What is a key function of secondary authority in legal research?

A key function of secondary authority in legal research is to interpret primary sources. Secondary authority consists of materials that analyze, comment, or explain the law rather than establishing it. These sources include law review articles, legal encyclopedias, treatises, and case law summaries that help researchers understand the underlying principles of the law found in primary sources like statutes, regulations, and case law.

By interpreting primary sources, secondary authority helps legal professionals and researchers comprehensively understand complex legal issues, the implications of existing laws, and how courts may apply or interpret those laws. Secondary sources do not hold legal authority themselves, but they are invaluable for clarifying and providing context to primary legal documents.