Getting Acquainted with the Law and the Justice System

Last month, a patron asked your friendly law librarian if Black’s Law Dictionary was a good place to begin reading if someone wanted to start learning about the law and the justice system. The answer is no — unless you really love reading dictionaries, in which case, the Law Library has several editions of Black’s Law Dictionary, Ballentine’s Law Dictionary and Bouvier’s Law Dictionary available for your perusal.

Where to start your research will really depend on your interests and goals. The library user that inspired this post did not have a specific question or topic in mind. He just thought it was a good idea to learn about the law and the justice system. If you’re of the same mind, then check out these resources, which will help you get started.

• Court Websites
  • The Maryland Judiciary’s Website – MDCourts.gov
  • The Federal Courts’ Website – www.uscourts.gov
  • The Circuit Court’s Website – www.circuitcourt.org
• Legal Information Websites
  • The Maryland People’s Law Library – www.peoples-law.org
  • NOLO – www.nolo.com
  • ACLU’s Know Your Rights – https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights
• Legal Encyclopedias
  • American Jurisprudence 2d – available in print and online through the Law Library’s WestlawNext subscription
  • Maryland Law Encyclopedia – available in print and online through the Law Library’s WestlawNext subscription

We will publish a more detailed post on each resource throughout the month of March, so stay tuned! There are many more great resources to help you get acquainted with the law and the justice system. If you would like more personalized guidance, please contact the Law Library!