Macdonald-Kelce Library: Law &amp; Legal Studies: Specialized Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Reference, and Forms

Specialized Information

Sometimes you need a definition, or statistic, or basic fact for you paper that you can't find in a scholarly article. What can make this doubly frustrating is that sometimes you can find the fact in Wikipedia, but you cannot use Wikipedia in your paper. (See Using Wikipedia for more on how to use this popular resource effectively.)

Here are some of the specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias you can find:

Black's Law Dictionary
Search for legal definitions. Available from Thomson Reuters Westlaw.
American Jurisprudence
AmJur, a comprehensive legal encyclopedia.
Corpus Juris Secundum
C.J.S., a national legal encyclopedia. Covers state and federal legal topics. Available from Thomson Reuters Westlaw.

Britannica Academic This link opens in a new window
Offers the complete Encyclopedia Britannica online as well as Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus.
Oxford Reference This link opens in a new window
Access all Oxford's dictionaries, companions, and encyclopedias in one place.
Oxford Reference is a multi-disciplinary database that features a range of short entries, timelines, quotations, and lengthy in-depth reference articles on all topics. Browse by subject or enter a keyword in the search box.

Legal Forms

Self-Help Information - Florida Courts
Among other information, you will be able to access family law and guardianship forms. The forms are up-to-date, in ready-to-use format, with all amendments incorporated. All forms are provided free of charge by the Florida Supreme Court.
Legal Research - HCPLC
Legal research resources available to members of the Hillsborough Country Public Library, such as Westlaw access and legal forms.

Become a HCPLC library member

UTampa students and faculty are welcome and encouraged to join the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative (HCPLC), the nearest branch of which is the John F. Germany Library across the river (the central branch).

To use services and check out items at the public library UTampa students, faculty, and staff first need to sign up for a free library card. You can get a card online or in person by using your current UTampa Spartans ID and a piece of mail addressed to your current Tampa address (see more here about How to Get a Library Card).

HCPLC offers a large selection of streaming videos and eBooks, many of which are not available at the Macdonald-Kelce Library. If you are looking for a feature film or popular novel, join the Hillsborough Public Library!