What is defined as secondary legal research?

Secondary legal research is recognized as research that provides commentary, analysis, or interpretation of the law rather than presenting the law itself. This includes materials such as legal encyclopedias, law review articles, treatises, and other scholarly works that discuss statutes, case law, and legal principles.

These sources offer critical insights and context that can help legal professionals understand the implications and applications of primary legal materials. In contrast, primary legal research involves the examination of statutes, case laws, and official legal documents which represent the actual legal rules or precedents that govern conduct.

By engaging with secondary sources, a researcher can gain a broader understanding of how specific laws have been interpreted and applied in various cases, providing valuable perspectives that may inform legal arguments or case strategies. This distinguishes it from the other forms of research, which focus on direct legal authority rather than commentary or analysis.