Jur.2d and C.J.S. begin each Chapter with a scope statement , defining the Chapter's coverage and where other or additional treatments may be found. A great deal of useful information is put at each Chapter's beginning to orient and enable the researcher to locate relevant material. The general outline is a brief overview showing the Chapter's basic arrangement and topics, useful for general orientation. The detailed outline lists the issues section by section, and shows the specific legal issues within the Chapter's total treatment. Relevant sections can be identified and, often, issues may be spotted that were initially overlooked.
Legal encyclopedias have large, detailed, multi-volume indices.
The researcher must be familiar with legal nomenclature to use them efficiently. One must consider many terms when using the indices to be sure all pertinent Chapters are found, and may first need to explore pertinent topics and issues in legal dictionaries to identify relevant nomenclature. It is often helpful to search individual volume indices as well. Often they are transparent, but sometimes obscure or cryptic. A list of abbreviation definitions may be found in the General Index , at the front of each index volume.