Legal Research and Advice Policy

The State Law Library and its employees welcome the opportunity to assist you in your legal research, but cannot conduct research for you, give legal advice or do anything which might constitute the unauthorized practice of law. Information provided by the law library staff is not a substitute for legal advice. If you need legal advice, we recommend you contact a licensed attorney.

Law Library Staff Can

• Explain how to use legal resources
• Help you locate a particular statute or case when you have a specific reference or citation
• Direct you to sources of law, including statutes and cases
• Direct you to form books, court rules, and books about the law
• Recommend sources to start your research
• Direct you to materials for your school assignment
• Refer you to appropriate agencies
• Suggest lawyer referral resources

Law Library Staff Cannot

• Interpret the meaning of statutes, cases or regulations
• Choose statutes, cases or regulations for your situation
• Choose specific forms or language to use in forms
• Tell you how to file a document, what document to file, or how to proceed with court actions
• Give opinions on legal matters
• Recommend a specific attorney