This guide has been created for use as an introduction to the exciting world of foreign legal research. It should not be construed as containing all possible foreign legal resources - more and more resources are being created every day, and many foreign legal research tools are not available online. Please contact our reference desk or Foreign, Comparative and International Law Librarians, via the contact information contained on our "Getting Help" page of this guide.
Resources that are labelled as [Harvard only] should allow access to them via Harvard ID and pin. If a resource is labelled as [Harvard Law only], you will need to enter your Harvard Law account information. This usually means the first part of your email address (before the @ symbol), and your email password. If that does not work, then try using the first 8 digits of your Harvard ID as the password. If that still does not work, then we suggest the Harvard Law Student Help Desk, during business hours at 617-495-9576, for assistance.
Below is a selected list of terms that you will commonly come across when conducting foreign legal research.The definitions used below have been taken from various sources as well as created by the authors of this guide.