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Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Library

Seminar Papers & Law Review Notes: Research

Topics, Research & Writing Tips for Seminar Papers & Law Review Notes

Policy Research

Reports from interested non-profit groups identifying & attempting to solve problems
Academic studies in nonlegal fields
They are a source of data and ideas

Resources:

ProQuest Congressional
ProQuest Congressional - Congressional Research Service reports & other Government sources. Choose 'Advanced' search, and select CRS Reports.
JSTOR
Full-text journal articles from interdisciplinary fields such as history & sociology.

" Subject Guides
University research guides to interdisciplinary literature

50-State Surveys

Comparative analysis of a legal issue across multiple jurisdictions
Provides deep research content
Shows a variety of problem solutions tried by states

Resources:

Hein Online
Select 'Subject Compilations of State Laws' or 'National Survey of State Laws'

Lexis Advance
Search for 50-State Surveys, and select filter to search for a topic, or select menu to browse.
State Survey Catalog Search
Also try searching for "50 state" or "fifty state" and your topic.
Westlaw
Select 'Statutes & Court Rules' under All Content. Choose '50 State Statutory Surveys' under Tools & Resources.

National Survey of State Laws by Richard A. Leiter
Call Number: Reference: KF386 .N38 2019
ISBN: 9780837741048
Publication Date: 2019
State-by-state comparisons of current state laws.
Also available electronically through HeinOnline.

Legislative History

Analysis of a statute from idea to legislation
Track bills & congressional reports of attempts to fix a problem

Resources:

ProQuest Congressional
ProQuest Congressional - Search for Legislative Histories
Hein Online
Select 'U.S. Federal Legislative History Library' and choose the Sources of Compiled Legislative Histories Database.

Training:

Knowledge Center: Legislative History
This online module from Thomson Reuter's Knowledge Center provides an overview of researching the legislative history of a statute. Students can log in using their Westlaw account.