Learning legal research is like learning a new language. It can be challenging to get the hang of, but your hard work will pay off during and after law school.
GGU Law Library pays to have many different resources available to you. We have the big name online databases (Westlaw and Lexis); we have smaller online databases (HeinOnline, for instance), and we have many print resources. Our advice is to take some time to use many different resources. It will strengthen your research, and it will increase your ability to effectively work in any environment that you may end up in. Not all workplaces have the same set of research tools so it behooves you to familiarize yourself with many tools now.
Primary sources are statements of the law. Cases, statutes and regulations are primary sources.
Secondary sources help illuminate the law. Examples of secondary sources include Witkin, Rutter Guides and Encyclopedias.
If you are working in an area that is new to you, it is often helpful to begin your research with a trustworthy secondary source.
When your research keeps pointing you to the same cases, codes or secondary sources
