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International Law: Where to Begin

Where to Begin

Use general reference tools to start.  Find background material on applicable laws or conventions and the relevant organizations to provide context for your research and to discover the vocabulary and acronyms used in discussions of your topic.  Sources such as encyclopedias, dictionaries and research guides are useful for providing overviews of your topic and the organizations involved and for providing suggestions to help you identify, locate and understand useful resources.  The websites of agencies, organizations, legislative bodies, courts and countries often provide useful information as well.

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

           Dictionary of international and comparative law 3d ed.- Fox, James R. Dobbs Ferry NY: Oceana, 2003

               Call Number: Core KZ 1161 F69 2003                            
             
           Legal systems of the world : a political, social, and cultural encyclopedia - Kritzer, Herbert M. ed.
Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO,             2002

               Call Number: Core K 48 L44 2002
                         

Research Methodologies

            Guide to international legal research  5th ed.- George Washington U. International Law Rev. Newark NJ: LexisNexis Matthew             Bender, 2003

Covers primary and secondary sources.
Call Number: Core KZ 1234 G84 2003

           International and foreign legal research: a coursebook  2d ed. - Hoffman, Marci and Mary Rumsey. Leiden; Boston: Martinus             Nijhoff, 2012          

Excellent, helpful guide to international and foreign legal research with extensive lists of resources, including resources for foreign law.
Call number: K 85 H64 2012 and e-book

            International legal research in a nutshell. - Hoffman, Marci and Robert C. Berring. St. Paul MN: ThomsonWest, 2017

A very useful "nutshell" book.
Call Number: KZ 1234 H64 2017

            Legal research methods in a modern world: a coursebook 3d ed. - Lomio, J. Paul, Henrik Spang-Hanssen and George D.             Wilson. Copenhagen, DK; Portland OR: DJØF, 2011

Focus primarily on US and EU.
Call Number: Core K 85 L66 2011

Other Research Guides