Introduction
This guide is a list of selected resources available within the library’s collection that address legal research, drafting and editing. Use the library’s online catalog to locate additional resources on any topic. The majority of the library’s collection of resources on legal research, drafting and editing are located on the second floor in and around the KF240 call numbers. Call numbers for the resources detailed below are provided in brackets following the title of each resource. Please contact the reference librarians for additional help.
- Research Guide : Research, Drafting and Editing ResourcesTo download this libguide as a handout, click here.
Legal Research
Just Research, Second Edition by Call Number: KF240 .O18 2009ISBN: 9780735576704Comprehensive resource on legal research
Fundamentals of Legal Research by Call Number: KF240 .J32 2015ISBN: 160930056410th ed.
General overview of legal materials, analysis techniques, and legal research strategies
Legal Analysis by Call Number: KF240 .R63 2009ISBN: 1594602794Authority, case analysis, statutory analysis, synthesis and preparing a legal argument
Basic Legal Research by Call Number: KF240 .S66 2018ISBN: 9781454894018Publication Date: 20187th ed.
Widely used text offering coverage of legal research in a succinct and student-friendly manner.
Internet Sources
Legal Research
- Cornell LIILegal Information Institute (LII); includes links by legal subjects ("Law About") and "Law by Source"
Form Books
A variety of form books useful in drafting legal documents are located in KF170 call number range on the second floor of the library. The form books located there address a wide variety of legal topics from corporate and business forms, real property, commercial issues and bankruptcy. The following all offer a comprehensive selection of forms.
- American Jurisprudence Legal Forms byCall Number: KF170 .A542Ceased updates after 2014
Available on Westlaw - Cyclopedia of Legal Forms Annotated byCall Number: KF170 .N5Ceased updates after 2014
Available on Lexis
Internet Sources
Legal Forms
- LexisOne FormsForms are free but users must register to access them
- Findlaw FormsMostly links to forms produced by governmental entities
- Government FormsForms for "the top 500 government services used by the public
- IRS.govIRS tax forms and publications
Drafting Judicial Opinions
Judicial Opinion Writing Manual by Call Number: KF250 .J83 1991ISBN: 0897076907Publication Date: 1991-01-01Crafting opinions, the format of an appellate opinion, citation format and writing style- Judicial Opinion Writing byCall Number: KF250 .G46 2000ISBN: 1575884143Publication Date: 2000-01-01Writing judicial opinions, trial and appellate, ethics, process, writing technique, word usage, the role of the law
clerk, criticism of judges and their opinions 
Statutes and Statutory Construction by Call Number: KF425 .S25 2018Publication Date: 2018Excellent resource for issues of statutory construction
Legal Drafting
Legal Writing in Plain English, Second Edition by Call Number: KF250 .G373 2013ISBN: 0226283933Publication Date: 2013-08-26Word choice, framing your thoughts, phrasing, editing, typeface, constructive criticism
Legal Drafting in a Nutshell by Call Number: KF250 .H343 2016orPublication Date: 20164th ed.
General work on drafting with specific emphasis on contracts rather than briefs
Online resource
Legal Reasoning and Legal Writing by Call Number: KF250 .N48 2009ISBN: 0735576661Publication Date: 2009-03-30Comprehensive work on legal writing
The Tao of Legal Writing by Call Number: KF250 .S85 2009ISBN: 1594606331Publication Date: 2009-08-01Includes concrete examples and descriptions with a goal to make the reader think differently about legal writing
Mastering Legal Analysis and Drafting by Call Number: KF250 .K86 2009ISBN: 1594606285Publication Date: 2009-08-01Emphasizes the fundamental structure and methods of legal drafting
Corporate Drafting
Legal Usage in Drafting Corporate Agreements by Call Number: KF250 .A32 2001ISBN: 1567204104Publication Date: 2001-06-30Process and conventions employed in the drafting of contracts- Fundamental concepts in drafting contracts: what most attorneys fail to consider byCall Number: KF1428 .F86 2015orPublication Date: 2015Online resource
