Should you start your research with secondary sources for each unfamiliar legal issue?

Starting your research with secondary sources for unfamiliar legal issues is beneficial because these sources provide valuable context, background information, and a comprehensive overview of legal topics. Secondary sources, such as legal encyclopedias, treatises, and law review articles, help to clarify complex legal concepts and can guide you toward relevant primary sources, like statutes and case law. They often summarize and analyze the law, making it easier for researchers to understand the framework and underlying principles governing a particular area of law.

Moreover, secondary sources can highlight relevant case law and statutory provisions, along with interpretations or applications that may be pivotal in understanding how the law operates in practice. This foundational knowledge is crucial when delving into more complex legal issues as it equips researchers with the necessary tools and terminologies to effectively navigate primary sources and legal precedents.

While it can be useful to consider the complexity of the issues or any existing knowledge the researcher may have, beginning with secondary sources generally serves as a strategic approach to legal research, especially for those who are still familiarizing themselves with the law.