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Library Catalog
Legal Research Guides
Legal Source Materials
Journals
Databases
Internet Resources
The Peterson Library has a wide array of resources in this subject area. This guide presents a selection of these resources as well as useful Internet websites. We also have a library guide on Federal Law. For a good overview of library research and our resources, take our Virtual Reference Tour. For research assistance, visit us at the library Information Desk, call us at 203-932-7189, or e-mail us. For assistance with writing the research paper, visit the Center for Learning Resources in Maxcy Hall.
Use the library catalog to find circulating and reference materials, including books, audio-visual resources, government documents, and periodical holdings. Our catalog uses the Library of Congress (LC) classification system and subject headings. LC assigns call numbers (letters and numerals) according to the book's primary subject. Some quick catalog search tips:
- Truncate with ‘?': legis? will get legislating, legislation, legislative, etc.
- Put phrases in " ": "legal research" or "legislative calendar," "constitutional law," etc.
- Sort results by Publish date descending to get newest items at the top of the list.
- Click on Bibliographic and use the subject-heading links below to find additional
material.
- Click on Linked Resources or look for the URL box next to an item for electronic
access.
For additional search tips, consult the library guide on Using the UNH Library Catalog (OPAC) or take our interactive Online Library Catalog Tutorial.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
If you need something not in our catalog, please use our ILL service to have materials sent here from other libraries. Forms to request books and articles are available at the Information Desk, and also online. Fill out a separate ILL request form for each item. Incorrect or incomplete information will slow down receipt of material, so please be accurate.
Government Documents
A U.S. documents depository since 1971, we currently receive about a third of Government Printing Office (GPO) publications. Documents received since 2000 will show up in catalog searches. Many of these are also available online so be sure to click on Linked Resources for each item. Most documents held in the library can be borrowed. Consult the Government Documents library guide for more information. To request catalog items with the U.S. Govt Docs location or to inquire about older documents, come to the Information Desk.
ALWD Citation Manual. Ref. KF245 .A45 2000; also on perm. reserve.
Black's Law Dictionary, 8th ed. Ref. K156 .B53 2004
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. Ref. KF245 .B58 2005
Fundamentals of Legal Research. KF240 .J3 1990
How to Find the Law, 9th ed. Ref. KF240 .C538 1989
Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals. KF240 .B98 1998
Legal Research and Writing: Some Starting Points. Ref. KF240 .S783 1999
NLRB Style Manual : A Guide for Legal Writing in Plain English. [U.S. Govt Docs]. Online only.
The Process of Legal Research: Successful Strategies. KF240 .P76 1989
Sample Pages: Illustrations of Organization and Research Techniques. [Info Desk] Ref. KF240 .S356
The "law" consists of two elements: statutory law, which includes constitutions, charters, statutes, and regulations coming from legislative and administrative bodies, and case law, which consists of court and administrative agency decisions. To have what is called "good law," you must find all the still-applicable cases in both categories. Most law sources are indexed and have citators that bring you to other relevant cases. This cross-referencing of citations is often referred to as Shepardizing®. KeyCite and Key Numbers serve a similar purpose in West Publishing's print resources and its Campus Research and Westlaw databases. These electronic resources include most of the print titles we list below. Always check the currency of database material and, and look for supplementary pamphlets and/or ‘pocket parts' in the backs of law volumes to make sure you have the latest cases and legal developments.
♦ Statutory Law
Connecticut statutes are the laws enacted by the Connecticut General Assembly, which meets from January to June with special sessions in some years. Each law that has been passed is incorporated into the next annual revision of the general statutes.
§ Statutes
Public Acts and Special Acts. [Cited by year and law number. Example: P.A. (or) S.A. 04-204]
Once a bill is passed by the General Assembly, it is given an act number that it keeps as it becomes law. Public acts are laws affecting everyone, while special acts deal with individual situations. Information on newly passed laws is available at the state law libraries and also on the General Assembly's website.
Connecticut Public and Special Acts. [Cited same as above]
Contains all public and special acts for the year, in numeric order by law number. Library has 1972 to present. Ref. KFC3625 .A253. For earlier years, see:
Public Acts of the State of Connecticut. Library has 1963-1971 [incomp.]. Ref. KFC3625 .A25 and Special Laws of Connecticut/Connecticut Special Acts. Library has 1939-1971. Ref. KFC3625 .A252
General Statutes of Connecticut. [Cited by title and section. Example: C.G.S. 448-23]
Official, annual edition of all state laws in force, arranged topically by titles. Includes a subject index and tables. Ref. KFC3630.1958 .A223. Browse statutes or search statute texts online.
Connecticut General Statutes Annotated. [Cited by title and section. Example: C.G.S.A. 448-23]
West Publishing's edition contains the text of state laws, judicial opinions, analytical notes, references to historical sources, and parallel tables. Ref. KFC3630.1958 .A43
Connecticut Legislative Service.
[Cited by year, act and bill number. Example: 2007 Conn. Legis. Serv. P.A. 07-70 (H.B. 6372)]
Pamphlets issued by West during each legislative session with the text of newly passed public acts, tables, and subject index. Functions as an updating service for CGSA. Ref. KFC3630.1958 .A3
Connecticut Session Laws: Acts of the General Assembly.
[Cited by year and law number or page. Example: 2007 Conn. Sess. Laws P.A. 07-70 (or) 101]
Annual publication from West containing the laws passed in the current legislative session.
Library has 2001-present. Ref. KFC3625 .A254
Summary of Public Acts.
Annual. Office of Legislative Research. Acts are arranged by legislative committee, with subject index.
Library has 1973-present [incomplete]. Ref. KFC3625 .A255
§ Legislative History and Bill Tracking
The progress of a bill currently being considered by the General Assembly, as well as the legislative history of bills and laws from previous years, can be found online at the General Assembly's website.
§ Administrative Regulations
Known collectively as the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, these are the implementation ‘rules' that agencies devise to enact the laws passed by the legislature. Much like the Federal Register, the Connecticut Law Journal (CLJ) carries the text of proposed changes for a period of public comment and also publishes the text of the adopted changes that will be incorporated into the next full annual revision of the Regulations. The library no longer receives either CLJ or the Regulations. The latter are in Westlaw and Campus Research. Agency websites often have compilations of the laws and regulations within their jurisdiction. In some specialized fields, like fire and building standards, the Dept. of Public Safety adopts NFPA and BOCA codes in their entirety and adds a state supplement that is amended annually.
Connecticut State Building Code. Ref. KFC813.C7 2000. Also online from the Office of the State Building Inspector. Currently using the 2005 code as comprised and amended annually.
Connecticut State Fire Safety Code. Ref. KF3975.A15 N37. Also online from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Currently using the 2005 code, as comprised and amended annually.
Connecticut Public Health Code. Ref. KFC3954.A334 A2 1992. Also online from the Department of Public Health.
♦ Case Law
State case law comes mainly from the state court system composed of: (1) Superior Court (trial courts of original jurisdiction); (2) Appellate Court (intermediate jurisdiction) and the Connecticut Supreme Court (the appellate court of last resort). Cases are found in West's regional publications like the Atlantic Reporter and are also online via Campus Research and Westlaw.
§ State Courts
Supreme Court
Connecticut Reports. [Cited by volume and page. Example: 246 Conn. 617]
Official Supreme Court decisions, in the order in which they were decided.
Table of cases and subject index. First print appearance is in CLJ, then bound volumes.
Library has from 1814 to present. Ref. KFC3645 .A2 1963. For earlier cases: Kirby's Reports (1785-1788), Root's Reports (1789-1798), and Day's Reports (1802-1813) Ref. KFC3641/2/3 .A2 1962.
Supreme and Appellate Court advance release opinions are online prior to their publication in CLJ.
Appellate Court
Connecticut Appellate Reports. [Cited by volume and page. Example: 253 Conn. App. 427]
Official decisions of the Appellate Court. First issued in CLJ, then in bound volumes.
Library has 1983-1995. Ref. KFC3648 .A2. Recent opinions are available online.
Superior Court
Connecticut Supplement. [Cited by volume and page. Example: 217 Conn. Supp. 106]
Selected Superior Court cases, published for their legal significance. First in CLJ, then bound volumes.
Library has 1935-1993 [incomplete]. Ref. KFC3648 .A3 1974
§ Court Reporters and Digests
Connecticut Reporter. [Cited the same as Atlantic Reporter, next]
West's edition of Connecticut Supreme Court decisions, extracted here from the Atlantic Reporter.
Gives text of decision, with volume and page of official Connecticut Reports.
Library has 1938-1995. Ref. KFC3641 .A1 C6
Atlantic Reporter. [Cited by volume, page, state, year. Example: 464 A.2d 6 (Conn. 1983)]
From West, now in 2d. series, covering ME, NH, VT, CT, RI, PA, NJ, DE, MD, and DC.
Library has 1886-1988. Ref. and non-circ. KF135 .A7 & KF135 .A85
West's Connecticut Digest. [Cited by volume and page. Example: 3 Conn. Dig. 232]
Synopsizes and references state and federal court cases in Connecticut and acts as a topical index to most of the official sources and reporters. Covers 1764-2001. Ref. KFC3657 .W47
West's General Digest. Ref. KF141 .G46 2004
Shepard's Atlantic Reporter Citations: Every State & Federal Citation. 2005. Ref. KF135 .A72 S5
Shepard's Connecticut Citations. Library has 1983, 1991. Ref. KFC3659 .J5 1983
§ Other State Courts
Probate Court. Handles estates, trusts, and trusteeships. Forms, publications, directory, and Code of Probate Judicial Conduct at website.
Superior Court Special Sessions. Includes child protection, community court, complex litigation, family violence, housing, small claims, and tax sessions. Information at website.
§ Administrative Agencies and Decisions
Connecticut State Register and Manual. State information and agency data. Library has 1899-present, incomplete. [Non-circ.] Ref. JK3331 2005. Current edition at Info Desk and online.
Opinions of the Attorney General. 1990-2007 are online.
Decisions - Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations. Ref. KFC3380 .C6. Also online.
Decisions of officials and administrative boards at other agencies may be available at agency websites and also via the Judicial Branch Law Libraries website.
§ Rules and Procedures
Connecticut Code of Evidence. Ref. KFC4140 .A3 C8. Also online.
Connecticut Rules of Court. Ref. KFC4129 .A193 2005. Also in Westlaw.
Connecticut Practice Series. Superior Court rules. Ref. KFC3680 .C65. Also online.
Handbook of Connecticut Evidence. Ref. KFC4140 .T33
§ Treatises
Connecticut Family Law Pamphlet. Ref. KFC3694 .A29 C66. Also in Westlaw.
Connecticut Labor & Employment Law. Ref. KFC3931 .C66 2001
Connecticut Practice Series. Ref. KFC3680 .C65. Also in Westlaw.
350 years: Legal and Constitutional Developments in Connecticut, 1638-1988. Ref. KF4530 .C6
§ Federal Courts
U.S. District Court. District of Connecticut. Click here for website. Appeals heard by next court:
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Click here for website.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court. District of Connecticut. Click here for website.
§ Municipal Ordinances
Local governments pass laws much like the state and federal governments do. These are available at city halls, public libraries, or municipal websites. The state law library has a link to many of the online local codes as well as a link to the Municipal Code Corporation, which prints many of the codes for municipalities and allows online searching of any or all the codes in a state with a single query.
Articles from law reviews, law school journals, and publishers like West, BNA and others are regularly cited in legal literature and are an important research source. Our Journals link lists of most of the periodical titles, current and historical, to which you have access through the library, in all formats.
Use the upper search box to enter a journal title to get links to databases containing the journal electronically and a link for any available library holdings as well. You can also use this drop-down box to search for words like connecticut, crimin*, law, legal, legisl* [‘*'= truncation here].
Use the lower drop-down box to look through topical groupings. Click here for the Law, Politics, and Government collection.
Use the indexes in the next section to find citations to periodical articles. For more help, consult our library guide on Finding Articles.
Searching for articles on a subject is best done using an electronic index that searches the contents of many journals at one time. These databases now often provide the full text of articles as well. For tips on finding articles, take our interactive Database Searching Tutorial.
Access all our Databases via the link on the library home page and enter your UNH network login when requested. Most are available 24/7 from any Internet terminal.
Databases dealing with legal studies are listed below. Use the Annotated Listing to get additional information about them. Use the Subject Listing to look for others by topical category. Those under General/Multidisciplinary will have the broadest coverage and perspective.
♦ Primary Legal Databases
Campus Research. Use the Law tab for court cases, statutes and administrative regulations at federal and state levels. Major legal treatises such as American Jurisprudence 2d and American Law Review are available as well as more than 700 journals and law publications. From Westlaw.
HeinOnline. Full text back to the late 1800s of many top state, national, and international legal journals as well as the Federal Register from its first issue in 1936 to the present.
LegalTrac. Indexes law reviews, legal newspapers, bar association journals and international legal publications as well as additional business and general interest titles.
Westlaw. Access our subscription via the ‘View Connecticut Directory' link to find the Connecticut Administrative Code, Connecticut Rules of Court, Connecticut Practice Series, etc. Read these sources in their entirety by getting to the first page or by using a table-of-contents link and looking for ‘Full-text Document' on the left. Note: Westlaw is available only to Paralegal Studies faculty, staff, and students.
♦ Other Useful Databases
Academic OneFile. Peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world's leading journals.
BNA Human Resources Library. Select ‘Connecticut' from the home page and choose your area of interest, such as ‘Labor Relations' or ‘Nondiscrimination and Diversity.'
Criminal Justice Periodicals Index. Focuses on criminal law and legislation.
Current Newspapers and Historical Newspapers. ProQuest databases, especially useful for the Hartford Courant and its coverage of Connecticut law, with total coverage back to 1764.
These selected websites are largely from academic institutions, government agencies, and professional organizations and all appear to be trustworthy. It is usually best to look for sites with .edu and .gov domains. Google "legal studies" for more sites and examine them carefully for their content, currency, and credentials. Always look for the About us link. Here's a good website to help you with the critical evaluation of Internet resources.
♦ General Resources
Law Library of Congress. Links for international, federal, and state legal resources.
The Virtual Chase. Tips on doing legal research.
Voice of the Shuttle: Legal Studies. Portal for many U.S. law sites.
WashLaw Web. From the Washburn University School of Law.
♦ Connecticut Resources
CT.gov. Official state website: Executive/Agencies; Legislative; Judicial; Municipal websites.
Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Libraries. Website has library system catalog and many CT law resources. The nearest library is at 235 Church Street, New Haven. Phone: (203) 503-6828.
Connecticut State Library. Links for Connecticut Law & Legislation and Law and Legislative Reference.
Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association
The Avalon Project, a searchable site that provides access to historical legal documents.
♦ State Resources
American Law Sources Online. Useful for its state information links from the home page.
Legal Information Institute - Cornell University. Includes State Statutes Organized by Topic.
State & Local Government on the Net. A directory of state, county and city government websites.
State Legislatures Internet Links. Investigate bills, constitutions, issues, reports, legislators, and more.
Stateline.org. Choose an issue, or select Connecticut from the state list.
Any questions? Come to the Information Desk, call us at (203) 932-7189, or e-mail us.
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