Legal research
Finding the laws that apply to your situation
When asking the court to decide something, you will need to tell the judge what you are asking for, what happened (the facts), what laws apply to that situation, and why those laws say you should get the result you are asking for. The laws are what the court must follow. These are called primary authorities.
Depending on the legal issue you have, you may need to research:
- State or local laws, and in some cases federal law
- Case law: A court's written opinion interpreting the law (the court's decision)
- Rules of Court: These cover the procedures that a court must follow and how the court operates. For example, how to format a document or calculate a deadline.
You can generally find all of these online or in print at a law library.
It's often best to start your research with a Self-Help book or other legal guides
Often, it's hard to understand a law without more context. It helps to start your research with a legal Self-Help book, practice guides, or legal article. These are called secondary authorities. They explain the law but do not have the power to make the court decide a certain way.
Some of these resources are written for people who are not lawyers. They may include the name of the law or laws that answer your legal question. You can find these online or at a law library.
Get help at a public law library
You can do a lot of legal research online. But, in general, it can help to start your research by getting help from a law librarian. Law librarians can:
- Recommend resources to get you started, including Self-Help books and guides
- Show you how to look up laws and cases
- Explain how to check if a law or case you are using is still valid and can be used
You can go to a law library for help. Or, chat with a law librarian online.
Legal research
Find laws
A brief introduction to the main types of primary resources you may need to research, including where to find them.