Case law is the body of law built from written judicial decisions, and the ability to find a decision, read it for what it actually holds, and confirm it is still good law is the most transferable skill in legal research. This guide maps the federal and state court systems and the doctrine of precedent (stare decisis) that turns opinions into rules, then dissects the anatomy of an opinion and the pivotal line between a binding holding and non-binding dicta. It decodes reporters, parallel citations, neutral citations, and standards of review, and it walks through briefing a case, finding decisions four different ways, and comparing free tools like CourtListener against paid platforms like Westlaw and Lexis. It closes on the step that separates competent research from malpractice: running every authority through a citator to make sure it has not been reversed, overruled, or quietly undermined. Worked hypotheticals and a quick-reference checklist run throughout. This is the case-law-specific companion to our beginner's guide to legal research.