90:
36:) and secondary sources (professional reference books, form books, and self-help books) used in legal matters. In most U.S. states, public law libraries are part of the trial court system, a department of the state or county government, or an independent local government agency managed by a board of trustees. Public law libraries serve several user groups with different information needs: judges and their support staff, attorneys in all types of practice, and the general public.
252:
131:
207:
17:
70:
57:
public funding to support law libraries, most often by allocating a portion of court filing fees, but in some cases by money collected from sources such as the state liquor control act or traffic fines. In at least one state, Pennsylvania, the state legislature establishes county law libraries but provides no funding at all.
676:
Most self-represented litigants in civil cases give the following answers when asked why they do not have a lawyer: 1. "I can't afford a lawyer"; or 2. "My case is simple enough to handle on my own." These reasons for not having a lawyer reflect economic and social trends and are not likely to change
177:
Public law libraries frequently offer free access to some subscription services as well as access to the internet more generally. While many of the basic primary legal sources are available free online (without annotations or other explanatory material), most of finding aids and secondary sources are
56:
By 1860, most major cities had a similar membership library. In the second half of the 19th century, as the population and the nation grew, the cost of legal books and updates also grew rapidly, and many membership law libraries had financial difficulty. Around this time, some states began providing
109:
According to the AALL's "County Public Law
Library Standards," the typical public law library should provide access to its home state’s current laws, including the published decisions of the state courts; current annotated state statutes, constitution, and court rules; and the current administrative
60:
Along with public funding came increased access to members of the general public. In 1891 California became the first state to specifically establish a system of public law libraries, funded by court filing fees, and open to the general public as well as lawyers. During the twentieth century, public
263:
are a growing percentage of litigants, particularly in family law. Other non-attorney library patrons include entrepreneurs; people documenting personal loans, sales of goods and services, and simple real estate transfers; and people settling the affairs of family members who have died. For many of
282:
Because of the specialized nature of legal information resources, these patrons often need more hands-on assistance than law libraries' traditional patrons. Many law libraries now provide assistance by offering seminars and workshops; collaborating with public libraries; and using the internet and
214:
Some public law libraries publish self-help guides and materials to assist members of the public in handling simple legal matters as well as guides to help patrons access their materials. Examples of libraries which publish self-help guides include the
Baltimore County Law Library, the Minnesota
286:
In a 2013 survey of public and academic law libraries, the Self-Represented
Litigation Network found that virtually all of the 153 responding law libraries provided some services to self-represented litigants. Services included:
44:
The first “public” law libraries were membership libraries funded by subscribers, who were generally lawyers. The first of these appeared in 1802, when the Law
Library Company of the City of Philadelphia (now called
118:
is typically available for users to evaluate the currency and validity of primary law sources. In addition, the public law library usually carries the state legal encyclopedia, if any; practice material such as
61:
law libraries became more common throughout the United States and by 2005, all but one state had passed legislation establishing them. Funding continues to vary widely between states, and even between counties.
345:
An earlier compilation, "Directory of
Library-Based Self-Help Programs," lists 29 programs in 16 states and the District of Columbia, providing information about services offered and program administration.
309:
court forms: forms instructions, forms in plain language, forms in multiple languages, form document assembly programs, assistance with filling out forms, forms creation, writing of form instructions
635:
338:
self-help centers either staffed by law library employees, hosted in the law library but staffed by another organization, or providing support for self-help centers in another location, and
77:
Today, public law libraries are found in courts, state and federal agencies, and as stand-alone law libraries, usually organized by county. Many public law libraries participate in the
423:
101:
as well as practical guides for handling legal matters. In practice, depending on their levels of funding, individual public law libraries may offer some or all of these resources.
97:
Public law libraries usually focus on information useful to the practicing attorney and self-represented litigants, rather than academic research material. This typically includes
154:
and a basic collection of legal texts, treatises, practice materials and looseleaf services of contemporary value on subjects of interest to the legal community and the public.
283:
other media to provide instructions and forms. Some libraries either run or host self-help centers with attorneys or paralegals available to assist self-represented litigants.
587:
264:
these patrons, attorneys' services are unaffordable, while others mistrust lawyers or find self-help to be more convenient than finding, evaluating, and hiring an attorney.
169:” books and many specialized books such as consumer self-help books, tax preparation material, retirement planning books, and government publications on benefits programs.
279:. Due to chronic shortages of volunteer attorneys and of funding, only a fraction of the need is met annually. These programs often refer people to a public law library.
360:
260:
138:
Public law libraries should generally offer similar coverage for federal material. In addition, ideally they offer a selection of national publications such as
98:
537:. Law Library Insights. Vol. 4. Chicago, IL: Government Law Libraries Special Interest Section, American Association of Law Librarians. pp. 1–2
318:
LEP service with books and/or brochures in multiple languages, bi-lingual staff, and provision for either interpreters or access to a language line, and
228:
801:
718:
743:
259:
Public law libraries, once used primarily by legal professionals, now serve mostly non-attorneys handling their own legal matters. In court,
78:
216:
440:
474:
689:
179:
272:
391:
770:
240:
558:"Final Report on Implementation of the Judicial Council Statewide Action Plan for Serving Self-Represented Litigants"
110:
code and agency decisions. Some provide older versions as well, for historical research. A citation service such as
276:
198:. Due to their expense, these services are out of reach for some attorneys and most members of the general public.
529:
557:
89:
161:
law books that provide information on common legal issues. One well-known publisher in legal self-help is
139:
111:
303:
document delivery of resources in the library by fax, scan, and delivery referral sheets to their library
143:
674:. California: Judicial Council of California: Administrative Office of the Courts. 2007. pp. 1–2.
666:
147:
612:
236:
46:
499:
50:
33:
719:"Survey: SRLN Library Working Group National Self-Help in Libraries Survey (SRLN 2013) | SRLN"
251:
162:
665:"Self-Represented Litigants: Who Are They and What Do They Face When They Come to Court?".
130:
365:
206:
668:
Handling Cases
Involving Self-Represented Litigants: A Benchguide for Judicial Officers
158:
124:
16:
795:
191:
500:"Secondary Sources: ALRs, Encyclopedias, Law Reviews, Restatements, & Treatises"
81:, and specifically in the Government Law Libraries Special Interest Section (GLL).
239:, research assistance, and classes for attorneys and self-represented litigants;
355:
291:
traditional and computerized legal research help and referrals to other programs
166:
528:
Dyer, Charles R. "A Short
History of Services to Self-Represented Litigants".
232:
195:
187:
151:
531:
Self-Represented
Litigants: A Guide for Government and Court Decision-Makers
294:
e-mail reference, pathfinders, guides, and explanations of the legal process
120:
69:
268:
29:
183:
115:
25:
127:
geared toward that state; and local legal newspapers and periodicals.
325:
Libraries hosting self-help centers and programs reported providing:
267:
Many of these patrons are referred to the law library after seeking
219:, the San Diego Law Library, and the Washington State Law Library.
250:
205:
129:
88:
68:
53:
in Boston was founded in 1803. Both of these are still operating.
15:
231:(MLIS) degree and experience in legal research; some also have a
636:"Increasing the Availability of Legal Information to All People"
592:(Speech). Connecticut Bar Association Annual Meeting Dinner 2012
556:
Task Force on Self-Represented
Litigants (September 15, 2014).
227:
Public law libraries are usually staffed by librarians with a
24:
Public law libraries provide access to primary legal sources (
165:; Atlantic Publishing Company, other resources include the “
697:
Legal
Services Corporation: America's Partner for Justice
742:
Song, Chi Hyon; Bellestri, Joan; Galligan, Sara (2015).
620:. American Association of Law Libraries. pp. 21–23.
297:
legal information websites for self-represented parties
341:
educational services such as workshops and webinars.
744:"Law Libraries Serving Self-Represented Litigants"
241:librarians are not permitted to give legal advice
235:. Depending on the library, services may include
361:Pro se legal representation in the United States
771:"Directory of Library-Based Self-Help Programs"
611:Special Committee on Access to Justice (2014).
157:In addition, most public law libraries collect
49:) was founded by the lawyers of that city. The
8:
699:. Legal Services Corporation. September 2009
390:Adams, Laureen; Smith, Regina (March 2006).
312:public computers with access to the Internet
247:Public law libraries and access to self-help
79:American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)
469:
467:
465:
385:
383:
381:
300:collections of materials for the non-lawyer
237:instruction in the use of library resources
229:Masters of Library and Information Science
690:"Documenting the Justice Gap in America"
178:available by subscription only, through
450:. American Association of Law Libraries
441:"State Laws about County Law Libraries"
405:. American Association of Law Libraries
392:"The Evolution of Public Law Libraries"
377:
769:Law Librarians’ Working Group (2009).
776:. Self-Represented Litigation Network
629:
627:
475:"County Public Law Library Standards"
93:Oroville, California law library 2012
7:
523:
521:
275:program such as those funded by the
217:Sacramento County Public Law Library
614:Law Libraries and Access to Justice
750:. National Center for State Courts
150:; at least one general forms set;
14:
586:Rogers, Case T. (June 11, 2012).
567:. Judicial Council of California
85:Typical collections and services
802:Libraries in the United States
332:lawyer in the library programs
1:
634:Pinard Johnson, Mary (2011).
498:Kribble, Meg (June 9, 2016).
439:Seeger, Paula (August 2005).
424:Cal. Bus & Prof. § 6300
255:Hennepin County Law Library
65:Modern public law libraries
818:
504:Harvard Law School Library
277:Legal Services Corporation
261:self-represented litigants
148:American Law Reports (ALR)
140:American Jurisprudence 2d
134:Skagit County Law Library
448:Government Law Libraries
210:Salem Courts Law Library
654:– via HeinOnline.
269:pro bono representation
215:State Law Library, the
748:Trends in State Courts
321:services to prisoners.
256:
211:
135:
99:primary sources of law
94:
74:
21:
20:WashingtonCapitolTOJLL
254:
209:
144:Corpus Juris Secundum
133:
92:
72:
19:
565:Judicial Branch Home
506:. Harvard Law School
180:online law databases
152:academic law reviews
677:in the near future.
112:Shepard's Citations
47:Jenkins Law Library
335:mediation programs
271:, or contacting a
257:
212:
136:
95:
75:
51:Social Law Library
22:
202:Original material
116:Westlaw's Keycite
809:
786:
785:
783:
781:
775:
766:
760:
759:
757:
755:
739:
733:
732:
730:
729:
715:
709:
708:
706:
704:
694:
686:
680:
679:
673:
662:
656:
655:
653:
651:
631:
622:
621:
619:
608:
602:
601:
599:
597:
583:
577:
576:
574:
572:
562:
553:
547:
546:
544:
542:
536:
525:
516:
515:
513:
511:
495:
489:
488:
486:
485:
471:
460:
459:
457:
455:
445:
436:
430:
421:
415:
414:
412:
410:
396:
387:
315:e-filing support
173:Online resources
159:“do-it-yourself”
105:Print collection
817:
816:
812:
811:
810:
808:
807:
806:
792:
791:
790:
789:
779:
777:
773:
768:
767:
763:
753:
751:
741:
740:
736:
727:
725:
717:
716:
712:
702:
700:
692:
688:
687:
683:
671:
664:
663:
659:
649:
647:
633:
632:
625:
617:
610:
609:
605:
595:
593:
585:
584:
580:
570:
568:
560:
555:
554:
550:
540:
538:
534:
527:
526:
519:
509:
507:
497:
496:
492:
483:
481:
479:www.aallnet.org
473:
472:
463:
453:
451:
443:
438:
437:
433:
422:
418:
408:
406:
394:
389:
388:
379:
374:
366:Special library
352:
249:
233:law degree (JD)
125:legal treatises
87:
67:
42:
12:
11:
5:
815:
813:
805:
804:
794:
793:
788:
787:
761:
734:
710:
681:
657:
623:
603:
578:
548:
517:
490:
461:
431:
416:
376:
375:
373:
370:
369:
368:
363:
358:
351:
348:
343:
342:
339:
336:
333:
330:
323:
322:
319:
316:
313:
310:
307:
306:chat reference
304:
301:
298:
295:
292:
248:
245:
86:
83:
73:LA Law Library
66:
63:
41:
38:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
814:
803:
800:
799:
797:
772:
765:
762:
749:
745:
738:
735:
724:
720:
714:
711:
698:
691:
685:
682:
678:
670:
669:
661:
658:
645:
641:
640:AALL Spectrum
637:
630:
628:
624:
616:
615:
607:
604:
591:
590:
582:
579:
566:
559:
552:
549:
533:
532:
524:
522:
518:
505:
501:
494:
491:
480:
476:
470:
468:
466:
462:
449:
442:
435:
432:
429:
427:
420:
417:
404:
400:
399:AALL Spectrum
393:
386:
384:
382:
378:
371:
367:
364:
362:
359:
357:
354:
353:
349:
347:
340:
337:
334:
331:
329:legal clinics
328:
327:
326:
320:
317:
314:
311:
308:
305:
302:
299:
296:
293:
290:
289:
288:
284:
280:
278:
274:
270:
265:
262:
253:
246:
244:
242:
238:
234:
230:
225:
224:
220:
218:
208:
204:
203:
199:
197:
193:
192:Bloomberg Law
189:
185:
181:
175:
174:
170:
168:
164:
160:
155:
153:
149:
145:
141:
132:
128:
126:
122:
117:
113:
107:
106:
102:
100:
91:
84:
82:
80:
71:
64:
62:
58:
54:
52:
48:
39:
37:
35:
31:
27:
18:
780:23 September
778:. Retrieved
764:
754:23 September
752:. Retrieved
747:
737:
726:. Retrieved
723:www.srln.org
722:
713:
701:. Retrieved
696:
684:
675:
667:
660:
648:. Retrieved
643:
639:
613:
606:
594:. Retrieved
588:
581:
569:. Retrieved
564:
551:
539:. Retrieved
530:
508:. Retrieved
503:
493:
482:. Retrieved
478:
454:24 September
452:. Retrieved
447:
434:
425:
419:
407:. Retrieved
402:
398:
344:
324:
285:
281:
266:
258:
226:
222:
221:
213:
201:
200:
176:
172:
171:
156:
137:
108:
104:
103:
96:
76:
59:
55:
43:
23:
409:16 November
356:Law library
167:For Dummies
34:regulations
728:2016-08-16
646:(1): 18–21
484:2016-07-30
372:References
196:HeinOnline
163:Nolo Press
121:form books
703:August 4,
596:August 1,
571:August 1,
541:August 3,
273:legal aid
796:Category
650:July 30,
510:July 30,
350:See also
223:Services
182:such as
26:statutes
589:Keynote
184:Westlaw
40:History
426:et seq
194:, and
146:, and
32:, and
774:(PDF)
693:(PDF)
672:(PDF)
618:(PDF)
561:(PDF)
535:(PDF)
444:(PDF)
395:(PDF)
188:Lexis
30:cases
782:2016
756:2016
705:2016
652:2016
598:2016
573:2016
543:2016
512:2016
456:2018
411:2015
123:and
114:or
798::
746:.
721:.
695:.
644:16
642:.
638:.
626:^
563:.
520:^
502:.
477:.
464:^
446:.
403:10
401:.
397:.
380:^
243:.
190:,
186:,
142:,
28:,
784:.
758:.
731:.
707:.
600:.
575:.
545:.
514:.
487:.
458:.
428:.
413:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
