In the context of legal writing, what is the primary audience for secondary sources?

The primary audience for secondary sources in legal writing is indeed composed of lawyers and legal scholars. Secondary sources, such as legal encyclopedias, treatises, law review articles, and commentaries, provide interpretations, analyses, and discussions about the law rather than the law itself. They are utilized to gain insight into legal principles, to understand the implications of certain legal standards, and to facilitate research.

Lawyers use secondary sources to support their arguments, find precedent, and build a comprehensive understanding of the legal issues they are dealing with. Legal scholars refer to these sources to analyze and critique laws and legal opinions, contributing to academic discourse and advancements in legal theory. Secondary sources often serve as a foundation for further legal argumentation and the development of case law, making them invaluable to professionals deeply engaged with the legal system.

While judges, jurors, clients, and government representatives may reference legal texts, their primary reliance is typically on statutes, case law, and the specific evidentiary matters before them, not on secondary literature, which is geared more towards those immersed in the practice or study of law.