Introduction: Legal News
This page identifies sources to keep up to date on the developments in the law and in the legal profession.
Newspapers, Magazines, and Websites
National Legal Newspapers
The National Law JournalWeekly newspaper covering national legal issues, legislation, verdicts, and appellate decisions. Paper issues on Popular Periodicals shelves (1st Floor), older issues on microform in Media Room. Limited public access to stories and full subscriber access on its website.
Roll Call"The newspaper of Capitol Hill." Covers legislative developments in the U.S. Congress as well as Congressional Elections.
California Legal Newspapers
Capitol WeeklyWeekly newspaper covering legislative news in California. Free website includes complete issues in PDF format.
The RecorderWeekly newspaper covering California legal news. Includes new judicial opinions in the California Daily Opinion Service (full-text available online only). Last three months available in print on the Popular Periodical shelves (1st Floor). Subscribers only website.
Los Angeles Legal Newspapers
Los Angeles Daily JournalDaily newspaper covering Los Angeles legal news and community. Current issues available in print at the Circulation Desk. Older issues on microform in Media Room. Subscribers only website.
Metropolitan News-EnterpriseDaily newspaper covering local Los Angeles legal news. Paper copies from the previous year are available in the Popular Periodicals shelves on the first floor of the library. Free access to many stories on website.
Other City Legal Newspapers
Chicago Daily Law BulletinDaily newspaper covering developments in the law for the Chicago area. Not owned by library. Website has subscriber only access.
New York Law JournalDaily newspaper covering the legal community of New York City. Recent issues available on the Popular Periodical shelves (1st Floor). Older issues on microform in the Media Room. Limited public access and full subscriber access to website.
San Francisco Daily JournalDaily newspaper covering Bay Area legal news. Last three months of print issues available in the Popular Periodical shelves (1st Floor). Subscribers only website.
Introduction: Magazines
Because magazines often have a less frequent publication schedule than newspapers, they tend to focus more on longer feature stories and less on breaking news developments. In addition, magazines often place more emphasis on the legal profession than on the law itself.
ABA JournalMonthly magazine covering the legal profession published by the American Bar Association. Current issues available on the Popular Periodicals shelves (1st Floor). Older issues available in print in the Darling Pavillion periodicals collection and in microform in the Media Room. Website provides free public access to print articles, as well as additional breaking news coverage and legal bloggers.
The American LawyerMonthly magazine covering the legal professional. Notable for its AmLaw 100 law firm rankings. Recent issues available on the Popular Periodicals shelves (1st Floor). Older issues on microform in the Media Room. Limited public access and full subscriber access at http://americanlawyer.com. Complete issues available on free mobile apps (iPhone/iPad and Android).
California LawyerMonthly magazine covering California legal news and analysis. Older issues in Darling Pavilion periodical collection. Last year's worth of issues available online for free on website.
Introduction: Websites
It's difficult to summarize legal news websites, because there are so many different types of sites. There are "hard news" sites, like JURIST, that operate much like newspapers and provide breaking news coverage of developments in the law. There are also many legal affairs correspondents working for mainstream media outlets, like Dahlia Lithwick, who publish more analytical stories about the legal system that are intended for readers beyond the legal community. There are also a multitude of blogs, such as SCOTUSblog, that operate more independently, often will less editorial restraints than more mainstream outlets. This lack of restraints occasionally results in less credible coverage, but it also allows writers the freedom to cover stories that the more established publications ignore and to do so in a far more detailed manner.
General Legal News
- CNN Crime + JusticeLegal coverage by the cable news network, both national and local (provided by local CNN affiliates).
- FindLaw Legal PulseLegal news portal operated by Thomson Reuters' FindLaw. No original content. All stories originate from other sources, especially Associated Press coverage. Legal Pulse collects headlines and short summaries and provides links to read full articles at the source website.
- JURIST - Legal News & ResearchLegal news website run by University of Pittsburgh School of Law professor Bernard Hibbitts and a staff of 30 law students. Focuses coverage "on legal issues with significant jurisprudential, social and political implications" rather than sensational stories about crime, trials and celebrities. Also features commentaries by scholars, policymakers and practitioners.
- Law.comLegal news coverage from ALM (American Legal Media), publisher of The American Lawyer, National Law Journal, and other prominent legal news publications. Limited free access to some stories, with full access provided only to subscribers on a publication by publication basis.
Legal Affairs Correspondents
Blogs
- Above the LawA popular blog and podcast covering the legal profession, law schools, and current events.
- SCOTUSblogExhaustive coverage of cases heard before the United States Supreme Court. In addition to daily posts, the blog tracks current cases, with links to briefs, decisions and lower court opinions.
- WSJ Law BlogThe Wall Street Journal Law Blog covers all aspects of law, including developments in primary law, the legal profession, and legal education. Special emphasis in all these areas is placed on matters of interest to the business community.