This guide contains suggested resources and research strategies for Professor Means' Seminar on the U.S. Courts and Legal System. If you have questions or need assistance with your research, just Ask a Librarian!

Vassar's Library Search is a great place to begin your research. It includes books, U.S. government documents, articles, news, and much more. 

Include books (print and online) in your research. Make note of the call numbers for print books; you'll need those to find books in the library! 

Think about what types of sources will you need for your research: Contemporary or historical news? Legal materials, like the text of court decisions or law review articles? Empirical data? The resources highlighted in this guide will help you find different types of sources, which often require different research strategies. 

Make an appointment with a librarian for help with your research! Use the consultation form on the Ask a Librarian page or send an email to researchhelp@vassar.edu and one of Vassar's librarians will meet with you (over Zoom or in person) or send suggestions by email. 

**When the full-text version of an articles is not available, search by journal title to confirm if we have access online or in print. If Vassar doesn't have access to the journal, submit an interlibrary loan request for the article you need.**

Search a list of all databases suggested for Political Science in our databases list here.

Search a list of journals suggested for Law, Politics, and Government from Library Search here.