LRAW Research Spring 2023

American Law Reports or ALRs, are in-depth articles, called annotations, on specific legal topics or issues. Each annotation collects summaries of cases from a variety of jurisdictions to provide an overview on the topic.  ALRs are most useful for identifying key cases, statutes, and regulations, as well as relevant secondary sources on a legal topic.  

American Law Reports comprises many series of ALR including ALR, ALR2d, ALR3d, ALR4th, ALR5th, ALR6th, and ALR7th; and three federal series: ALR Fed., ALR Fed. 2d., and ALR Fed. 3d.

Each ALR annotation provides an article outline and an index to help you locate where your precise issue is addressed in the annotation, as well as a Table of Cases, Laws, and Rules to help you find primary sources included in the annotation from your jurisdiction.  ALR annotations also include Research References to legal encyclopedias, practice materials, law review articles, West topics and key numbers, and more. 

In Westlaw and Lexis, updates are incorporated into each annotation. If an ALR annotation is superseded by a newer annotation, Westlaw and Lexis will refer you to the newer superseding annotation.

Rule 16.7.6 (p. 168) of The Bluebook describes how to cite ALR annotations.  Citations to annotations include the following parts:

1. The author's full name (if any), as it appears on the publication (do not include "J.D.");
2. The word "Annotation" (if no author, start with Annotation);
3. The title of the annotation in italics;
4. The volume, the abbreviated name of the ALR, and the first page of the annotation;
5. A pinpoint citation to the page the material you are referencing;
6. The annotation's date (original date, even if updated via print pocketpart or online).

For example, the ALR annotation on the age and mentality of the child as affecting application of the attractive nuisance doctrine found at 16 ALR 3d 25 is cited as:

D.E. Buckner, Annotation, Comment Note.—Age and Mentality of Child as Affecting Application of Attractive Nuisance, 16 A.L.R.3d 25 (1967).

To search for an ALR annotation in Westlaw by subject, begin typing American Law Reports, then select it when it appears under Content Pages below the search bar.

You can keyword search all ALRs in the search bar, or click on a specific topic below. Another option is to select the American Law Reports Index on the right under Tools & Resources. 

Then click Index Contents to access the index.

Select an index topic to find a list of subtopics. Then choose the citation link next to the ALR subtopic that seems most relevant.

To search for an ALR annotation in Lexis, type American Law Reports into the search bar on the homepage. Click on American Law Reports (ALR) when it appears below the search bar, next to Sources.

From here, you can keyword search all American Law Reports.