# Statute Guide — References Index

Each reference file expands one area of the SKILL.md body. Read on demand — not all at once.

## Reference Documents

| Document | Read when |
|----------|-----------|
| [canons_of_construction.md](canons_of_construction.md) | Interpreting ambiguous statutory language; applying ejusdem generis, noscitur a sociis, or expressio unius; resolving definitional gaps or contested terms |
| [practical_lessons.md](practical_lessons.md) | Scoping multi-statute or multi-jurisdiction analyses; comparing similar laws across jurisdictions; encountering unusual applicability thresholds |
| [statutory_structure.md](statutory_structure.md) | First browsing a statute or code you have not seen before; locating where a topic lives in an unfamiliar code; understanding common organisational patterns |

## Quick Links

- **Operator words table** — see `SKILL.md` → "The operator words"
- **Output template** — see `SKILL.md` → "Output Template"
- **Worked example** — see `SKILL.md` → "Worked Example"
- **Escalation triggers** — see `SKILL.md` → "Escalation Logic"

## Source Materials

This skill synthesises content from:
- Academic guides on statutory interpretation (Clark, Capella University)
- Practical experience analysing 19+ state privacy laws
- Comparison of automated extraction against professional legal analyses
- Cross-jurisdictional compliance analysis projects