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University at Buffalo (UB)
The State University
of New York
University Libraries

Secondary Sources

Where to find common secondary sources that are used in legal research
Last Updated: Aug 27, 2025 12:39 PM

Treatises

Treatises

What is a treatise?

A one- or multiple-volume work on a particular legal area written by an expert. Excellent place to familiarize yourself with a subject and obtain references to primary sources. 

How can I identify a treatise on a particular topic?

  • Contact the Law Reference Desk 
  • Check the annotations in annotated codes (e.g., USCA, USCS, McKinney’s, CLS…)
  • Consult Legal Research Guides from other Law School Libraries, e.g.Georgetown

Two examples of print treatises are listed below.