Legal Definitions - See also

In legal writing, See also is a citation signal used to direct the reader to additional sources that provide supplementary support or related information to a statement already supported by primary authorities.

Unlike primary citations that offer direct, foundational support, "See also" indicates that the referenced material offers further context, a different perspective, a detailed explanation, or an analogous application of the legal point being made. It's typically used after the main supporting sources have already been presented, suggesting that the reader might find the additional source helpful for a deeper or broader understanding.

Here are some examples illustrating its use:

• Legal Brief: Imagine a lawyer arguing in a court brief that a particular contract clause is unenforceable due to ambiguity. They first cite a controlling appellate court decision that directly supports their claim. Following this primary citation, they might include, "See also, Smith on Contracts, § 4.2 (2d ed. 2023) (discussing the doctrine of contra proferentem and its application to ambiguous contract terms)."

  This example demonstrates "See also" by directing the reader to a respected legal treatise. While the appellate court decision provides the direct legal precedent, the treatise offers a broader academic analysis and explanation of the underlying legal principle, giving the argument additional intellectual weight and context without being the primary legal authority itself.

• Court Opinion: A judge is writing an opinion interpreting a new environmental protection statute. They cite the specific section of the statute that applies to the case. To provide further insight into the legislature's intent, they might then add, "See also, Legislative History of the Clean Water Act Amendments of 2022, H.R. Rep. No. 117-456, at 15 (2022) (explaining the policy goals behind the new emissions standards)."

  Here, "See also" points to legislative history, which isn't the law itself but provides crucial background on why the law was created and what it aimed to achieve. It offers supplementary information that helps understand the statute's application without being the primary legal text.

• Legal Scholarship: A law professor is writing an article about the evolving standards of online privacy. They cite a recent Supreme Court decision that established a new precedent for data protection. To offer a comparative perspective, they might then include, "See also, Jones, 'Privacy Rights in the Digital Age,' 105 Yale L.J. 123 (2021) (analyzing similar privacy frameworks in European Union law)."

  In this context, "See also" directs the reader to a law review article that discusses a related, but not directly controlling, legal framework. It enriches the discussion by providing a comparative analysis from another jurisdiction, offering additional insight and broadening the reader's understanding of the topic beyond the primary U.S. Supreme Court precedent.