Acorda, Rosechelan Charity G.

1A- Civil Law

Legal Research Atty. George Exiomo

American Digest System and Corpus Juris Secundum 1. Corpus Juris Secundum University of Winconsin, Andersen Library provides that Corpus Juris Secundum is an encyclopedia that uses American case law (federal and state) to provide an overview of almost all areas of law1. The encyclopedia includes definition of legal terms and all concepts in connection to statutory laws. This is a useful system in where cases and other law related concepts are properly organized. Corpus Juris Secundum was originally described as, A complete restatement of the entire American law as developed by all reported cases and it is contemporary statement of American law as derived from reported cases and legislation2 The Corpus Juris Secundum and other Legal Encyclopedias attempts to describe systematically and in an organize way the entire body of legal doctrine. Its citation to jurisprudence and judicial decisions gives its major value in legal research.3 How to use the Corpus Juris Secundum? In the General Index Volume, look for the subject to find the relevant legal topics and subtopics for a specific topic needed. After that, proceed to the subject volumes- it is where the legal topics and subtopics are found. In finding cited cases on the legal topic, look up the cited cases in the National Reporter System, or in one of the online legal research databases: Lexis Nexis Academics or Campus Research, within the text or footnotes, citations can be found and can be use to find related cases of such. Look up the topic and subtopic or key number in the General Digest or digest for the desired level of court and select related cases fro the listing. In pertinent cases, citations can be copied and be search
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http://library.uww.edu/guides/amerdig.html: Andersen Library: University of Winconsin Murray& DeSanctis (2006). Legal Research Method Cohen& Olson (2003). Legal Research in a Nutshell

on the online legal research databases. In checking the current status of cases, Shepard Citator or Key cite in the Westbar Campus Research database provides the current status of cases. Shepard citators, list citations to American Reports and American Jurisprudence. While Key Cite is available through the WestLaw Campus Research database covering all federal and state cases in the National Reporter System as well as statutes.

2. American Digest System Putman (2010) provides that, American Digest System is the most extensive digest. According to him, this digest presents summaries of all the reported state and federal court decisions. The digest consists of several multivolume sets with each covering a specific period or time. However due to the large number and since it covers all cases in different areas in law, this becomes its weakness4. University of Winconsin, Andersen Library also provides, The American Digest System indexes all published federal AND state appellate court cases in two parts: 10-year cumulative indexes called "Decennial" digests and monthly "General" digest volumes for years since the last 10-year cumulation. Digests provide brief summaries of legal issues in the court cases indexed and citations to the cases themselves, which are published in multivolume sets called reporters5 Nowadays, most digests are already in a electronic copy format and can be easily accessed at Lexis Nexis Academic and Campus Research (Westlaw). How to use the American Digest System6? First select the digest/s to use based on the location or date of the cases that is needed, and in that find digest topic and key number for the subject needed. In
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Putman, W. (2010). Legal Research http://library.uww.edu/guides/amerdig.html: Andersen Library: University of Winconsin http://library.uww.edu/guides/amerdig.html: Andersen Library: University of Winconsin

looking for specific subjects, look for alternative words and phrases in the Descriptive Word Index volumes of the digest or scan key numbers that could be useful in the course of researching. Next, look in the digest under topics and key numbers for lists of cases. Most digests topics and key numbers can be used in other cases involving the same issues. The next thing to do is to find and read the cases in reporters, consult for a reference librarian for abbreviations. Examine case headnotes for relevant digest topics and key numbers, the headnotes and other subjects can be used to look for other cases involving the same kind of issue. In looking for updated versions of the cases or digests needed, the shepard citatory can be helpful in looking for such.

Reference Andersen Library: University of Winconsin Website Cohen& Olson (2003). Legal Research in a Nutshell. USA: Thomson West Murray& DeSanctis (2006). Legal Research Method. USA: Thomson West Putman, W. (2010). Legal Research 2nd Ed. USA: Delmar Cengage Learning