Washington Practice Materials
Updated January 9, 2009.
Prepared by Nancy McMurrer; updated by Melia Mauer Cossette, Reference Intern.
Getting Started
What are practice materials?
Generally, "practice materials" are those materials that are used extensively in practice by attorneys when handling various legal issues. They are characterized by their "nuts and bolts" approach to legal issues, and tend to focus on the law as its exists, with advice and tips for how to deal with real-life legal problems. These secondary materials often include forms or checklists to aid the practitioner, and they are useful when looking for the most recent information in a particular practice area. In addition, these materials are often a great place to turn to when beginning research in an unfamiliar area of law.
For a helpful overview of Washington practice materials, see Chapter 4, Practice Materials of the Washington Legal Researcher's Deskbook 3d, written by Gallagher Law Library Reference Librarians. KFW75.W37 2002 at Reference Area & Reference Office.
NOTE: Links to LexisNexis and Westlaw contained in this research guide are for subscribers only; Gallagher Law Library does not provide public access to these services.
Encyclopedias
Washington Practice. A comprehensive multi-volume set covering topics such as evidence, tort law and contracts. Practitioners will also find pattern jury instructions and single-volume handbooks designed for taking to the courtroom. A complete list of the titles of this set can be found on the publisher's website.
Where to find: KFW80.W3 at Reference Area. Westlaw: WAPRAC
Washington Lawyers Practice Manual. A looseleaf set published by the King County Bar Association. Titles include Real Property Practice and Business Law Practice, and many sample forms can be found. Authored by practicing attorneys, this set is sometimes more practice-oriented than Washington Practice.Where to find: KFW80.W27 at Reference Area
Forms
Contracts, Wills, Real Estate, Business, Etc.
- See the Gallagher guide on Drafting Contracts: Formbooks and Drafting Resources for a comprehensive resource on transactional forms.
- King County Law Library provides links to selected Washington State forms.
Forms: Practice & Procedure (Complaints, Motions, Pleadings, Etc.)
- Washington Practice Series: Civil Procedure Forms and Commentary. KFW80 .W3 v9-10A 2000 at Reference Area. Westlaw: WAPRAC-CPF
- Westlaw eforms: Washington State Courts and Agencies: WA-FRMS
- Washington Courts website includes forms on the dissolution of marriage, child custody and support, protective orders, parenting plans, juvenile court matters, criminal matters, and several other topics.
- King County Law Library provides links to selected Washington State forms.
- For additional Washington state resources, see the Gallagher guide on Civil Procedure Research Resources.
Deskbooks
Subject-specific books written by local experts are great sources for those practicing in the state. They cover diverse subjects such as environmental law, family law, criminal law, etc. Some of these treatises are called "deskbooks."
Many, though not all, of the Washington-specific deskbooks are published by the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) and are written under the auspices of its Continuing Legal Education (CLE) or particular practice-area committees. A list of WSBA deskbooks can be found on its website, along with the table of contents for each.
Where to find: In the Gallagher Law Library, many of the WSBA deskbooks are found in the Reference Area. Popular titles include the Washington Real Property Deskbook (KFW112.W37) and the Washington Family Law Deskbook (KFW94.W37).
WSBA deskbooks and CLE materials are also available online through Loislaw, a subscription legal database. See the Gallagher guide on CALR Access by UW Law Students, Faculty, Staff & Librarians for more information.
Court Rules
The latest editions of the print sources listed below are in the Reference Area. Earlier editions are in the Classified Stacks.
State
- Rules Practice. KFW80.W3 v. 2-4B. Westlaw: WAPRAC-RP
- Washington Rules of Court Annotated. KFW529.A197
- Washington Court Rules Annotated. KFW529.A196
- Washington Courts website. Rules updates are also be found in the Washington Reports advance sheets.
Local
Includes the rules of superior, district, and municipal courts.
- Washington Court Rules: Local Rules. KFW529.A198 Local
- Local rules for the King County Superior Court
- Washington Courts website includes court rules for municipal, district, and superior courts.
Benchbooks
Benchbooks are guides used by trial judges during litigation. For example, there is a benchbook for judges of district and municipal courts that covers procedures in criminal trials: Criminal Benchbook, Courts of Limited Jurisdiction, KFW583.5.W37 at Reference Area.
See Chapter 4, Practice Materials in the Washington Legal Researcher's Deskbook 3d, KFW75.W37 at Reference Area & Reference Office, for descriptions of other benchbooks.
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Materials
Since CLE materials are designed to help practitioners stay current with legal developments, they can be an excellent resource for up-to-date practice information. Search the Law Library catalog for titles that may be of interest.
 |
The
King County Law Library catalog indexes recent CLEs. You can search
for a presenter or an individual chapter in published CLE materials. The WSBA's online bookstore identifies recent CLEs. When you find one you want, search the Law Library's online catalog to learn if the Library owns a copy. |
Although it is no longer updated, you may also find CLEDEX helpful in finding CLE materials. KFW61.C54 at Reference Area. It indexes individual chapters in Washington CLE materials published between 1984
and 1999.
Newspapers
For a list of daily and weekly newspapers in Washington, see the Washington State Yearbook. JK9230.W38 at Reference Area & Reference Office. Current issues of several of these daily or weekly newspapers are available through Refdesk.com.Washington State Newstand indexes and provides text of major Washington newspapers. This commercial database is available through the UW Libraries Research Databases to UW students, faculty, and staff and to users who visit a UW library.
Bar Association Journals & Newsletters
- Washington State Bar News. KF332.W3W354, current issues at Reference Area
- De Novo. WSBA Young Lawyers Division. KF332.W3W359d, current issues at Reference Area
- Bar Bulletin. King County Bar Association. KF334.S4S4196, current issues at Reference Area
Sections of the Washington State Bar Association publish newsletters, for example, the Environmental & Land Use Law News Letter, KF332.W3 W359e at Classified Stacks. Descriptions of the WSBA sections are available at its website.