International and Foreign Legal Research

Marci Hoffman (M.L.I.S. UC-Berkeley, 1989), is the Associate Director of the Law Library at Berkeley Law. She has published several works on foreign and international legal research, including International Legal Research in a Nutshell (with Robert Berring). Mary Rumsey (J.D., University of Chicago, 1984; M.L.I.S., Domincan University, 1998) is the Foreign, Comparative & International Law Librarian at the University of Minnesota. Recent publications include Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups and Human Rights (co-edited with David Weissbrodt, 2011).

• IntroductionPart I: Getting Started Chapter 1: IntroductionI.Basic ConceptsII. Types of Legal Materials Used in ResearchIII. Sources of LawChapter 2: English TranslationsI.About TranslationII.Finding TranslationsIII.ConclusionChapter 3: Effective Web ResearchI.Introduction II.Web SearchingIII.Using Search Engines EffectivelyIV.Blogs and Electronic Discussion ListsV.WikisVI.Resource & Citation Management ToolsPart II: Commentary & Analysis Chapter 4: Introductory and Background SourcesI.IntroductionII.Research Guides and BibliographiesIII.Abbreviations and AcronymsIV.International and Foreign Law Terms and PhrasesV.Background Information on an International or Foreign Legal ConceptVI.Information about Foreign Legal SystemsVII.Background Information on International OrganizationVIII.Journal LiteratureIX.Citing International and Foreign Legal MaterialsX.Current Awareness SourcesChapter 5: Beyond Background Sources: Books, Journal Articles and MoreI.IntroductionII.Bibliographic Databases and Online Catalogs III.Journal LiteratureIV.Working Papers, Reports and other Scholarly PublicationsPart III: International Law Chapter 6: Treaties and International AgreementsI.IntroductionII.US Treaties and AgreementsIII.Treaties Where the United States Is Not a Party and Multilateral TreatiesChapter 7: Customary International Law, General Principles, Judicial Decisions, TeachingsI.IntroductionA.Research GuidesB.Customary International LawC.General PrinciplesD.Judicial Decisions and Writings of PublicistsPart IV: Foreign & Comparative LawChapter 8: Foreign LawI.IntroductionII.Locating Primary LawIII.Case LawIV.Other Sources of LawV.Foreign Law Subscription DatabasesVI.Citing to Foreign LawVII.Periodical Literature and Other SourcesChapter 9: Comparative LawI.IntroductionII.Secondary SourcesIII.In PracticeIV.Research GuidesPart V: International OrganizationsChapter 10: Introduction to IOsI.GenerallyChapter 11: United NationsI.Basic ConceptsII.Research GuidesIII.Background InformationIV.Documents and PublicationsChapter 12 The European Union I.IntroductionA.Sources of EU LawB.EU Law-Making InstitutionsC.European Court of JusticeD.Research Strategies and Information SourcesE. Other Useful EU Research SourcesF. Guides to EU ResearchChapter 13: Regional International Organizations (COE, AU, OSCE, OAS)I.Council of EuropeII.African UnionIII.Organization for Security and Co-Operation in EuropeIV.Organization of American StatesPart VI: Selected International TopicsChapter 14: Introduction I.Researching International Topics OutlineChapter 15: Human RightsI.IntroductionII.Starting Points: Secondary SourcesIII.Treaties and Other Human Rights InstrumentsIV.JurisprudenceV.Country ReportsVI.News SourcesVII.BlogsChapter 16: International Criminal LawI.IntroductionII.Historical ResearchChapter 17: Intellectual PropertyI.IntroductionII.Major Areas of IP LawChapter 18: International Environmental LawI.IntroductionII.Sources of LawChapter 19: International Trade LawI.IntroductionII.Foreign InvestmentIII.GATT/WTO SystemIV.North American Free Trade AgreementChapter 20: Private International LawI.IntroductionII.International Business TransactionsIII.Family LawIV.International LitigationChapter 21: International ArbitrationI.IntroductionII.Getting StartedIII.Treaties, Agreements, Model Laws & RulesIV.National LawV.Awards and DecisionsVI.CommentaryVII.Other ResourcesChapter 22: International Courts and TribunalsI.IntroductionII.Researching DecisionsIII.Practice and ProcedureIV.Parties’ SubmissionsV.Research GuidesVI.Other ResourcesAppendix