Guides: Law: Internet

Legal resources via Internet

Legal resources on the Web are deep, accessible and mostly free. Keep in mind, however, that these sites lack the structure found in databases of commercial sources such as HeinOnline. Also, beware of searching differences and differnces in standardized phrasing from one online site to another. Web sites are useful mostly in locating federal and state primary sources: bills, statutes, cases, regulations, AG opinions, etc.

The American Society of International Law Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law
Includes access to Society publications.
CourtListener
Free access to federal and state court cases.
FindLaw
Provides access to an online library of legal resources for use by legal professionals, consumers and small businesses. FindLaw's mission is to make legal information on the Internet easy to find.

GovInfo This link opens in a new window
GovInfo replaces the Federal Digital System (FDsys) and is a service of the United States Government Publishing Office (GPO). It provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government, such as the Federal Register, the Code of Federal Regulations, the Congressional Record, Congressional bills, Congressional hearings and reports, and laws.

The Legal Information Institute
Offers extensive holdings of case and statutory law, and some administrative sources. Materials are arranged both by jurisdiction and by topic. Most of the case law is fairly recent - there are not full runs of court decisions.

Congress.gov This link opens in a new window
formerly Thomas.gov
This resource from the Library of Congress allows users to search for: Bills, Resolutions; Activity in Congress; Congressional Record; Schedules, Calendars; Committee Information; Presidential Nominations; and Treaties, some beginning with the 93rd Congress (1973) - present. Congress.gov is usually updated the morning after a session adjourns.
Coverage dates for legislative information in Congress.gov are available here.