Georgetown Law
Georgetown Law Library

United Kingdom Legal Research Guide

This in-depth guide will help researchers navigate legal materials for the United Kingdom.

Getting Started with Secondary Sources

If you are unfamiliar with a particular aspect of UK law, start your research with a secondary source.  In addition to providing background information, explanatory analysis, and commentary, secondary sources will help you to identify statutes, case law, and other primary legal materials that are relevant to your topic.

Scroll down for a selection of introductory resources on UK law, including the most authoritative UK legal encyclopedia.  See the following page for a selection of In-Depth Resources focusing on narrower aspects of UK law, along with tips on how to locate additional resources.

Introductory Resources

The resources listed below provide a general introduction to UK law.  Visit this page of the research guide for a selection of specialized resources focusing on narrower topics.

Legal Encyclopedia

If you are conducting historical research, or are seeking to track changes to the law over time, consult one of the prior editions of Halsbury's Laws of England, which are shelved on the fourth floor of the Wolff Library and in the Historic Core Collection on the lower level of the Williams Library.  First Edition (originally published from 1907-1917); Second Edition (1931-1949); Third Edition (1952-1964); Fourth Edition (1973-2007).