Which of the following is NOT a common tool used in legal research?

The correct answer is identified as fiction books, which are not typically utilized as tools for legal research. In legal research, practitioners rely on resources that provide factual, legal, and procedural information pertinent to cases, statutes, regulations, and legal principles.

Dictionaries, for example, are essential for understanding legal terminology and definitions. This precise use of language is crucial in legal documents, court opinions, and statutes. Caselaw databases are invaluable for accessing court decisions that interpret laws and set precedents, essential for building legal arguments. Legal encyclopedias provide comprehensive overviews of various legal topics, summarizing key concepts and relevant case law, serving as a great starting point for research.

Fiction books, while useful for entertainment or exploring themes related to law, do not provide the authoritative legal information or guidance necessary for legal research objectives. Hence, they do not serve as a common tool within the actual framework of legal research practice.