Florida State University College of Law Research Center Water Law Research Elizabeth Farrell Research/Instructional Technology Librarian Fall, 2008

Florida State University College of Law Research Center

Water Law Research

Elizabeth FarrellResearch/Instructional Technology

LibrarianFall, 2008


Getting Started…

Water law can be confusing to research because an issue may involve looking at federal and state statutes, regulations and common law. There also may be significant overlap with environmental, land use, and natural resources legal issues.

So, where do you start?


Secondary Sources!

Types of Secondary Sources:• Periodicals – law reviews/journals• Treatises • Legal Encyclopedias• CLE Materials• Current Awareness Tools (Blogs, Newsletters)

Don’t forget – Look for both topical (water) and jurisdiction- and geographic-specific (Florida or Eastern U.S.) sources. Also think about interdisciplinary materials (e.g., science, engineering, urban planning/land use, geography).


Check the Catalog!


Research Strategy

If you’ve found a helpful resource – mine the bibliography, footnotes and endnotes for additional resources and other angles to pursue with your research.


Treatises

• Lexis & Westlaw have valuable resources (check both), however….

• There are a number of essential sources outside LN/WL

• Check for both PRINT and ONLINE materials– Have you searched the catalog?– Have you looked at the available

databases?


Water Law on Lexis


Water Law on Westlaw






Checking Interdisciplinary Sources

The FSU Libraries have a wealth of databases in non-law areas that might be of interest in researching local, national and international water law topics.


Current Awareness Tools• Great for staying up on the issues

and controversies• Good source to find paper topics• Possible tools:

– Newsletters (BNA)– Mainstream Media, Blogs– Environmental Advocacy Organizations

• Always check on reliability and reputation of source


BNA NewslettersAccess BNA via the Research Center’s list of

databases.


General/Business News


Environmental/Water Advocacy Groups


Research Tip: For policy issues, make sure you find different perspectives on the issues!


Other Important Water/ Environmental Law

DatabasesThe Research Center has online (and some print) access to these resources:

• BNA Environment Reporter• ELI’s Environmental Law Reporter• E&E Publications (ClimateWire,

Land Letter, Greenwire)


BNA Environment Reporter


ELI’s Environmental Law Reporter


E&E Publications


Sources of Water Law

• Water law covers all branches of government - you may need to research statutes, regulations, administrative decisions and cases depending on your issue.


Sources of Water Law - Florida


Agencies often have a number of publications available – covering general, legal and scientific information.


Sources of Water Law - Federal






Questions?

Documents

Florida State University College of Law Research Center Water Law Research Elizabeth Farrell Research/Instructional Technology Librarian Fall, 2008