Fundamental Sources | Words & Phrases
Great places to begin or expand your research

| Words and Phrases is a multi-volume legal dictionary by West. There is a significant difference between Words and Phrases and other legal dictionaries. A typical legal dictionary, such as Black's Law Dictionary, simply provides a term's definition by that publisher, and possibly a reference to a case or statute. Words and Phrases, however, does not provide a publisher's definition of a case. Instead, every word or legal term listed in Words and Phrases is defined by a court quote. That's right, the court itself is defining the term. Thus, Words and Phrases acts as an excellent case finder.
| THE INDEX This is a dictionary, and dictionaries do not have indexes.
| THE MAIN VOLUME Notice the paragraphs in the image above. They are actual quotes from cases. The court is defining the term for you. So not only have you found a definition, you have found primary authority, as well. How cool is that?
| MORE . . . Don't forget to check the pocket part or supplement for each sought-for term! If a pocket part becomes too thick, the publisher will send out a separate softbound supplement instead.