What type of authority includes legal encyclopedias, articles, and treatises?

Secondary authority consists of resources that provide commentary, analysis, or restatement of the law, which can include legal encyclopedias, articles, and treatises. These materials serve to interpret and explain primary legal sources, such as statutes, regulations, and case law, thereby assisting legal professionals in understanding and applying the law.

Legal encyclopedias, for example, summarize the law in a comprehensive manner and provide citations to primary sources. Treatises often delve deeply into specific areas of law, offering thorough analysis backed by legal reasoning and relevant case law. Articles in law journals typically discuss emerging legal issues or trends, evaluating existing law or proposing reforms. Together, these resources help clarify the meaning of legal principles and guide practitioners in their research and arguments.

In contrast, primary authority refers to laws and precedents themselves, while tertiary authority includes resources that compile or summarize legal information but do not provide substantive legal analysis. Thus, identifying secondary authority is essential for legal research, as it forms the basis for understanding the application and interpretation of laws.