Introduction

This is a brief guide for the American Jurisprudence 2d.

American Jurisprudence, Second Edition, published by West Publishing Company a division of Thomson Reuters, is an encyclopedic text of both procedural and substantive American law, state, federal, criminal, civil and procedural. Consisting of over 430 topic headings (titles), Am Jur 2d articles collect, examine, and summarize the broad principles of American law and, at the same time, provide direct leads to supporting cases, related annotations, forms, proofs, and trial techniques.

Reserve Room on 4th Floor - KF 154.A42

Books in print:

American Jurisprudence 2d (AmJur 2d) is a multi-volume national legal encyclopedia. The contents of AmJur 2d include state and federal legal topics which are alphabetically arranged in more than 400 topics or chapters. These summarize broad principles of United States law and provide citations to cases, statutes, rules, forms, and A.L.R. annotations.

AmJur 2d is located at KF 154.A42. Annual pocket parts are published to supplement the volumes with relevant new cases and statutory changes.

Begin legal research in the General Index. It is located at KF 154.A42. Topical indexes are located in the last volume of every topic.

The General Index leads to the main volumes of AmJur 2d. Locate a topic and section number from the General Index and locate the main volume covering the topic. Then look at the specific section number in the volume. This will lead to the articles which can be helpful as a general introduction to an area of law. American Jurisprudence's methodology is selective.

Legal encyclopedias are secondary authority which leads to primary authority through the footnotes. Check the main volume for the topic. And, then check the pocket parts and supplementing pamphlets for the most current information on the topic.

Online in Lexis Advance and in Westlaw Next:

American Jurisprudence 2d is available online in Lexis Advance and in Westlaw Next.