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Secondary Sources: Encyclopedias

National Legal Encyclopedias

Source: Drake Law Library

Source: Drake Law Library

Encyclopedia Basics

Legal Encyclopedias (Print)
Law Library Reference shelves.
Find relevant content using:
* index volumes at end of set (make note of both topic abbreviation and section number)
* topic outlines at start of each article

The information on the book spine gives the range of topics covered by that volume. Your topic may not appear on the spine but fall alphabetically between the listed topics.
American Jurisprudence (AmJur) 2d (Lexis)
American Jurisprudence (AmJur) 2d (Westlaw)
Corpus Juris Secundum (C.J.S.) (Westlaw)

Encyclopedias provide a broad overview of many topics.

Some state-specific encyclopedias exist, but there is not one for Iowa.

Encyclopedia articles are regularly updated.

Print sets are updated with a combination of new bound volumes and supplements (pocket parts or separate paper bound supplements).

Updates to electronic resources are integrated in the database.

Legal Encyclopedia Lesson

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Drake University Law Library • 2604 Forest Ave. • Des Moines, Iowa 50311-3014