"Periodicals play a vital role in legal discourse, both as a leading repository of scholarship and as a source of information about new legislative, judicial, and regulatory developments. Researchers may look to texts for basic doctrine, but they more often turn to law reviews and journals to understand changes in the law." Kent C. Olsen et al., Principles of Legal Research Chapter 3 (3rd ed. 2020).
Jenkins has access to legal periodicals, including legal newspapers, bar association publications, and law reviews and law journals. See below for more details.
"News on developments in the legal profession is available from numerous daily and weekly newspapers. Legal newspapers often cover developing topics more rapidly than monthly or quarterly journals, and some also include lower court decisions that may not be reported elsewhere." Morris L. Cohen & Kent C. Olson, Legal Research in a Nutshell § 8-3(a) (14th ed. 2021).
The Legal Intelligencer is the legal newspaper for Philadelphia. Jenkins has this resource in print beginning with vol. 1 (1843). Bound copies of vol. 1 (1843) - vol. 193 (1985) are kept in the Rare Book Room. Bound copies of vol. 194(1986) through vol. 268(2023), are available in Periodicals. *The Legal Intelligencer has discontinued print publication after December 29th, 2023. Articles after that date can be viewed electronically.
The Pennsylvania Law Weekly is a weekly supplement to the Legal Intelligencer. Jenkins has this resource in print beginning with vol. 1 (1977) - vol. 46 (2023), available in Periodicals. *The Pennsylvania Law Weekly has discontinued print publication after December 26th, 2023. Articles after that date can be viewed electronically.
Many state and local bar associations publish journals with practical advice for lawyers. Articles in bar association journals frequently focus on current developments to the law and are often written by legal practitioners.
The Pennsylvania Bar Association publishes three periodicals:
The Philadelphia Bar Association publishes two periodicals:
"Most law review articles have two features that make them invaluable in research. They generally begin with an introductory overview of the area of law that summarizes the relevant doctrine and literature, and they are usually replete with footnotes citing to primary sources and to other secondary sources." Morris L. Cohen & Kent C. Olson, Legal Research in a Nutshell § 2-7 (14th ed. 2021).
HeinOnline offers comprehensive coverage of over 2,300 law reviews and legal periodicals, with many publications available from inception. Onsite databases Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law provide access to select law reviews. Coverage on these databases typically begins in the 1980s or 1990s but varies by source.