There are two basic types of legal materials:
These are authorized statements of the law issued by a branch of government. They include:
Understanding the three branches of government aids in distinguishing the source of primary materials.
2. Secondary Law Sources
These sources provide commentary and interpretation of the law. They are a good starting point when researching an unfamiliar area of the law.
Cerro Coso's Ridgecrest campus hosts a branch of the Kern County Law Library.
It features a computer with access to the following resources:
It also houses a collection of legal materials and Nolo books, including:
Here are just a few databases you might use to find articles.
Comprehensive scholarly, multi-disciplinary full-text database, with more than 8,500 full-text periodicals, including more than 7,300 peer-reviewed journals. In addition to full text, this database offers indexing and abstracts for more than 12,500 journals and a total of more than 13,200 publications. The majority of full text titles are in native (searchable) PDF format.
A collection of eBook encyclopedias on nearly every subject, available 24/7 through the Gale Virtual Reference Library platform.
Covers newspapers, magazines, wire services, federal and state court opinions, federal and state statutes, federal regulations, and SEC filings. Updated daily.
