American Law Reports (ALR) are a unique secondary source that combines elements of legal commentary and case law, offering valuable insights for legal research. They're almost a hybrid of legal encyclopedias, treatises, and case law locators.
This series of reporter publications provide detailed annotations or articles on a wide array of legal issues. Each ALR annotation focuses on a particular legal issue or question that arises from a specific court decision. These annotations provide an in-depth analysis of the issue, surveying how courts across different jurisdictions have addressed it, and often include a wealth of references to primary and other secondary sources.
ALR annotations are particularly useful in legal research because they provide a comprehensive analysis of specific legal issues as interpreted by courts across various jurisdictions. They offer a more detailed examination than typical case summaries, and they provide a wide range of viewpoints on a particular legal issue, which can be invaluable when constructing a legal argument. They also serve as an excellent tool for finding primary law sources, as the annotations are replete with case citations.
ALR series are available in law libraries and on legal research platforms. To use ALR effectively, first identify the legal issue you are researching. Then, use the index or search function on electronic platforms to find relevant ALR annotations. Review the annotation for a detailed analysis of the issue and take note of the cited cases, statutes, and other sources. As with any secondary source, it's important to cross-verify the cited primary sources to ensure their applicability to your specific research.