Do you ever find yourself looking for help getting started in legal research? Do you find yourself wanting to know the basics of a common resource? Do you wonder what resources the Law Library has available to you? If you ever finding yourself answering “Yes” to one of these questions, then you may want to consider checking out the Texas Tech Law Library’s Research Guide Series (also called “LibGuides”).
The Law Library’s LibGuides are 60+ Research Guides (and growing!) on a variety of topics. Four guides are “Library Services”, with guides marketed to different patron groups, such as Faculty, Students, Members of the Bar, and Members of the Public. These guides help different patrons find the services available to them.
The next group of guides are our Course & Subject guides, under the collective brand “What2Use”. These guides are resources in particular subjects, tied to particular College of Law courses. Each guide is divided into parts containing primary law sources, study materials for students, and materials for practitioners and advanced researchers. Guides are available for all required doctrinal courses, all bar exam electives, and a number of other popular electives. We are expanding this list, as well as continually reviewing and updating the existing guides.
The other major category of the Law Library’s LibGuides is the “How2Use” guide series. The How2Use guides focus on specific resources, such as Dorsaneo’s Texas Litigation Guide, or general guides on using resources, such as our guides on Legal Apps or Terms and Connectors searching. We are also continually expanding this list, as well as updating existing guides: Watch for guides on legal citation and O’Connor’s Online in the coming weeks.
The last few guides don’t fit into particular categories, but include such topics as bar prep materials, online people & property searches, and a guide for Spanish-speaking patrons to help find Spanish-language resources.
So, check out the Law Library’s LibGuides when you need a place to get started. You’re sure to find something helpful.
Have a suggestion for a Law Library Research Guide topic, or a resource to be added to one of our existing LibGuides? Send your suggestions to Joshua Pluta at joshua.pluta@ttu.edu.
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