Why does knowing about primary and secondary sources of legal information matter?
It matters because the law is complex. In many cases, particularly when you known nothing about the area of the law you wish to study, it is better to start by reading a secondary source of legal information. If you choose to consult a secondary source of legal information, then the question becomes, which secondary source do you choose? There are many secondary sources of information out there, and you do not have the time to check every possible secondary source, so look at your specific information needs and start with sources that are already in your possession. Here is a good source to check: Your course textbook – The course textbook will help you answer three of the questions in your preliminary project. You will want to use the textbook’s table of contents, index, and glossary. Therefore, you should identify topics and terms to search for in the textbook by looking at the questions you need to answer. Working with Case Names and Citations Review the web page how to read a legal
