Arranged chronologically the four volumes present documents from more than fifty of lincolns most interesting important or representative cases all of which are transcribed and annotated the edition features illuminating essays on lincolns career as a lawyer and as a court official as well as a biographical directory an extensive legal glossary and a cumulative index covering all four volumes. Arranged chronologically the four volumes present documents from more than fifty of lincolns most interesting important or representative cases all of which are transcribed and annotated the edition features illuminating essays on lincolns career as a lawyer and as a court official as well as a biographical directory an extensive legal glossary and a cumulative index covering all four volumes lincoln first studied the law through private reading during an early stint in the . The papers of abraham lincoln legal documents and cases abraham lincoln edited by daniel w stowell many in politics began their careers in the law no one has cut such a distinguished path in this regard as abraham lincoln before his presidency from 1836 to 1861 lincoln practiced law in the courts of central illinois part of an . The papers of abraham lincoln legal documents and cases much of his work concerned debt collection for which lincoln was known well beyond illinois and these cases provide a unique window on nineteenthcentury business lincoln also went out on the road twice yearly to try cases in the states circuit courts this edition documents some of these tours in detail