Legal Resources

Engaging with different types of resources will help you understand your industry on a deeper level.

Caution

When using resources on this guide, continue to evaluate credibility and relevance for your audience. A resource can be considered credible in one situation but questionable in another, or its quality can suddenly degrade. Additionally, credible resources can still contain problematic content like content marketing, inaccurate opinion pieces, flawed research, or misrepresented evidence.

Engaging with different types of resources and publications will help you understand your industry on a deeper level.

Professional Organizations

Professional organizations and trade associations promote their industries and provide networking opportunities to members. Their websites offer information and educational materials for professionals in the industry.

The following examples are organizations for professionals in legal fields:

Note: Local state bar associations are also essential. If practicing in Wisconsin, for example, see The State Bar of Wisconsin.

Trade Publications

Trade journals or trade magazines provide industry-specific insights, giving prospective professionals an insider’s view of the field.

The following examples are trade publications with a focus on legal issues:

Newspapers

Newspapers cover current events relevant to professionals in all fields. Practicing lawyers should read local papers, but could also consult major newspapers for legal coverage.

New York Times

UW-Madison students can create a free personal account through the library

Wall Street Journal

UW-Madison students can create a free personal account through the library

Popular Magazines

Popular magazines, although aimed at a general audience, can be useful for understanding an industry in a larger context or from a consumer’s point of view.

Popular magazines that could be useful to professionals in legal fields include the following publications:

Note, this publication is ending it’s print version in the fall of 2026.

Books

Most industries have notable books that insiders find useful or that have had an influence on that industry. Asking insiders is the best way to find out which books are considered essential in your field.

Here are a few examples of influential legal books:

How to Build a Real Estate Law Practice (Dean Alterman)
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (Bryan Stevenson)
Legal Writing (Richard K. Neumann, Jr., Sheila Simon)
Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us about the Art of Persuasion (Jay Heinrichs)

Podcasts

Most industries have reputable experts who podcast about their chosen field, providing an insider’s look. These types of information resources vary widely and require vetting, but can be credible.

The following resources could offer useful perspectives on the law as an industry:

Websites

Resources don’t always fall into a specific category, but nonetheless can provide useful information.

Scholarly Journals

Scholarly journals for legal fields are often called law reviews. They publish in depth research and legal commentary, which are often cited in legal cases.