Using Legal Treatises
Legal treatises can be a helpful secondary source when researching an area of law that is unfamiliar to you. Legal treatises are single or multi-volume books that provide in-depth, scholarly analysis on a specific legal topic. They provide a comprehensive overview and history of a subject, and also include references to primary materials, such as case law and statutes.
When using material from a treatise, it is always important to check that the material has not been amended or superseded by other law. You must Shepardize or KeyCite or cited cases and statutes and confirm they are still good law. Because of the nature of publication times, updates to treatises can sometimes lag behind new developments in the law.
For more information on treatises and legal research, check out the other Research Guides published by the Gould Law Library.
About this Libguide
This guide is intended to help the user easily locate a helpful treatise. To assist you in finding a treatise, this guide lists a collection of major treatises in an array of different areas of law. It includes both general treatises, covering federal or multi-jurisdictional topics, and New York-specific treatises. All resources included in this guide are available or accessible through the Gould Law Library or via legal research databases, such as Westlaw or Lexis.
Please note that this guide provides only a selection of the treatises available. If you need assistance finding additional materials, or materials on topics not listed in this guide, the library will be happy to help you.
Have a Question? Need Help?
Chat with a Touro Law librarian and get the guidance, advice, and help you need to get your research off on the right foot.
Email us whenever you like and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Call or text us during our regular hours.
In Person Students can speak with a librarian in person at the Gould Law Library
Make an appointment, whether it's a quick question or a consultation, we are here to help. Email libraryreference@tourolaw.edu to set up an appointment with one of our law librarians.
ZOOM reference is available upon request.
No matter how you get in touch with us, we’re your lifeline – we're here to support you in your studies, your research, and your preparation to practice law.