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MGT 301 - Legal Environment of Business Course Guide

Legal Research Guide #1: Reading Legal Citations


This Legal Research Guide created by The Boston College Law Library explains the different components used to create a legal citation and explains how to read one.  It also explains some legal abbreviations.

Federal Resources

The United States Code Annotated (USCA), the USCA General Index, and the USCA Popular Names Table can all be accessed electronically through the database Westlaw Next. 

The USCA General Index provides an alphabetical listing of subjects and code titles and the section where each subject is addressed.

The USCA Popular Name Table lists acts of Congress in alphabetical order by popular or statutory name.

To access these items through Westlaw Next follow these steps: 

  1. Go to the library homepage
  2. In OneSearch box click on "Databases."
  3. One the A-Z Database list click on the letter "W."
  4. Click on Westlaw Next.
  5. If you are off campus you will need to enter your Proxy Login information which is your CWID and MyLeo Password.
  6. Once in Westlaw Next in the All Content box click on Statutes and Court Rules.
  7. Then click on the United States Code Annotated (USCA) link.
  8. You can now browse and search the USCA. If you look on the right hand side you will see a Tools & Resources area with access to the General Index and the Popular Name Table.