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Secondary Sources & Legal Research

How to use secondary sources to research more efficiently and effectively.

What are they?

Legal dictionaries hold a special place in the toolbox of legal research. Unlike standard dictionaries, legal dictionaries provide definitions for words and phrases specific to the legal field, including those sometimes pesky terms in Latin.

These reference tools will help you understand the precise meanings of legal terms and phrases. They range from comprehensive volumes like Black's Law Dictionary, which is the most widely used legal dictionary, to more specialized ones such as a dictionary focusing solely on criminal law.

Importance in Legal Research

The use of precise language is a defining characteristic of the legal field. A single term can significantly alter the interpretation of a law or a case. Therefore, understanding legal terminology is critical. Legal dictionaries provide this understanding, making them a fundamental starting point for any legal research task, particularly when venturing into an unfamiliar area of law.

In the context of legal research, legal dictionaries serve as a vital first step, helping to clear the language barrier often encountered in legal texts. They enable researchers to proceed with confidence, understanding the terminology used in primary and secondary legal sources. 

How to find and use them?

Legal dictionaries are widely accessible in law libraries and through various online platforms. When using a legal dictionary, it's crucial to understand that legal language can be highly context-specific. Therefore, while a legal dictionary provides a general definition, the precise interpretation of a term may depend on its context within a case, statute, or regulation.

Some legal dictionaries will also provide you with citations to primary sources or additional secondary sources.