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This guide explains how to conduct research in books and articles when writing a seminar paper or note. If most of your research in law school so far has been on Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg Law, this is the right guide for you.

Librarians are available to consult on all aspects of the research process.

Goals of a literature search

A literature search serves two purposes:

  1. Learn about your topic
  2. Make sure your argument is original

Because you need to make sure nobody has already made the argument you plan on making, it's crucial that your literature search be thorough. Be sure to pursue all the avenues listed in this guide to make sure that you don't miss a relevant book or article.

Resources about academic legal writing

This guide is about conducting the research you will need to write a seminar paper or note. The resources below cover this as well as other aspects of the writing process.

Books

Guides from other libraries

Subject Guide

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