Legal research includes a search for material that indicates how a judge will resolve a certain issue. In our legal system, judges interpret what the law is and how it's defined. Traditionally, legal research involved using a law library or using a proprietary database.

Primary Sources

The United States Constitution, US treaties, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation
US Supreme Court Opinions
US Court of Appeals decisions
U.S. Code
Code of Federal Regulations (all federal administrative agency rules)

Intellectual Property
State Legislation
Foreign law (European Union Internet Resources)

Conducting Online Research

The key to obtaining successful results is knowing where to start. This requires knowledge of the research sources available and the tools you can use to access sources. Plan your research steps before you go online.

Know what you're looking for. Consider your objectives and be sure that you understand the goals of your research project. You'll need to determine which sources are most likely to lead you to the results you're looking for. With any source, you need to balance its utility and convenience against its credibility.

Online directories

• Librarians Index to the Internet
• Internet Public Library
• Yahoo Directory
• Reference Desk (Fact checker)

Search engines can be helpful but keep in mind that they may locate many irrelevant sources and may not find every site that you might find helpful. Also remember that different search engines will give you a different set of results. Interpreting the data in clever ways is one attribute that distinguishes good researchers from average researchers.

Legal Resources

• FindLaw - Access all federal and state cases, codes, and agency regulations as well as journal articles, newsletters, and links to other useful sites and discussion groups.
• Virtual Lawyer: Legal Resources without charge
• Legal Information Institute - Cornell University
• Internet Law Library
• MeL Legal Sources (Michigan eLibrary)
  

Helpful Government Sites

• FirstGov: The U.S. government's official web site provides links to every branch of the federal government.
• Library of Congress: Links to state and federal government resources, and the THOMAS system allows you to search through several legislative databases.
• US Government Printing Office: the USGPO posts information from each of the three branches of the federal government, including the CFR and the Federal Register.
• US Patent and Trademark Office: Searchable database of patents and trademarks. Also provides general information and a way to check the status of pending applications
• US Copyright Office: provides information on copyrights and a searchable database of copyright records
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: EEOC posts information on employment discrimination, EEOC regulations, compliance, and enforcement.
• Environmental Protection Agency: offers information on environmental law. regulations, and compliance assistance.
• US Small Business Administration: assists in forming, financing and operating small businesses
• US Department of Justice: provides information on many areas of law including civil rights, employment discrimination, crime and immigration.
• Council of State Governments: state news, legislation, links to state home pages

Federal and State Courts

• US Supreme Court: opinions, orders, history, procedures, schedule, transcripts of oral arguments
• Federal Judiciary: all federal courts including district courts, appellate courts, and bankruptcy courts
• National Center for State Courts

Uniform Laws

• National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws: text of uniform laws (e.g., Uniform Commercial Code) and information on state adoptions and pending state legislation
• University of Pennsylvania Law School: in conjunction with the NCCUSL, provides an archive of all drafts of uniform state laws

Constitutional Rights and Liberties

• American Civil Liberties Union