The document provides information about legal resources available at W&J's library. It lists circulating books on law, databases that contain legal articles and cases, and reference books that define legal terms. It recommends resources like Black's Law Dictionary, West's Encyclopedia of American Law, and sets covering U.S. statutes, court cases, and Congressional actions. The tips section advises searching by call number and consulting librarians for help finding additional legal information.

1. Circulating Collection Databases
 W&J has many books in its circulating We have several databases that provide
collection about law. business information. U. Grant Miller
 To find a book in the library’s catalog, go 1. Academic Search Elite: Full-text Library
to http://www.washjeff.edu/library scholarly articles from 2,000 journals
 Click on “Geotom Catalog” in the gray from 1985 to present.
Quick Links box. 2. LexisNexis Academic: Provides
information about federal and state legal
cases.
Help Guide
Online Sources
These websites provide accurate
information on United States law.
Law
1. The Supreme Court: The Supreme
Court’s official website has a lot of
Resources
 Try using the Advanced Search form. information about the Court including
court rules, opinions, and biographies of
current justices. American law is an
http://www.supremecourt.gov/
2. THOMAS: The Library of Congress’s
extremely complex system
search engine for legislative information. that covers many issues and
Look up bills from Congresses concepts. The law is a vital
throughout history. part of American society.
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php
3. FDsys: GPO’s Federal Digital System.
This guide provides useful
Use this website to find government resources to consult when
 Try a search with “law” in the first box documents online, including learning about the law.
and select “Book” from the drop-down Congressional documents, U.S. Code,
menu next to “type.” and Public and Private Laws.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/
Washington & Jefferson College
60 S. Lincoln St. Washington, PA 15301
Phone: 724-223-6070 User Services
 This will return a very long list of results. Phone: 724-223-6072 Research Services Washington & Jefferson College
Try narrowing it down by searching for a Fax: 724-223-5272
specific legal topic or concept. www.washjeff.edu/library

2. What is law? Reference Books Historic U.S. Court Cases: An
Encyclopedia
 Law is “the discipline and profession KF385 .A4 J64 2001 v.1-2
There are many books in the library’s This set covers over 200 major
concerned with the customs, practices, and Reference Section that define and explain court cases, both state and federal,
rules of conduct of a community that are common terms and concepts used in the study from colonial times to present.
recognized as binding by the community” of law.
(Encyclopedia Britannica).
 In the U.S., the Constitution is “the
supreme Law of the Land” (Constitution,
Article VI). The Supreme Court A to Z
 The Constitution also establishes the KF8742 .A35 S8 2007 The Constitution and Its
judicial system (Constitution, Article III). This volume provides information Amendments
on the Supreme Court, including KF4557 .C66 1999 v.1-4
history, biographies of justices, This set provides a chronological
Where can I find legal resources? cases, and more. history of the Constitution and
amendments and places them in a
 At W&J’s library, we have many resources historical context.
available that will provide accurate
information on law.
 There are three main locations to find Black’s Law Dictionary
information related to business: KF156 .B53 2004
1. The Reference Section, located on This volume, regarded as the most Congress and the Nation
the far wall behind the Research valuable reference in the legal com- KF49 .C653 v.1-11 1945-2004
Services desk on the first floor munity, provides definitions of thou- This set provides information on
2. The Circulating Collection, located sands of legal terms and acronyms Congressional actions and trends.
on the first floor (A-E) and as well as quotations.
downstairs (F-Z)
3. Databases, located on W&J’s library
website at
http://www.washjeff.edu/library Lower Floor Abstracts Alcove and
West’s Encyclopedia of
 There are also online resources you can
American Law
Circulating Collection
consult to find legal information. KF154 .W47 2004 v.1-13
This set provides information on the United States Statutes at Large
Tips people, issues, and events in 345.11 Un3 v.28-97
American law. This set covers the Statutes at Large
and proclamations of the United
 To find similar titles to the ones listed in this
States of America from 1893 to 1983.
guide, check the shelves around the call
numbers given here. Books are shelved by
subject, so you might find a different book The Oxford Companion to
better suited to your needs. American Law
 Remember: reference books can’t be United States Supreme Court
KF154 .O96 2002
Reports, Lawyer’s Edition
checked out and must be used in the This volume provides information
345.5 Un3 v.1-100
library. Items in the circulating collection on a wide variety of topics within
KF101 .A313 1957 Ser. 2 v.1-174
can be checked out. American law.
This set details every Supreme
 Don’t hesitate to ask a librarian for help! Court decision.
Just stop by the Research Services desk.