyclopedias from Creighton Law Library.

(Click on the pop-out icon to view this video larger).