Gallagher Law Library - UW School of Law

Legal Research Guides

Updated May 21, 2013.

How do I search for laws on a particular subject? How can I compile a legislative history for a Washington (or federal) law? How can I locate court opinions about a topic? To answer these and other frequently asked questions, the reference librarians have prepared a series of legal research guides. Use these guides to get started on your research project when a reference librarian is not available to assist you or as a reminder as you conduct your research.

Many of these guides have been prepared in conjunction with in-class presentations. The online guides will be updated with the same frequency as the class is taught, usually annually. "Posted" indicates the original date the guide was added to the Law Library website; "updated" indicates the date of last revision.

If you are having trouble with words running off the right-hand side of the page when you print one of these research guides, try one of the following solutions:

  • Change the margins of the page. How? Click on the File menu -- click on Page Setup -- in the Margins box change the left and right margins to 0.25 inches -- click "ok" and print.
  • Print the guide in "landscape" rather than "portrait" orientation. How? Click on the File menu -- click on Page Setup -- in the Orientation Box select the "landscape" radio button -- click "ok" and print.

Keyword/Subject List of Legal Research Guides

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

A

Acronyms & Abbreviations

Acronyms & Abbreviations; U.S. Government: Commonly Used

Administrative Law Research: Agency Decisions--United States (federal)

Administrative Law Research: General Sources--United States (federal)

Administrative Law Research: Rules and Regulations--United States (federal)

Administrative Law Research--Washington State

Admiralty & Maritime Law; U.S.

Advanced Internet Research PowerPoint

Advanced Internet Research Featured Sites

Advanced LexisNexis

Advocacy, Creative Research for: Tips for Clinic Students & Others

Alternative Dispute Resolution--Generally

Alternative Dispute Resolution--Arbitration

Alternative Dispute Resolution--Mediation & Collaborative Law

Alternative Dispute Resolution--Negotiation

American Legal System (B550)

Arbitration

Arbitration; International Commercial

Articles on Terrorism; Law Review

Asylum Research

Attorneys

Australian Legal Research Sources

B

Beginning of Life

Bill-Tracking Research Guide; Federal

Biotechnology & Law

Blogs & RSS Feeds

Blogs in Washington State; Law-Related

Bluebook 101

Books Written for Nonlawyers in the Gallagher Law Library

Bridge the Legal Research Gap: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001

Briefs & Oral Arguments

Brown v. Board of Education Websites

Business Organizations Legal Research Guide; Corporations and

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

C

call numbers / classification numbers

careers & jobs

cases & caselaw research

Chinese Legal Research at the University of Washington

Citators; Online

Cite-Checking & Library Research

Citing Foreign Law

Civil Procedure Research Resources

Clerkship Opportunities; Researching Judicial

Clinic Students & Others; Creative Research for Advocacy: Tips for

Collaboration, Wikis and Other Tools for

Commercial Arbitration; International

Commercial Code Research; Uniform

comparative, foreign & international law

Computer-assisted legal research (CALR)

Congressional Research Service Reports

constitutions

Consumer Protection Resources

Contracting; International (Chafee) (Word)

Contracts: Formbooks & Drafting Resources

copyright

Corporations & Business Organizations Legal Research Guide

courts

Court Rules on E-Filing; Washington

Creative Research for Advocacy: Tips for Clinic Students and Others

Criminal Records; Innocence Project Northwest Clinic

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

D

Dictionaries; Legal

Digests & Reporters

domestic relations, see Family Law Research & Practice Guide

Drafting Contracts: Formbooks & Drafting Resources

E

Economic Development--Legal Problems of

Education Law Research Guide (PDF)

E-Filing, Washington Court Rules on

Election Law

employment law, see Labor & employment law

Entrepreneurial Law Clinic: Resources & Guides

environmental law

Ethics; International Research (health)

ethics opinions

European Union Research

evidence

Exams; Law School

Expert Witnesses

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

F

Family Law Research & Practice Guide

Family Law Resources for Washington State

Federal Bill-Tracking Guide

Federal Immigration Law Resources

Federal Legislative History

Federal Rules of Evidence & Comparable State Evidence Rules

Fellowship Opportunities in Law

Finding Federal Government Publications on the Internet

Finding Government Documents Today

Finding Guide for Federal Tax Materials in the Gallagher Law Library

Fitzpatrick, Joan M.

Fletcher, Judge Betty Binns

Foreign & Comparative Law Research (PPT March 2006)

Foreign and International Law in the Gallagher Law Library (PPT for UW librarians Sept. 2010)

Foreign, Comparative & International Law Research: Selected Sources (PDF)

Foreign and International Legal Research, Introduction to (PPT prepared for Comparative and International Law, Walsh, April 2010) (begins with foreign law)

Foreign Law Research

Foreign Legal Research, Introduction to International and  (PPT prepared for Comparative and International Law, Eddy and Ngugi, April 2010) (begins with international law)

Forensics; Innocence Project Northwest Clinic

Forms; Legal

Foundations for Legal Study 2010 (PPT & PDF)

Free Legal Information on Washington State Law, Sources of

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

G

Genetics & the Law

Getting the Scoop on Jobs & Careers

Going Beyond Casebooks

government documents

Government Work

Grant Resources for Law Students & Public Interest Lawyers (& companion PowerPoint slideshow, 2013)

Grants & Foundations

Guide to Using the Gallagher Law Library for Members of the Public

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

H

health & medicine

High School Mock Trial Students, Sites for

Historical Laws; Researching Washington

Human rights

Humor, Judicial

The Hurricane

I

IGOs, Intergovernmental Organizations

Immigration Law Resources

Index to UW School of Law Indian Law Symposia & Conferences

Indian & Tribal Law Research

Indonesia; Health & Human Rights

Information on Obtaining Copyright Permissions

Informational Interviews, Samples Searches for Networking &

Innocence Project Northwest Clinic; Legal Research Sources for the

Intellectual property

interdisciplinary research

Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)

International Cases

International Commercial Arbitration

International Contracting (Chafee) (Word)

International Environmental Law Research

International Law in the Gallagher Law Library, Foreign and (PPT for UW librarians Sept. 2010)

International Law of the Sea Research

International Law Research: Selected Sources; Foreign, Comparative &  (PDF)

International Legal Research

International Legal Research, Introduction to Foreign and  (PPT prepared for Comparative and International Law, Walsh, April 2010) (begins with foreign law)

International Research Ethics (health)

Internet Legal Resources

Introduction to Computer-Assisted Legal Research

Introduction to Legal Research & Government Policy Resources

IRS Regulations & Pronouncements (PPT)

Islamic Law Resources

Islamic Law Topics Using Secondary Sources; Researching (PDF)

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

J

Japanese Legal Research at the University of Washington

jobs, see Careers & jobs

Johnson, Ralph

Judgments & Liens; Jury Verdicts, Settlements,

Judicial Branch Publications

Judicial Clerkship Opportunities; Researching

Judicial Humor

Judicial Systems in Countries Around the World; Legal &

Jury Verdicts, Settlements, Judgments & Liens

Justice; Themis, Goddess of

Juvenile Justice, Research Sources for

K

Keeping Up & Staying Current; Resources for

Kids & Guns

Kids & Youth; Legal and Law-Related Websites for

Korean Legal Research at the University of Washington

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

L

labor & employment law

Law on TV, Video & Film

Law-Related Blogs in Washington State

law reviews

Law School Exams

Legal & General Writing Resources

Legal & Judicial Systems in Countries Around the World

Legal Career Tips

Legal Dictionaries

Legal Forms

Legal Information on Washington State Law, Sources of Free

Legal Research But Were Afraid to Ask; What You Always Wanted to Know about

Legal Research Sources for the Innocence Project Northwest Clinic

Legislative Advocacy Clinic (PPT)

legislative history

Legislative Process, The

Library of Congress Call Numbers

Library Survival Skills

Liens; Jury Verdicts, Settlements, Judgments &

Low-Cost Legal Research Services on the Web

Luvern Victor Rieke, 1922-2003

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

M

Maritime Law; U.S. Admiralty

Mediation & Collatorative Law (Alternative Dispute Resolution)

Medical Malpractice Issues: Research Sources

mock trial: Sites for High School Mock Trial Students

Most Cited Law Books

movies & television

N

National Security Law Resources (research guide, PDF)

Negotiation (Alternative Dispute Resolution)

Networking & Informational Interviews, Sample Searches for

News & Information Sources; September 11 Tragedy [no longer updated]

News Sources Online; Washington State

Nominations; Supreme Court

Nonlawyers in the Gallagher Law Library; Books Written for

nonlegal research

Nuremberg Trials

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

O

Ocean & Coastal Law--United States (federal)

Online Citators

Online Citators (PPT)

Online Legal Research for SMA 476

Oregon State Constitution

P

Patent Law Resources

People-Finding

Pharmacy Law; Secondary Sources for

Ph.D. students

Popular Names of Constitutional Provisions

Practice Materials; Washington

Presidential Documents

Primary Law Sources on the Web

Procedure Research Resources; Civil

Public Health Law Resources

Public Health Law Resources (for Northwest Government Information Network meeting, Nov. 6, 2009)

Public Service Careers: Research Tips

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

R

Race in the Criminal Justice System

Ralph Johnson

Reporters & Digests

Research and Writing Strategy for  a Seminar Paper (PPT)

Research Assignments; Surviving Summer

Research Ethics; International

Research Guide for U.S. Ocean & Coastal Law

Research in Copyright Law

Research in Employment Law: Resources on the Internet

Research in Foreign & Comparative Law

Research in Health Law

Research in Labor & Employment Law

Research Sources for Juvenile Justice

Research Strategy for Comparative, Foreign &  International Law

Researching Islamic Law Topics Using Secondary Sources (PDF) (companion homework assignment (PDF))

Researching Judicial Clerkship Opportunities

Researching Washington Historical Laws

Resource Guide to the Gallagher Law Library's Washington State Legal History Collections

Resources for Keeping Up & Staying Current

Resources for Law Ph.D. Students

Rieke, Luvern Victor

RSS Feeds; Blogs &

Rules of Evidence & Comparable State Evidence Rules; Federal

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

S

School of Marine Affairs 476

Sea Research; International Law of the

Seattle Hosts the World Trade Organization: 1999

Secondary Sources

Secondary Sources for Pharmacy Law

Selected Sources for Environmental Law Research on the Internet

Selective List of Government Internet Resources

Seminar Paper, Research and Writing Strategy for a (PPT)

September 11 Tragedy: News & Information Sources [no longer updated]

Settlements, Judgments & Liens; Jury Verdicts

Sources of Free Legal Information on Washington State Law

Sports Law Legal Research Guide

SSRN (PPT) & SSRN Oct. 2011 (PPTX)

Starting Points for Foreign, Comparative & International Legal Research

State Law; Call Numbers for

Statutory Research Checklist

Suggested Reading List for Prospective & Current Law Students

Supreme Court Nominations

Surviving Summer Research Assignments

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

T

Taiwan Legal Research at the University of Washington

taxation

terrorism Themis, Goddess of Justice

Tort Law Research

Trademark Law Resources

Treaties & Other International Agreements

Trial Ad Notes

Trial Advocacy Resources

Tribal Court Decisions: Sources

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

U

Unemployment Law Research Guide

Uniform Commercial Code Research

United Nations Research

U.S. (federal) legal research guides

U.S. Government: Commonly Used Acronyms & Abbreviations

University of Washington School of Law alumni and faculty

Useful Websites for Documents Librarians

Using the Labor Relations Reporter

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

V

Verdicts, Settlements, Judgments & Liens; Jury

Veterans' Benefits

W

Washington State legal research guides

What Else Can I Do for a Patron with a Legal Question?

What You Always Wanted to Know about Legal Research But Were Afraid to Ask

Wikis and Other Tools for Collaboration

Word Tips to Make Your Life Easier

World Trade Organization; Seattle Hosts the

writing

-- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z --

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Guides Prepared for UW Classes Outside of the Law School

Communications

English

Health Services

Information School

Law, Societies & Justice / Political Science

Marine Affairs

  • SMA 476, Introduction to Environmental Law & Process

Pharmacy

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Other Washington State Legal Research Guides

The Washington State Law Library provides a series of informational brochures on legal research topics, including constitutional law, statutory law, administrative law, legislative history, court reports, legal citations, citators, and digests.

The Seattle University Law Library offers several legal research guides.

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Portals to Other Legal Research Guides

Many other law libraries post legal research guides on their websites.

The Cornell University Law Library provides a searchable Legal Research Engine that links to a variety of legal research guides available from approximately 20 law school libraries (including the Gallagher Law Library).

University of Akron, Law Scout links to legal research guides posted by U.S. law school libraries. The site is migrating from an older list arranged by law school. When completed the guides will be searchable by keyword and subject.

New York University's GlobaLex contains a strong collection of legal research guide for various foreign countries.

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