Leah Sandwell-Weiss
Reference Librarian
Table of Contents
Introduction
Suggested Search Strategy:
- Analyze your topic to decide features you need, including distinctive phrases or words and whether you need an overview, specific information, or everything
- Pick a tool which provides these features
- If it’s not working, vary approach
- Don’t limit yourself to one tool
- Try the Search Tools Chart
- Also try librarian created Subject Guides
Check your Source
- Who created the website?
- When was it last updated?
- Is it a real or bogus/spoof website?
- Visit the Justia Evaluation Checklist
Starting Points
- Law Library Research Guides
- Law Library Databases
General Legal Reference
Legal Research Sites
- Legal Information Institute (LII) at Cornell Law School
- Findlaw for Legal Professionals
- Justia
- Law Library of Congress: Guide to Law Online
- The Law Student Guide to Free Legal Research on the Internet
- LLRX Court Rules, Forms and Dockets
Federal
General
Judicial
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Law Library of Congress: U.S. Judiciary Guide to Law Online
- LII Supreme Court Collection
- Justia — US Supreme Court Center
- FindLaw: Supreme Court Opinions
Legislative
- US Senate
- US House
- House Office of the Law Revisions Council—U.S. Code
- Thomas
- US Code
- LLSDC's Legislative Source Book
Executive
Arizona
General
Judicial
- US District Court
- Arizona Judicial Branch
- Arizona Supreme Court
- Arizona Supreme Court Opinions
- Arizona Court of Appeals, Division 1
- Arizona Court of Appeals, Division 2
Legislative
Executive
County & City
Other Resources
State
- National Center for State Courts
- State and Local Government on the Net
- National Council of State Legislatures
- Stateline.org
International & Foreign
- International Trade Law & Development Research Portal
- Electronic Information for International Law (EISEL)
- UN Home Page
Bar Associations & Ethics Materials
Law Library Resources
Other Resources
- Fastcase—Free to members of the Arizona State Bar
- Google Scholar