LibGuides: Legal Research: Books

Featured Books

Finding the Law by Bryan M. Carson
Call number: STLCC-FP Stacks 340.072 C3213f

Topics covered include the origins of legal publishing; an overview of the U.S. system of law and government; issues related to the U. S. Constitution and Treaties; and the activities of the legislative and executive branches. Consideration is also given to researching state legal systems, emphasizing the differences to conducting research for the federal systems. The book concludes with an examination of the legal issues faced by librarians, publishers, and book distributors.
Legal Research and Writing by Andrea B. Yelin
Call number: STLCC-FP Stacks 340.072 Y43L 2009

Written specifically for paralegal students, The Fifth Edition of the Legal Research and Writing Handbook: A Basic Approach for Paralegals offers comprehensive coverage of both research and writing, dynamic pedagogy, and a clear, step-by-step approach to teaching.
Real World Research Skills by Peggy Garvin
Call number:
STLCC-FP Stacks 340.072 G244r

Real World Research Skills, Second Edition, compiles basic advice, techniques, reference information, and resources to help working professionals find accurate information quickly. It is written particularly for those whose work involves tapping into federal government information. This book can help anyone involved in government research by increasing their information literacy, improving their research effectiveness and efficiency.
Careers As a Paralegal and Legal Assistant by G. S. Prentzas
Call Number: STLCC-FP Stacks 340.023 P9275c

Besides outlining education requirements and training programs, this accessible volume covers professional responsibilities, ethic codes, kinds of employers, job searches, resume building, and work environments.
Black's Law Dictionary 11th Edition by Bryan A. Garner (Editor)
STLCC-FP Reference (2019 ed.)
STLCC-M Reference (2014 ed.)
STLCC-W Reference
For more than a century, Black's Law Dictionary has been the gold standard for the language of law. It features expanded bibliographic coverage, definitions of more than 1,000 law-related abbreviations and acronyms, and reviewed and edited Latin maxims.

About Books

Reference Books

Reference Books are the best places to find concise summaries and background information on a topic. Reference books cannot be checked out of the library. Some of them are available as databases or ebooks.

Circulating Books

Circulating books (books you can check out) may also provide summaries and background information, but usually go into greater depth about a topic.

Using Books for Research

Using books for research does not always mean that you need to read the entire book.

Use the table of contents and the index to find where in a book information about your topic is located.
The introduction to a book may be a good place to find background information on the topic the book is about.
You should read enough of a book or chapter to understand what an author is saying and quote her correctly.
Sometimes chapters in books are complete works written by different authors, making them ideal for research.

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