Corpus Juris Secundum

Definition

Corpus Juris Secundum is a comprehensive legal encyclopedia that organizes and summarizes American law. It serves as a secondary source for legal research, providing commentary, explanations, and citations to cases and statutes, making it an invaluable resource for lawyers, judges, and students. The encyclopedia covers a wide range of topics, ensuring that users can easily access relevant legal information and understand the context of various legal principles.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Corpus Juris Secundum is published by West Publishing Company and is organized into volumes by topic, making it user-friendly.
2. Each topic within Corpus Juris Secundum includes detailed explanations, relevant case citations, and references to statutes, making it a comprehensive tool for understanding the law.
3. The encyclopedia is updated regularly to reflect changes in the law, ensuring that it remains a reliable resource for legal professionals.
4. Corpus Juris Secundum is often used alongside primary sources to provide context and interpretation of legal rules and principles.
5. It is frequently cited in court opinions and legal documents, indicating its authority and importance within the legal community.

Review Questions

• How does Corpus Juris Secundum enhance the understanding of American law for legal professionals?
  • Corpus Juris Secundum enhances understanding by organizing American law into clear topics and providing comprehensive summaries, explanations, and citations. Legal professionals can quickly find relevant information that connects case law and statutes to broader legal principles. This organization allows them to interpret the law more effectively and apply it in their work.
• Discuss the role of Corpus Juris Secundum in the context of secondary sources and its impact on legal research.
  • As a key secondary source, Corpus Juris Secundum plays a vital role in legal research by providing commentary and analysis on primary legal materials. It helps researchers understand complex legal issues by summarizing vast amounts of information into accessible formats. The impact on legal research is significant; it saves time for practitioners by directing them to pertinent cases and statutes while ensuring they have a comprehensive grasp of relevant laws.
• Evaluate the importance of regularly updated editions of Corpus Juris Secundum in maintaining its reliability as a legal resource.
  • Regular updates to Corpus Juris Secundum are crucial for maintaining its reliability as a legal resource because they ensure that the content reflects current laws and judicial interpretations. In an ever-evolving legal landscape, outdated information can lead to misinterpretations or incorrect applications of the law. By continually incorporating recent case law and legislative changes, Corpus Juris Secundum remains an authoritative reference for practitioners who rely on accurate and up-to-date legal information.

Related terms

Legal Encyclopedia: A reference work that compiles and summarizes legal topics, laws, and case law in a structured format for easy access.

Secondary Sources: Materials that interpret or analyze primary sources of law, such as statutes and case law, providing insights and context.

Westlaw:

An online legal research service that offers access to legal databases, including case law, statutes, and secondary sources like Corpus Juris Secundum.