Which of the following is a common reason to browse the table of contents in legal research?

Browsing the table of contents in legal research is primarily done to gain a general overview of related laws. The table of contents serves as a roadmap, outlining the key topics, subtopics, and the organization of the material, which can help researchers identify relevant sections quickly. This is particularly valuable in legal texts, where the structure can indicate where specific laws, regulations, or case law may be found.

The other choices do not represent common or effective reasons for consulting the table of contents. Avoiding reading terms would not contribute to understanding legal material, while focusing solely on case law does not utilize the full breadth of resources available in legal texts. Additionally, determining citation formats is typically addressed through specific legal citation guides, not the overall structure provided in the table of contents.