Secondary Sources in Legal Research: National Encyclopedias

• Multivolume set
• Published by West - Begun by another publisher
• Topics in alphabetical order
• Summary/Scope note at beginning of section
• Some reference to statutes
• Extensive footnotes to primary material
• General index & New Developments volume
• Heavily cross-referenced using West's Topic/Key Number indexing system

• Original West Encyclopedia
• Topic and sections in alphabetical order
• Detailed table of contents
• References to large number of cases; almost no statutes
• Brief summary of legal principles in bold type at beginning of each article
• Heavily cross-referenced using West's Topic/Key Number indexing system

Am.Jur.2d

• Over reliance on case law, but more coverage on statutory law than C.J.S.
• No comprehensive summary of state rules
• Slow to recognize new areas of the law

C.J.S.

• Over reliance on case law
• Sheer size of the set may make  it cumbersome
• Slower to recognize new areas of law