Adam Engelhart

A Photographic Field Guide to the Law Library

March 13th, 2007

When I started law school, I found the law library a little bewildering–I had no idea what all these books were, which ones I would use when, or even what they all looked like. In order to help out future 1Ls (and curious civilians) who find themselves in a similar position, I’ve prepared this photographic field guide to the law library. For each series of books, I’ve included the title, a photograph, a brief description including circumstances in which you might want to use it, and the Bluebook (18th edition) citation rule to use.

American Law Reports (ALR)

ALR is a series of articles on the approaches different courts have taken to a legal issue. The current series is ALR 6th. There’s also ALR Federal, focusing on federal law; it’s in its second series. Great for getting a broad, multi-jurisdictional perspective on a legal issue.

Cite per: R16.6.6, p. 145.

Corpus Juris Secundum (CJS)

American Jurisprudence (AmJur)

CJS and AmJur are legal encyclopedias. They present overviews of the law, organized by topic, with references to controlling authority. A good place to start if you want to learn exactly what the law is on a certain point, and to get ideas for further research.

Cite per: R15.8(a), p. 135.

West’s Annotated California Codes

Deering’s California Codes Annotated

These contain the text of the current California statutes, information about their legislative history, and headnotes and references for decisions interpreting or relying on the statutes. Start here if you know what statute is applicable and want to see what courts have said about it.

Cite per: R12, p. 101 et seq.; Table T.1, p. 201.

West’s California Digest

A “digest” is a compilation of headnotes from past decisions, organized by subject. Occasionally the digest publisher will close a digest and publish notes from later decisions in a new series. The current edition is the second, bound in green. Use this to find decisions of California courts on a particular point.

California Reports (Cal.)

This is the official reporter for decisions of the California Supreme Court. Recent decisions appear on “advance sheets,” which are paper-bound books with the same pagination and numbering as the permanent volume will eventually have. The current series is Cal. 4th.

Cite per: R10, p. 79 et seq.; Table T.1, p. 200.

California Appellate Reports (Cal. App.)

This is the official reporter for decisions of the California Courts of Appeal. Advance sheets for this reporter appear in the same volumes as those of the California Reports. Current series is Cal. App. 4th.

Cite per: R10, p. 79 et seq.; Table T.1, p. 200.

West’s California Reporter (Cal. Rptr.)

This is the unofficial reporter for all California courts, including West’s headnotes for the cases. Be sure you don’t confuse this with California Reports. Also, note the text near the bottom of the spine, which tells you which volume or volumes of the official reporter correspond to this one. Current series is Cal. Rptr. 3d.

Cite per: R10, p. 79 et seq.; Table T.1, p. 200.

California Jurisprudence (Cal Jur)

Witkin

More legal encyclopedias, these focusing on California law. Cal Jur collects everything in one series of books, but Witkin has several, including Summary of California Law, California Criminal Law, and California Procedure. Use these like AmJur or CJS if you’re looking for California law.

Cite per: R15, p. 129.

Shepard’s Citations

Shepard’s lets you see what treatment your authorities have received since they were released. There are versions for federal and state decisions, ALR, statutes, model codes, and other sources. Tutorials on Shepardizing are available here and here (PDF).

United States Code Annotated (U.S.C.A.)

United States Code Service (U.S.C.S.)

These are annotated versions of federal statutes and the Constitution, with West (USCA) or Lexis (USCS) headnotes from decisions relying on or interpreting the law. Start here if you want to investigate a federal statute or constitutional provision.

Cite per: R12.3, p. 104.

West’s Federal Practice Digest

Another series of digests, this time for federal decisions. The fourth is the current series. Start here if you want to know what federal courts have decided on a given point of law.

United States Reports (U.S.)
Supreme Court Reporter (S.Ct.)
Lawyer’s Edition (L.Ed.)

These reporters collect the opinions of the Supreme Court. U.S. is the official reporter, S.Ct. is West’s, L.Ed. is Lexis’s.

Cite per: R10, p. 79 et seq.; Table T.1, p. 193.

Federal Reporter (F.)

The Federal Reporter collects the opinions of the federal Courts of Appeals (the circuit courts). The current series is F.3d.

Cite per: R10, p. 79 et seq.; Table T.1, p. 193.

Federal Supplement (F. Supp.)

The Federal Supplement collects the opinions of the Federal trial courts (the district courts). The current series is F. Supp. 2d. Be careful not to get this and the Federal Reporter mixed up.

Cite per: R10, p. 79 et seq.; Table T.1, p. 195.

Federal Rules Decisions (F.R.D.)

Another series of district court reports, these focusing on cases interpreting the federal rules of procedure and evidence.

Cite per: R10, p. 79 et seq.; Table T.1, p. 195.

General Digest

Decennial Digest

These are the broadest digests in the West system, containing headnotes for all reported federal and state cases, nationwide. The General Digest contains headnotes from cases reported after the last Decennial Digest was released. The Decennial Digest used to be released every ten years, as its name suggests. However, it was starting to get unwieldy, and so West started publishing it in two parts, five years apart. There’s also the Century Digest, which has headnotes for cases reported before the Decennial Digests began. West has a chart explaining the structure of the digest system here (PDF).

Words and Phrases

Something of a cross between a law dictionary and a digest. Words and Phrases collects headnotes and references for decisions that interpret words and phrases in a legal context. A good place to start if you want to know exactly what a piece of language means.

Entry Filed under: Law,Photos