Detailed information on particular secondary sources can be found in the Wyoming Legal Research text. Here are some general pointers:
Use at the outset of your research for background on an unfamiliar topic:
- Treatise or Nutshell
- Internet Searching - even Wikipedia may provide useful background and links!
Use near the beginning of your research for narrow topics and for citations to primary authorities:
- Law reviews or other legal periodicals
- Legal encyclopedias
- American Law Reports (A.L.R.)
Use for in-depth analysis and scholarly discussion:
- Treatise
- Restatements
- Law reviews
Use for obtaining the most current information on pending appeals, lawsuits, legislative developments:
- Legal newspapers or current awareness service
Use closer to the end of a research project, to confirm conclusions or refine analysis:
- Treatise
- Law reviews, especially if current
Use for expanding a research project to persuasive authority:
- A.L.R.
- Legal encyclopedias
It is best if the secondary sources you consult are as up to date as possible. If you have to use an older source, you will need to update both the cites to primary law and the analysis. If you are online, avoid printing out lengthy documents that may prove to be marginally relevant.