In law, there are various types of books, like treatises, textbooks, and annotations. A well-referenced book serves as a great starting point in the legal research process.
This section of the Legal Research Manual introduces the various type of books common in law and explains what they can be used for.
Textbooks are introductory texts, typically focusing on a particular area of law. They are not as in-depth as treatises, but provide the general principles and an overview of the topic, along with discussion of relevant case law and legislation.
Treatises are scholarly books that provide a thorough discussion and analysis of an area of law (e.g. Torts or Criminal Law). They can be considered persuasive and cited by the courts, since they are written by experts like legal scholars and lawyers with extensive expertise in the field.
Other scholarly books focus on a particular topic or research question. They tend to have a much narrower focus than textbooks and treatises, but can be helpful for digging deeper into a particular topic in law.
Annotations are books dedicated to the consideration of particular statutes. They typically include the full text of the statute(s) in addition to commentary, history, and references to judicial consideration. They are helpful resources for learning about the background and application of particular statutes.
Looseleafs are book-sized binders which allow pages with out-of-date information to be replaced periodically by newer pages with up-to-date information. Many are now available online, but retain their looseleaf nature by being more frequently updated than other ebooks (i.e., monthly instead of once every several years). Their main advantage is therefore that they tend to reflect a more current version of the law than other types of books.
Two good starting points for finding books on a specific legal topic at Queen's are:
Queen's students and researchers also have the ability to borrow books from many other academic institutions in Ontario and beyond.
►See Request Materials for more information on how to borrow resources from other universities.
