Volume Number

Definition

The volume number is a crucial element in legal citation that indicates the specific collection or series of publications in which a particular legal document, case, or statute can be found. This number helps to organize legal documents systematically and allows for easier retrieval of specific materials, making it essential for effective legal research and referencing.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Volume numbers help distinguish between different sets of legal publications, such as reporters that compile case law from various jurisdictions.
2. Legal citation formats may vary by jurisdiction, but they consistently use volume numbers to provide specificity in locating legal texts.
3. In many cases, the volume number precedes the page number in citations, indicating the starting page of the case or statute within that particular volume.
4. Volume numbers are often accompanied by abbreviations that denote the type of publication, such as 'F.' for Federal Reporter or 'N.E.' for Northeastern Reporter.
5. Understanding how to read and interpret volume numbers is critical for law students and practitioners, as it facilitates accurate legal research.

Review Questions

• How does the volume number contribute to the organization and accessibility of legal materials?
  • The volume number plays a significant role in organizing legal materials by grouping related cases and statutes into distinct collections. This systematic arrangement allows legal researchers and practitioners to quickly locate specific documents within a vast array of legal texts. By understanding how volume numbers work in citations, users can efficiently navigate resources like reporters and databases, making their research more effective.
• Compare and contrast the use of volume numbers in different legal citation formats across various jurisdictions.
  • Different legal citation formats may employ volume numbers differently based on jurisdictional rules. For instance, in federal cases, the citation might follow a format like '123 F.3d 456,' where '123' represents the volume number of the Federal Reporter. In contrast, state court cases could use their own regional reporters with unique numbering systems. Despite these variations, all formats utilize volume numbers to ensure precise identification and retrieval of legal documents.
• Evaluate the impact of correctly identifying and using volume numbers on the overall integrity of legal research.
  • Correctly identifying and utilizing volume numbers is essential for maintaining the integrity of legal research because it ensures that cited materials can be accurately found and referenced. Misidentifying a volume number could lead to confusion or misinterpretation of case law, which might negatively affect legal arguments or outcomes. Therefore, having a solid grasp on how volume numbers function within citations not only streamlines research processes but also upholds the credibility and reliability of legal scholarship.

Related terms

Citation: A formal reference to a legal document that provides the details necessary to locate it, including the volume number, page number, and year.

Reporter: A published collection of legal cases, organized by volume numbers, where judicial opinions are recorded for public access.

Legal Reference: A way to cite legal materials and documents in a consistent manner, which includes using volume numbers as part of the citation format.