Start your next research project with ALR and AmJur on Westlaw. The experts who write these materials have already read and analyzed hundreds of cases, statutes, rules and other authoritative sources. Because the majority of the components are exclusive to Westlaw, we pride ourselves on being able to offer the only truly integrated legal research system online. The practice guides, forms and legal encyclopedias making up ALR and the AmJur family of products not only reference the primary law that you need but also cross-reference each other. To make your research easier and more cost-effective, hypertext links allow you to immediately jump to the full text of primary law references or to cross-references of secondary materials.

ALR and AmJur are national in scope, but can also be used by attorneys and law students to research the law in a specific jurisdiction.

If you have a Westlaw password, click the links below to get direct access to these databases on Westlaw.

SUBSTANTIVE LAW

American Law Reports (ALR) - This database contains the full text of articles from the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Federal series of American Law Reports. Each ALR article is a complete legal memorandum on a particular legal issue. Attorney-editors collect and analyze the law on the issue and prepare a detailed discussion of the general principles deduced from the research, as well as distinctions, exceptions and applications. ALR may as well stand for Already-Done Legal Research too!

American Jurisprudence 2d (AMJUR) - This database contains the full text of American Jurisprudence 2d, a comprehensive statement of state and federal law. AMJUR contains more than 400 separate titles on a broad range of legal topics, organized as an encyclopedia. Gather background information and determine applicable primary law and leads to secondary materials such as forms and practice guides.

FORMS

Because today's attorney does not have the time to accurately prepare every type of form from scratch, the following two sets offer around 60,000 forms: American Jurisprudence Legal Forms is used for drafting agreements and American Jurisprudence Pleading and Practice Forms Annotated is used for getting through litigation when those agreements and other matters are contested.

However, the databases offer more than just forms. Both sets are annotated with valuable checklists, statutory references, notes on use and research references.

American Jurisprudence Legal Forms, 2d (AMJUR-LF) - Access thousands of transactional forms, including business forms, real estate forms, trust deeds, wills and many more. The database is grouped into 268 topic chapters, closely paralleling the organization of AmJur 2d.

American Jurisprudence Pleading and Practice Forms Annotated (AMJUR-PP) - Access thousands of pleading and practice forms, annotations and cross-references supporting hundreds of litigation practice areas. Typical procedural forms include motions, complaints, affidavits, orders and answers. The forms are selected from the files of hundreds of practicing attorneys. These forms are "court proven" because they have successfully withstood actual litigation.

LITIGATION ELEMENTS

American Jurisprudence Proof of Facts (AMJUR-POF) - Three essential questions in a trial are: What to prove? How to prove it? What is it worth? The articles in AmJur Proof of Facts 1st, 2d and 3d series explain and illustrate how to prove facts that are essential to a cause of action or a defense. These elements of proof help attorneys decide which cases to take. Sample interrogatories help present the case. Also included are elements of damages to ensure that nothing is left on the table. All articles are written by experts in the field.

EXPERIENCED COUNSEL PERSPECTIVE

American Jurisprudence Trials (AMJUR-TRIALS) - Tips from winning litigators for all stages of litigation, including initial investigation, selecting a forum, conducting discovery, negotiating a settlement, retaining expert witnesses, bringing pretrial motions and conducting the trial itself.