Madigan Library

Introduction
The purpose of this online law tutorial is to introduce you to legal research library sources in book (or paper, as it’s often termed) format.  After you complete this lesson, you should have at least a background understanding of how paper law sources work both on the federal and state (Pennsylvania) levels.  When you come to the library class, we will review what you learned in this tutorial, discuss some of the idiosyncrasies of the legal sources covered, and begin work on the graded law assignment.  Since the law can be complicated, I will be available to help you during all aspects of this process.  So, please do not allow yourself to become frustrated.  Together we should be able to make you at the very least novice legal researchers.

Directions for Completion of the Online Law Tutorial
As you work your way through the tutorial, be sure to read each section carefully and one section at a time.  After each major concept is presented, a self-test is given to test your understanding.  You may use the text of the online lesson content to answer the questions.  There is no penalty for doing so. After finishing each test, read and type your name in the space provided next to the "honesty statement." Then, click on the print button at the bottom to print the page.

Table of Contents

• Three Types of Law
  • Self-test 1
• Legal Citations
  • Self-test 2
• Law Source Abbreviations
  • Three Categories of Law, Citation Abbreviations
  • Self-test 3
• Using Law Sources in Paper Format
• Federal Reporters
  • Self-test 4
• Federal Digest System
  • Self-test 5
• Pennsylvania State Reporters and Digest
  • Self-test 6
• Pennsylvania Digest
  • Self-test 7
• Pennsylvania State Administrative Law - Rules & Regulations
  • Self-test 8