Characteristics

• background information and jargon
• cites to major cases, statutes and regulations
• give general state of the law (settled doctrine)
• do not analyze or criticize
• slow to recognize new areas of law
• cover many topics in little detail

National Encyclopedias

1. American Jurisprudence 2nd
2. Corpus Juris Secundum

American law in a ‘A to Z’ list by subject: ‘Abandoned, Lost and Unclaimed Property’ to ‘Zoning and Planning.’ 

State Encyclopedias

17 true state encyclopedias.  Often very helpful for state law issues.