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Library Logo: return to Library home page Minnesota Legal Research

Last Updated 9/2006. Direct feedback on this page to lawlib@umn.edu.

Introduction

Introduction
This research guide is designed to help you begin your Minnesota legal research.  The guide focuses on useful starting points for law students and practicing lawyers.  It includes selected paper and electronic sources.  Note:  Access to Westlaw and Lexis is limited to U of M law students and faculty.  To locate Minnesota legal research databases on Westlaw or Lexis, choose Minnesota from the list of U.S. states.
The following Law Library pathfinders may also be helpful:

Starting Points for General Research

  1. Minnesota Statutes Annotated.  Location:  Primary KFM5430 1946 .A315; other sets available on Reserve and in Reference Office at the same call numbers.
    • Available in print, on Westlaw or Lexis.
    • Contains current statute text, references for tracing legislative history, citations to secondary sources, and case annotations.
    • Start with the index.

    ☞Tip: Always check for relevant statutes, no matter what your legal research question is.

  2. Dunnell Minnesota Digest ("Dunnell's").  Location:  Reporters [first floor] KFM5445 .A17; other sets available on Reserve and in Reference Office at the same call number.

    • Available in print and on Lexis.
    • Provides a brief description of current law, with citations to statutes and cases.
    • Currently, Dunnell's is the nearest available set to a Minnesota legal encyclopedia.
    • Start with the topics on the spines if possible; use the index as a last resort.

  3. Minnesota Practice Series (the “green books”).  Location:  RESERVE KFM 5480 .M53; other set available in Reference Office at the same call number.
    • Available in print and on Westlaw.
    • Provides well-written description of current Minnesota law in most areas.
    • Contains overviews, practice tips, case and statute citations, and some forms.
    • Start by finding appropriate volumes (e.g., Employment Law and Practice); use the index or table of contents within those volumes. You can also use the softcover general index to the entire series.
    • Most books in this series have their subjects on their spines, but the four volumes entitled Methods of Practice cover a variety of topics. Check the index to the Methods of Practice set if other books in the series do not address your topic.
    ☞Tip:  Titles in the Minnesota Practice Series are listed under Minnesota Treatises, below.

  4. West’s Minnesota Digest.  Location: KFM 5445 .A17 1989 [first floor].
    • Available in print and --as headnotes-- on Westlaw.
    • Provides case summaries and citations, arranged by topic and "key number."
    • Start with Descriptive-Word Index or topics.

Finding Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Materials

Use MNCAT, the Library Catalog (http://mncat.lib.umn.edu).

1.  Select the Advanced Search function in MNCAT.
2.  Include the General Keywords legal education.
3.  Add search terms pertaining to your topic.

☞Tip:  Truncate search terms using a question mark if necessary; e.g., limited liability compan?.  This retrieves several Minnesota CLE publications (both MILE and MCLE) dealing with LLCs.

Finding Minnesota Forms

  1. Use the Advanced Search function in MNCAT.

  2. Include the General Keywords minnesota forms.

  3. Add search terms pertaining to your topic.
Tip: To avoid some irrelevant documents, limit results to materials in the Law Library (using the drop-down menu).

One of the best series of Minnesota legal forms is called the Annotated Document Series. Retrieve these items as follows:

  1. Use the Advanced Search function in MNCAT.

  2. Select Series Keywords; use the phrase annotated document series.

  3. Add specific search terms pertaining to your topic; e.g., commercial mortgage?

See also the Law Library's guide to Finding Forms and Form Books, http://www.law.umn.edu/library/pathfinders/legal-forms.html

Web sources for forms:

Minnesota Secretary of State, Minnesota business forms: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=331

Hennepin County court forms: http://www.mncourts.gov/district/4/?page=1824

Hennepin County Law Library's Forms page: http://hclaw.co.hennepin.mn.us/screens/ll_legal_forms.html 

LawMoose Legal and Government Forms Page:  http://www.lawmoose.com/index.cfm?Action=Library.&Topic=127&CKS=MNLaw

Minnesota Statutes Index--Forms: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/data/revisor/statutes_index/current/F/FO/forms_documents.html

Treatises Covering Minnesota Law

Administrative Law

Minnesota Administrative Procedure, 2d ed. (George A. Beck et al. eds.).  KFM5840 .M56x  (additional set on Reserve).

William J. Keppel, Administrative Practice and Procedure (Vol. 21, Minnesota Practice Series) Reserve KFM5480 .M53 v.21 (additional copy in Reference Office).

Civil and Appellate Procedure

David F. Herr, General Rules of Practice Annotated, 2005 ed. (Vol. 3A, Minnesota Practice Series)  Reserve KFM5480 .M53 v.3A (additional copy in Reference Office).

David F. Herr and Roger S. Haydock, Civil Rules Annotated, 3d ed. (Vols. 1, 1A, 2, & 2A, Minnesota Practice Series) Reserve KFM5480 .M53 (additional set in Reference Office). Eric J. Magnuson and David F. Herr, Appellate Rules Annotated, 2005 ed. (Vol. 3, Minnesota Practice Series).  Reserve KFM5480 .M53 v.3 (additional copy in Reference Office).

Douglas D. McFarland & William J. Keppel, Minnesota Civil Practice, 3d ed.  Reserve KFM5930 .M3 1999 (additional set in Reference Office; also on Lexis).

Maynard E. Pirsig, Pirsig on Minnesota Pleading, 5th ed.  Reserve KFM5935 .P57x 1987 (also on Lexis).

Corporations

John H. Matheson & Philip S. Garon, Minnesota Corporation Law & Practice, KFM5610 .M38 (additional  set on Reserve).

John H. Matheson & Brent A. Olson, Business Law Deskbook, 2002- (Vol. 20 & 20A, Minnesota Practice Series) Reserve KFM5480 .M53 (additional copy in Reference Office).
Criminal Law
Frederic Bruno, The Drinking Driver in Minnesota, 3d ed.  Reserve KFM5697.8 .B78x (also on Lexis).

Martin J. Costello, Richard S. Frase & Stephen M. Simon, Minnesota Misdemeanors and Moving Traffic Violations, 3rd ed. KFM5975 .C67x 1999 (additional set on Reserve; also on Lexis).

Julie A. Helling, Manual for Prosecution of Domestic Violence.  Reserve KFM5967.F35 H35x 1999.

Henry W. McCarr, Criminal Law and Procedure, 3d ed. (Vols. 7, 8, 9, & 9A, Minnesota Practice Series). Reserve KFM5480 .M53 (additional set in Reference Office).

Minnesota District Judges Association, Jury Instruction Guides - Criminal, 4th ed. (Vols. 10 & 10A, Minnesota Practice Series).  Reserve KFM5480 .M53 (additional copy in Reference Office).
Debtor/Creditor
Allan J. Zlimen, Minnesota Collections, Reserve KFM5567.C6 Z55.
Employment
Stephen F. Befort, Employment Law and Practice, 2nd ed. (Vol. 17, Minnesota Practice Series). Reserve  KFM5480  .M53 v.17 (additional copy in Reference Office).  

Maynard G. Sautter, Employment in Minnesota:  A Guide to Employment Laws, Regulations, and Practices, 3rd ed.  KFM5731 .S28x
(also on Lexis).
Evidence
Bertrand Poritsky, Minnesota Evidence Trialbook. Reserve KFM5940 .P67x 1987 (also on Lexis).
Peter N. Thompson & David F. Herr, Courtroom Handbook of Minnesota Evidence, 2005 ed. (Vol. 11A, Minnesota Practice Series) Reserve KFM5480 .M53(additional copy in Reference Office).
Peter N. Thompson, Evidence, 3d (Vol. 11, Minnesota Practice Series). Reserve KFM5480 .M53 v.11 (additional copy in Reference Office).
Family Law
Minnesota Family Law Practice Manual, 3d ed. (Cathy E. Gorlin, ed.).  Reserve KFM5494 .D38x (also on Lexis).

Martin L. Swaden & Linda A. Olup, Family Law, 2d ed. (Vol. 14, Minnesota Practice Series). Reserve KFM5480 .M53 v.14 (additional copy in Reference Office).
Insurance
Michael K. Steenson, Minnesota No-Fault Automobile Insurance, 3d ed.  Reserve KFM5591.A46 S732 (also on Lexis).

Britton D. Weimer et al., Insurance Law and Practice, 2002 ed. (Vol. 22, Minnesota Practice Series).  Reserve KFM5480 .M53 v.22 (additional copy in Reference Office).
Juveniles
Robert Scott & John O. Sonsteng, Juvenile Law and Practice, 3rd ed. (Vols. 12-13, Minnesota Practice Series). Reserve KFM5480 .M53 (additional set in Reference Office).
Probate
Mark D. Helland, Minnesota Probate Deskbook. (Vol. 24, Minnesota Practice Series).  Reserve KFM5480 .M53 v.24 (additional copy in Reference Office).

Stein on Probate, 4th ed. (Robert A. Stein ed., 2004-).  Reserve KFM5544 .S7  (also on Lexis).

 
Real Estate

James D. Olson, Minnesota Residential Real Estate.  KFM5526 .O47 1991 (also on Lexis).

Eileen Roberts, Real Estate Law, 2004 ed. (Vol. 25, Minnesota Practice Series).  Reserve KFM5480 .M53 v.25 (additional copy in Reference Office).

Trial Practice

Ronald I. Meshbesher, Trial Handbook for Minnesota Lawyers (Vol. 23, Minnesota Practice Series).  Reserve KFM5480 .M53 v.23.

Minnesota District Judges Association, Jury Instruction Guides -- Civil, 4th ed. (Vols. 4 & 4A, Minnesota Practice Series) Reserve KFM5480 .M53 v.4, 4A (additional set in Reference Office).

See also Civil and Appellate Procedure, Evidence, and Criminal Law headings above.

Minnesota Legal Periodicals

While law review articles from Minnesota law schools are indexed in major legal periodicals indexes such as LegalTrac and Index to Legal Periodicals, smaller publications such as Hennepin Lawyer are not.  For a comprehensive index to Minnesota legal periodicals since 1984, use the Minnesota Legal Periodicals Index (http://www.lawmoose.com/index.cfm?Action=MLPI.ShowArticleFinder) available at LawMoose.

Further Help

The definitive guide to legal research in Minnesota is John Tessner, Brenda Wolfe & George R. Jackson, Minnesota Legal Research Guide, 2d ed.  (W.S. Hein, 2001).   KFM5475  .S63 2001 [third floor]; additional copies on Reserve and in Reference Office at the same call number.  If you have questions about your Minnesota legal research, ask for help in the 612-625-4309, law-ref@umn.edu.

Updated 9/2006. Links verified 4/14/2008

Direct feedback on this page to lawlib@umn.edu

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Last modified on June 9, 2008