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Reference materials such as the Blackstone legal dictionary can be helpful resources for people seeking to gain a better understanding of the legal system.

About the Blackstone Legal Dictionary

Sir William Blackstone, an English jurist and professor, wrote Commentaries on the Laws of England during the mid 1700s. A historical and analytic treatise on the common law of England, it was first published in four slim volumes. Topics covered included:

• The rights of persons, including relationships between husband and wife or employer and employee
• The rights of things, an explanation of property law
• Of private wrongs, a discussion of torts and civil law procedures
• Of public wrongs, an analysis of criminal law

Commentaries on the Laws of England was a phenomenal success during its time and is still used today as a reference on classical views of common law principles. U.S. courts, including the United States Supreme Court, frequently quote Blackstone when issuing decisions on important cases. Commentaries on the Laws of England is often referred to as the Blackstone legal dictionary.

As a public service, The Avalon Project has made Commentaries on the Laws of England available online. You can also purchase a copy from Amazon.com.

Other Legal Dictionaries

While the Blackstone legal dictionary is a great resource for law professionals, it can be difficult for the average person to understand. Additionally, since the book is not organized like a traditional dictionary, you may struggle to locate a particular term.

If you have questions about basic legal concepts, you may have better luck finding the information you need by turning to an online legal dictionary. For example:

• Jurist offers a short legal glossary that could work well as a reference for students learning about government and the legal system. The glossary can easily be printed to use as a study guide for exams.
• Law.com offers an easy-to-use legal dictionary that lets you search for terms, browse an alphabetical index, or look for definitions that include a specific phrase. The definitions are fairly short, but they do provide enough detail to help a layperson better understand key legal concepts. Cross-references are also available for many terms.
• Nolo's Legal Glossary is a great resource for anyone in search of plain English definitions for common legal terminology. Simply search for the term you need or browse the alphabetical index. The site's definitions are brief, but there are cross-references to articles and additional resources for visitors who are interested in learning more about a particular topic.
• WWLIA Legal Information Services has prepared a dictionary that offers extensive definitions for a variety of legal terms. In fact, many of the definitions are detailed enough to resemble short articles.
• The 'Lectric Law Library's Legal Lexicon boasts thousands of legal definitions. However, there is no search engine available and the site's design is somewhat distracting.
• Find Law offers a free online legal dictionary with a convenient search engine. However, many of the definitions are not very detailed. If you have no prior understanding of legal concepts, this site may not provide the level of explanation you need.

Since it can sometimes be difficult to determine the accuracy of the information you've found in a legal dictionary, it's a good idea to check the definition of a particular term in two or three different glossaries. If the definitions match, you can be reasonably certain the information is correct. If they don't match, however, additional research is needed.

Knowing When to Seek Professional Legal Advice

Although references such as the Blackstone legal dictionary and online legal glossaries can be useful tools for understanding common legal concepts, they are not intended as a substitute for the services of a qualified attorney. Ideally, you should use these resources as a tool to help you make better decisions about your legal needs while working with your attorney. Whether you're interested in getting a divorce, filing for bankruptcy, or writing a will, an experienced attorney will be your best advocate as you deal with the complexities of the legal system in the United States.

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