Legal Work Calls For Authoritative Primary And Secondary Sources

In a world where 77 percent of Americans believe that major media outlets report fake news, legal work is at the opposite end of the spectrum. It's all about hard facts and opinions from learned experts, so it's held to a much higher standard. In legal work, the usage of primary and/or secondary sources is required. No other types of sources are permitted.

Whether you're interested in doing legal work or accessing articles about law, you'll find that learning how authoritative sources are utilized is useful. The stringent guidelines for sources in legal work are designed to ensure that only verifiable facts and respected opinions are part of the equation. Anyone who is putting together reports or articles should find quality sources, too. These sources add gravity and credibility to every kind of content.  

Primary sources are the law itself

Primary sources are actually the law itself, such as statutes, cases, and legislation, according to the Harvard Law School Library. These sources are considered primary because they are trustworthy and respected sources. These primary sources may be based on state or federal law. Outside of legal work, professional writers who pride themselves on coming up with content that is relevant and credible may also use the law as a source for their content, but they have the freedom to move beyond primary (and secondary sources).

For example, a writer might reference the New York Times, which has been deemed a respected publication known for its integrity, or reference a peer-reviewed scientific study. These types of trusted, authoritative publications are great examples of credible sources outside of the realm of legal work. When it comes to legal work specifically, primary sources and secondary sources can be cited almost exclusively.

Secondary sources are often used to find primary sources

Secondary sources are authoritative, but not as authoritative as primary sources. Secondary sources include legal dictionaries, law journals, encyclopedias, treatises, and U.S. law reports. Restatements are also examples of secondary sources. Many people who do legal research begin with secondary sources and use those sources to find primary sources.

Generally, secondary sources are background materials that are typically more in-depth in terms of explaining facts and concepts, so they are good starting points for legal research. With a secondary source, the author of that source has already done a lot of research, which others can draw on, and this research may include references to relevant and binding laws i.e. primary sources. Most people who do legal work utilize primary sources and then add secondary sources sparingly. 

Sources must be cited correctly

Legal work must include primary and secondary sources that are cited correctly, according to a specific style guide, such as MLA or APA. Each style of writing has its own rules, which are very easy to find online and extremely detailed. Citing sources properly is an important aspect of creating professional legal work that is taken seriously. 

Now that you know more about authoritative sources for legal work, you have a deeper understanding of how legal research is conducted.  People who carry out research and legal writing can benefit from introducing authoritative sources into their work, which give depth and credibility. 

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