May 6, 2009 – Journal articles can be extremely useful when conducting legal research. These secondary sources offer analysis on a particular topic, as well as direct the reader to additional resources. The easiest way to locate on-point articles is by searching an index or a full-text database. Below are a few such sources that are available on the Internet:
HeinOnline – Law reviews and journals including most-cited law journals, ABA journals, and international law journals. Available online using a Wisconsin State Law Library card to firms with 25 or fewer attorneys.
LegalTrac – Citations to articles for all major law reviews, legal newspapers, specialty law publications, bar association journals, legal newspapers, and law-related articles from general interest publications. Available online using a Wisconsin State Law Library card.
Current Law Journal Content – Index of law journal tables of contents. Includes customized alerts by email and RSS. Freely available on the Internet.
BadgerLink – Full-text articles from general (including some legal) journals and newspapers. This Department of Public Instruction-sponsored database is available to all Wisconsinites.
Google Scholar – Google search engine for scholarly literature of all disciplines, including journal articles, books, theses, etc. Freely available on the Internet.
Several of the sources listed above are indexes only and do not include full text articles. Fortunately, many libraries will email, fax, or mail articles for a fee. See the U.W. Law Library’s Guide to Wisconsin Legal Information Sources for more details.
bonnie Shucha is the head reference librarian at the U.W. Law School.
