This document provides guidance on using secondary sources like New York Jurisprudence to research legal topics. It notes that secondary sources offer analysis and summaries of primary law and are an excellent way to gain a broad overview before examining case law. The document outlines the structure and contents of national, state-specific, and topic-specific secondary sources and advises beginning research by reviewing the table of contents and index to identify relevant sections. Researchers are directed to consult the print edition of New York Jurisprudence in law libraries or firms to efficiently start their research.

2.  Secondary source
 Excellent way to flesh out an issue before
delving into case law research
 Summary, analysis, and critique of the law
 Cross references to primary sources
 Broad overview of law

3.  National:
 American Jurisprudence 2d (West Publishing)
 State-Specific
 New York Jurisprudence 2d (West Publishing)
 Topic-Specific
 Encyclopedia of the American Constitution
(Macmillan)

4.  Table of Contents
 Detailed and Summary
 Index
 Table of Cases/Authorities
 Multiple volumes, usually topic specific
 E.x. NY Jurisprudence Business Relationships
 Summary of law with case and statutory
references

5.  You are assigned the task of researching (and
eventually writing) an appellate brief for your
research and writing class.
 Your argument involves the constitutionality of
the “photo identification” procedure used by
police.
 Where do you begin learning about this
concept?

6.  In class discussion

7.  Log on to Westlaw and search for “New York
Jurisprudence” to find the database

8.  Once in the NY Jur database, you can either
search with terms and connectors or browse in
the table of contents

9.  By drilling down through the table of contents,
you are able to find the sections you need for
beginning your research

10.  Many libraries retain the print editions of NY
Jurisprudence, and in law firms, it will be more
cost-effective to start with print.
 Start with the index. What are some key
terms?
 Identification, photo identification, eyewitness
identification

11.  The term “identification” leads us to
“Description or identification”
 Photos or photographs
 General discussion see Crimproc § 696-702
 For detailed treatment, see “Pictures and
“photographs”
 “Pictures and Photographs”
 There are a lot of topics under this umbrella. Some
helpful ones are:
 Identification procedures and evidence, informing
witness that suspect has been arrested, mugshot,
prejudicial nature