What does persuasive authority include?

Persuasive authority encompasses both primary and secondary authority used to guide legal reasoning but does not impose a binding obligation. Primary authority includes statutes, regulations, and case law that have legal force in the jurisdiction, while secondary authority refers to materials like legal textbooks, articles, and treatises that provide commentary and analysis of the law.

The inclusion of both types in persuasive authority allows legal practitioners to present a wider array of resources when arguing their positions or interpreting the law, especially in jurisdictions where the primary authority may not be conclusive. For instance, a lawyer may cite a landmark case as primary authority while also referencing legal commentaries that discuss the implications or interpretations of that case, thus enriching their arguments. This combined approach strengthens the persuasive impact, particularly when binding authorities do not clearly dictate an outcome.