If primary authority, such as a statute, is found that answers a legal question, what is the next step?

When primary authority, like a statute, provides a clear answer to a legal question, the next logical step is often to stop researching. This is because primary authority typically holds significant weight in legal matters, establishing definitive rules and regulations that must be followed. If the statute effectively addresses the issue at hand, further research may not yield any new or useful information, and any additional sources would likely just reconfirm what has already been established.

In practice, continuing to research other statutes or seeking additional case law may be unnecessary at that point, particularly if the statute is straightforward and fully addresses the legal question. Consulting secondary sources could provide context or interpretation; however, if the statute is clear, you might not need that extra layer of analysis. Therefore, the logical course of action is to recognize the existing primary authority as sufficient to guide your legal reasoning, allowing you to proceed confidently based on that foundation.