LibGuides: Law and Legal Studies: Encyclopedias and dictionaries

Encyclopedias and dictionaries

Legal encyclopedias are secondary (and sometimes tertiary) sources that explain legal terms and concepts, legislation, and notable court cases. They are a useful starting point for research because they summarize the topic and often provide references to the most important statutes and cases. Legal encyclopedias can be general, or focused on a particular area of law.

Legal dictionaries briefly explain legal terms and concepts. and are useful when you are not clear on the meaning of a legal term, particularly due to the law's extensive use of Latin terminology. Legal dictionaries can be general, or focused on a particular area of law. Some legal dictionaries provide references to a term's use in legislation and court law, to show what the legislature and judiciary intended it to mean.

Legal encyclopedias

Legal encyclopedias can provide you with a summary of the law on your topic.

UMass subscription databases

Westlaw Campus Research This link opens in a new window
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Click on the "Secondary Sources" link, under "By Type", click on American Jurisprudence 2d and enter relevant search terms at the top of the page.

Available on campus to all, or off-campus to UMass Amherst students, staff and faculty with an UMass Amherst IT NetID (user name) and password.
Gale Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new window
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A collection of several hundred current subject encyclopedias including many law-related titles.

Available on campus to all, or off-campus to UMass Amherst students, staff and faculty with an UMass Amherst IT NetID (user name) and password.

Books and e-books

Gale Encyclopedia of American Law by Donna Batten
Call Number: e-Book
ISBN: 9781414436845
Publication Date: 2011
3rd edition.
West's Encyclopedia of American Law by Jeffrey Lehman; Shirelle Phelps
Call Number: KF154 .W47 2005, e-Book
ISBN: 0787663670
Publication Date: 2004
2nd edition. Includes legal dictionary. Link goes to e-Book.
Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law by Shae Irving; Nolo Editors
Call Number: KF387 .N65 2014
ISBN: 9781413319972
Publication Date: 2014
9th edition. A book written in Q&A format that addresses legal issues that one might face in day-to-day life.

Legal dictionaries

UMass subscription databases

Westlaw Campus Research This link opens in a new window
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The online version of the Black's Law Dictionary can be accessed by choosing Secondary Sources > Black's Law Dictionary (on the right side).

Available on campus to all, or off-campus to UMass Amherst students, staff and faculty with an UMass Amherst IT NetID (user name) and password.
Oxford Reference Online This link opens in a new window
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Subscription-based resource providing entries from over 100 Oxford University Press subject and language dictionaries, guides, and concise companions, including many law-related titles.

Available on campus to all, or off-campus to UMass Amherst students, staff and faculty with an UMass Amherst IT NetID (user name) and password.

Web links

Findlaw's Legal Dictionary
Law.com Dictionary
Nolo's Free Dictionary of Law Terms
SCOTUSblog Glossary of Legal Terms
A short glossary explaining the meaning of procedural terms used in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Wex
Wex is a free, online legal dictionary and encyclopedia created by legal experts and hosted by the Legal Information Institute.

Books

Black's Law Dictionary by A. Bryan Garner (Editor-In-Chief)
Call Number: KF156 .B53 2014
ISBN: 9780314613004
Publication Date: 2014
10th edition.
Garner's Dictionary of Legal Usage by Bryan Garner
Call Number: KF156 .G367 2011
ISBN: 9780195384208
Publication Date: 2011
3rd edition.