Law-Related Journal Articles   Tags: find_articles, finding_articles, how_to, journal_articles, secondary_sources  

There are two steps involved in finding a law review article:

1. finding the citation and then
2. finding the journal article itself. 

Please click the tabs above to learn more.

See Finding Library Materials for information on how to find materials referenced in this guide.

Our guide on the journal finder and finding journal articles in general.

The Law Library subscribes to many law reviews and journals. Law reviews are periodical publications of law schools, bar associations, or commercial publishers that contain articles analyzing legal issues and offering practical legal information. They can be general in scope (such as the Drake Law Review) or focused on a specific subject (for example, the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law).

Many journals are published several times a year, insuring that the articles are current and topical when published. Oftentimes, journal articles will cover a developing area of the law before books on the subject are available. Furthermore, they are useful tools for examining present trends and recent changes in the law.

Law review and journal articles can be an ideal starting place for legal research in a new area because they often provide both historical perspective and a statement of the current state of the law. Since law review articles are well documented with footnotes, they give the researcher quick access to cases, statutes, and other on-point authorities.

Research Help
During the regular academic year, reference librarians are typically available Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. to provide research guidance. Consult the reference schedule for the most current information.

John Edwards (271-2141, john.edwards@drake.edu) 
Rebecca Lutkenhaus (271-2053, rebecca.lutkenhaus@drake.edu)
Karen Wallace (271-2989, karen.wallace@drake.edu)
David Hanson (271-2077, david.hanson@drake.edu)
Deborah Sulzbach (271-3784, deborah.sulzbach@drake.edu)
Julie Thomas (271-2052, julie.thomas@drake.edu)

Computer Help
See the computer help directory for guidance on who to contact for your issue.

If you cannot find the article you need using any of the above sources, you may be able to obtain the article via interlibrary loan. Consult the Law Library’s Interlibrary Loan Web pages (see links below) for more information.