Previously issued in print: 2018.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

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. Law plays an important part in the political and social history of the United States. As such, researchers interested in almost every aspect of American life will have occasion to use legal materials. This text provides an overview of legal history research, describing the U.S. legal system and legal authority. It is an essential reference intended for the many nonspecialists who need to enter this arcane and often tricky area of research.

Specialized.

Description based on online resource; title from home page (viewed on April 23, 2019).