Which of the following is an example of a secondary source in legal research?

• A. Statutes, Constitutions, and court opinions
• B. Treatises, Restatements, and law review articles
• C. Writs and deeds
• D. Case summaries in newsletters

Answer: (B)

Secondary sources provide analysis, interpretation, or synthesis of the law rather than being the law itself. Treatises, Restatements, and law review articles fit this role because they explain doctrines, discuss how the law has developed, and connect different authorities. They help you understand and navigate primary sources.

Primary sources are the actual laws and official decisions: statutes, constitutions, and court opinions. Writs and deeds are primary documents that create or convey rights. Case summaries in newsletters are just summaries of decisions and are typically considered secondary, but they don’t serve as the classic foundational secondary sources like treatises, Restatements, and law reviews.