"The study of legal history has a broad application that extends well beyond the interests of legal historians. An attorney arguing a case today may need to cite cases that are decades or even centuries old, and historians studying political or cultural history often encounter legal issues that affect their main subjects. Both groups need to understand the laws and legal practices of past eras. This essential reference is intended for the many nonspecialists who need to enter this arcane and often tricky area of research"--Back cover.

"This timely, clearly organized, and easy-to-use resource is an ideal text for LIS students preparing for careers as librarians. It provides an overview of the basic structure of the U.S. legal system; how-to instructions for finding primary law in print sources, free websites and pay-for-view databases; information on how to evaluate the trustworthiness of online and print resources; tips for conducting a legal reference interview; and guidance for handling common legal questions, such as lawsuits, family law, landlord-tenant disputes, and wills"--

Answering legal reference questions can be stressful and confusing. Healey provides tips and techniques to help you provide the answers to the questions, or know when to refer the patron to experts.