Basic Legal Research For Any Librarian
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The document outlines essential legal resources and information related to understanding civics, how courts function, and the creation of statutory law. It provides guidance on free online legal materials, referrals, and the limitations of assistance that can be offered by library staff. Key resources and categories include federal and state laws, legal forms, court websites, and community legal aid options.
Basic Legal Research For Any Librarian
- 1. Thursday, October 5, 2017 Sarah Mauldin Director of Library Services Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP Margaret (Meg) Butler Associate Director for Public Services Georgia State University College of Law Library
- 2. Civics Review How Courts Work How Statutory Law Is Made How to Find: ◦ Free General Legal Information Online ◦ Free Federal and Georgia Materials Online ◦ Forms: A Georgia Case Study ◦ Public Records Referrals Unauthorized Practice of Law
- 3. Forms of law ◦ Cases, statutes, regulations, ordinances, constitutions Branches of government ◦ Judicial, legislative, executive Federal and state systems Value of secondary sources
- 4. Court websites Lower court dockets ◦ Major differences in coverage ◦ What can you find? ◦ State versus Federal (PACER) Appellate court dockets Opinions ◦ Published versus unpublished ◦ What is precedential?
- 6. US Code ◦ Created by Congress ◦ Available at fdsys.gov (official) ◦ Available at law.cornell.edu Official Code of Georgia ◦ Created by the General Assembly ◦ Available at https://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/gacode/ Henry County Code ◦ Created by the County Board of Commissioners ◦ Available at Municode.com
- 10. Code of Federal Regulations ◦ Created by federal agencies ◦ Available at fdsys.gov Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia ◦ Created by state agencies ◦ Available at http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/General/rules_and_re gulations, from the Secretary of State
- 11. ◦ Legal Information Institute (https://www.law.cornell.edu/) (explainer, federal statutes and regulations, links to state materials) ◦ Google Scholar (cases, patents) ◦ Fastcase – free via app for mobile devices (primary law) ◦ Public Library of Law (primary law and forms) ◦ Federal Practice Manual for Legal Aid Attorneys (federal explainer) ◦ Findlaw.com (explainer) ◦ Nolo.com (explainer) ◦ Interest groups—Legal Aid, LawHelp.org, agencies (explainers, referrals)
- 21. ◦ FDSys.gov—statutes, regulations, and so much more ◦ Congress.gov ◦ PACER—docket information ◦ Patent and Trademark Office ◦ Agency websites ◦ Find My Senator
- 28. ◦ Statutes ◦ Bills ◦ Cases ◦ Regulations ◦ Ordinances
- 37. Court-provided forms Statutory forms Hospital forms Corporation forms Pay sources online
- 44. Professional licenses – Secretary of State Corporations – Secretary of State Property records – individual county assessor ◦ Who owns a property? ◦ Property values Inmate and Offender searches – State and County County Legal Organs ◦ Foreclosures ◦ Tax Sales ◦ Name Changes ◦ Other information required to be published
- 45. Law libraries—at law schools, courthouses Legal Aid Problem-based providers State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services Law school clinics
- 46. What is it? How can you help patrons? ◦ Direct patrons to forms sites/Law Depot ◦ Show patrons how to find legal materials in the catalog ◦ Direct patrons to free online legal resources ◦ Refer patrons to appropriate legal assistance agencies What you can’t do to help? ◦ Tell patrons which form is required ◦ Help patrons fill out forms ◦ Explain what a law, ordinance, etc. means ◦ Give opinions about what patrons should do about their legal problems
- 47. Contact Sarah for an electronic version of the annotated bibliography ◦ Sarah Mauldin ◦ smauldin@sgrlaw.com ◦ 404-815-3538 ◦ Margaret (Meg) Butler ◦ mbutler@gsu.edu ◦ 404-413-9142