NFPA Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE)Legal ResearchMedium
A paralegal is conducting research for a complex civil litigation matter involving a novel issue of state contract law. The paralegal needs to understand the historical development and scholarly analysis of this area of law. Which secondary source would be most appropriate for this purpose?
- AAmerican Law Reports (ALR)
- BRestatements of the Law
- CLaw review article
- DLegal encyclopedia (e.g., C.J.S. or Am. Jur. 2d)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Law review article
Law review articles provide in-depth scholarly analysis, often exploring the historical development, policy implications, and future directions of a specific area of law, which is ideal for novel or complex issues.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. ALR provides annotations summarizing cases on specific legal topics, not deep scholarly analysis or historical development.
- B. Restatements summarize common law principles, but typically do not delve into extensive historical development or scholarly debate.
- D. Legal encyclopedias provide broad overviews of legal topics, but generally lack the detailed scholarly analysis needed for novel, complex issues.
Law Review Article
A scholarly article published in a legal periodical, typically by law professors, judges, or students, offering in-depth analysis of specific legal topics.
- Provides critical analysis and historical context
- Often explores policy implications and future legal developments
- Useful for novel or complex legal issues
Memory trick: Scholarly insight for novel law, law reviews provide the 'why' and 'how'.