Legal Encyclopedias & Dictionaries
- Corpus Juris Secundum
- CJS is a good starting point if you have no idea where to begin your legal research, as it will give you a short overview of your topic and lead you to bigger and better resources. Located in the Legal Reference Collection, 4th floor.
- American Jurisprudence 2d through Westlaw Campus
- This encyclopedia is similar to CJS (listed above) - the advantage being that all the referenced cites are hotlinked.
- American Law Reports
- This is more than an encyclopedia. The information it supplies is more indepth, though it also leads you on to further research. WIU has all available sets, which are continuously updated. The indexes are located on study tables in the Legal Reference section. Also available through Westlaw Campus
- West's Encyclopedia of American Law (1998)
- This 12-volume set is written and organized like a standard encyclopedia. Useful for background information on newsworthy topics.
- LEGLREF. KF 154 .W47 1998
- CQ Encyclopedia of American Government
- Composed of five parts, this database covers such legal topics as the Supreme Court, landmark cases, voting rights, presidential powers and the Constitution.
- Black's Law Dictionary, 8th Edition
- Legalese have you perplexed? Have no fear, Black's Law is here! Current edition available at the Government/Legal Information desk. Westlaw path: Content List/Legal Encyclopedias & Dictionaries/Black's Law Dictionary.
- LEGLREF. KF 156 .B53
- Law.com Dictionary
- Look up legal terms in this free online legal dictionary.
