A loose-leaf service contains a variety of primary and secondary sources concerning a single field of law. For instance, CCH's Products Liability loose-leaf service contains cases, statutes, administrative regulations, practice guides, editorial explanations, and forms that concern products liability litigation. The term loose-leaf is derived from the notebook-style format in which these sets are published. This format makes the adding new material to a service easy, since pages can be removed and inserted easily.

Although use of a loose-leaf service for research is common in law firms, they are not as frequently used by law school students. Researchers who are encountering a service for the first time may be bewildered by its organization; some common problems and pitfalls are addressed below.

Where can I find basic instruction on the use of a loose-leaf service? Many loose-leaf services contain instructions entitled "How to use this reporter." Since the arrangement and scope of documents differs from service to service, first-time users of a particular set may find this information particularly helpful.

Do the index entries refer to paragraph numbers or page numbers? The information in most loose-leaf services is arranged by paragraph numbers, not page numbers. A reference in a loose-leaf's index is likely to lead to a paragraph in the text as opposed to a page number. This can be confusing because both page numbers also are used in loose-leaf services.

Do I need to check more than one index when I'm using a loose-leaf? Many loose-leaf services have multiple indexes. For instance, services published by Commerce Clearing House (CCH) are likely to have topical indexes, finding lists, a table of contents, and a cumulative index. In some loose-leafs, there are indexes as well as supplements to those indexes. Novice users are advised to check all available indexes before deciding references to cases and topics are not available in the index. (CCH users can determine what indexes are available by referring to the aforementioned "How to use this reporter.")

What are finding lists? Finding lists, which are found in many loose-leaf publications, provide lists of the decisions and reports with a reference to their location in the set. These lists are usually provided for administrative materials. For instance, one finding list in CCH's Medicare and Medicaid Guide lists cites or reference numbers to General Accounting Office (GAO) Reports and their location in that set. Some tax loose-leafs, for instance, include tables of tax rulings alongside the location of digests of those rulings.

What are these colored pages in the front of the loose-leaf? Some loose-leafs are supplemented by the addition of colored pages that appear in the front of a volume. When present, these pages should always be checked for new material.

What's the difference between the current binder and the transfer binder? Material of current interest is kept in the current binders. Research usually is usually initiated in these volumes. Material that has been removed from the set, but which may still be of interest to researchers, is filed in separate, soft-cover volumes known as transfer binders. Transfer binders normally are shelved adjacent to the current binders.

How can I tell if the volume I'm using has been kept up-to-date? Some loose-leaf sets are updated annually; other sets may receive new pages every two to three weeks. In many instances, a card placed in the first volume of a loose-leaf service will indicate the last date on which material was filed. For most services, the month and year on which each individual page was issued is printed on the page. This date usually appears in very small type in either the top or bottom margin of a page.

Many loose-leafs services contain the instructions that accompany updated pages. These filing instructions will indicate the last date on which new pages were filed in the service.

Why doesn't the text on one page continue on the next page? Update pages probably have been filed or removed incorrectly. The process of loose-leaf filing requires a good deal of attention. If material is misfiled, then the volume may be impossible to use. A single misfiled page can cause a great deal of trouble for researchers since it may make filing the next update more difficult. Notify a Reference Librarian if you encounter this problem.

How can I determine if there is a loose-leaf service for the area of law I'm researching? Legal Looseleafs in Print (shelved on ready reference at KF 1 .S7) is an annual publication that lists loose-leafs by title, publisher, and subject.