Federal Law: General
About this Guide
This guide will help you to identify and use legal resources when researching U.S. Federal law. Each tab includes a short overview of the subject, links to databases, websites, books, and other resources accessible through the library.
For further help with your research, please contact the Law Library.
New Books
General Electronic Resources
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Hein OnlineIncludes the United States Code, Statutes at Large, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, Federal legislative history, legal periodicals, and other legislative materials.
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Nexis UniChoose 'Search by Subject or Topic' and select the correct 'Legal' area, or choose 'Advanced Options' and apply the correct 'Content Type'. For cases, click the 'Look up a Legal Case' tab to search by citation, parties, or topic.
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ProQuest CongresssionalCongressional reports and hearings; federal legislative histories; and Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports.
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Bloomberg LawLaw students & faculty only.
Select 'Home' in the left-hand menu, then choose 'Federal Law' under Featured Popular Links.
Alternatively, choose 'Legislative & Regulatory' tab, or select 'Federal Law' and then 'Federal Legislative' materials. -
Lexis AdvanceLaw students & faculty only.
Choose 'Federal' tab.
Includes electronic version of the United States Code Service. -
WestlawLaw students & faculty only.
Browse 'Federal Materials' or search 'All Federal' materials.
Includes access to the United States Code Annotated.
Secondary Sources
Secondary resources are an excellent place to start when researching an unfamiliar topic, or when your research question is not yet specific enough to make searching primary legal sources efficient. Legal treatises, encyclopedias, journals, and law reviews are all excellent places to start your research. These materials are shelved on the basement and 2nd floors of the law library, and many databases also provide secondary materials in electronic format.
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LLSDC's Legislative Source BookThe Law Librarians' Society of Washington, DC provides a series of thorough guides to researching various aspects of Federal law, including Congressional records, regulations, and statutes.
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Hein OnlineJournals, law reviews, and other secondary materials.
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American jurisprudenceCall Number: KF154.A2 (Reference)Publication Date: 1962-Encyclopedia of national law. "A modern comprehensive text statement of American law, State and Federal."
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American Law Reports : FederalPublication Date: 2015-Shelf range: F-122
Articles on Federal legal questions. -
Corpus juris secundumCall Number: KF154 .C56 (Reference)Encyclopedia of national law. "A complete restatement of the entire American law as developed by all reported cases."
Research Guides
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Using the Law Library: A Guide for Educators - Part I: Untangling the Legal SystemThis article by Professor William Hilyerd provides a guide to understanding the American legal system and finding key materials.
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Basic Legal Research by Call Number: KF240.S585 2018ISBN: 1454894016Publication Date: 2018Shelf range: Reserve Section
Clear, step-by-step instruction in the basics of legal research. -
Federal Legal Research by Call Number: KF240.F48 2012ISBN: 9781611631227Publication Date: 2012Explains how to conduct research in the U.S. Constitution, federal cases, statutes, administrative regulations, and secondary sources. -
Specialized Legal Research byCall Number: KF240.S684 1987ISBN: 0316136255Covers legal research in nine specialized substantive areas: Securities Regulation, UCC, income tax, copyright, labor, environmental & land use, admiralty & maritime, immigration, and military law.
