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Law Resources

Table of Contents:

State & Local Law (U.S.)

Wisconsin

Wisconsin.gov or List of State Agencies - Locate state government agencies here.
LexisNexis Academic database: Select "Area of Law" and Filter by Country: "United States." Next select "Wisconsin." Then select a publication type, such as "cases" or "legislation, statutes & codes,"or "constitutions." Browse/search Wisconsin Statutes, Constitution, Court Rules & Advanced Legislative Service, Combined -

Search Wisconsin Supreme Court cases since Jan. 1944 and/or Wisconsin Appeals Court cases since Aug. 1978, by case name, citation, or keywords. Search the Wisconsin Code, Constitution, or court rules by specific citation or search for keywords in the text.
Campus Research (Westlaw) -
Type search term(s) into the "Search for:" box, then
- for court cases select "State Jurisdictions:" with Wisconsin in the drop-down box, or
- for statutes select "State Statutes:" with Wisconsin in the drop-down box, or
- for administrative code select "State Administrative Codes:" with Wisconsin in the drop-down box.
WISBAR Legal Resources (The State Bar of Wisconsin)

Recent decisions and rules of the state Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, other state courts, and Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations. Also available in Andersen Library's Reference & Documents collections: state appellate court cases in Wisconsin Reports and West's North Western Reporter.
Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) Wisconsin Circuit Court Access

Click on the "I agree" button to begin. How far back cases go depends on the county (See When Wisconsin Counties Began Using CCAP. Case information is kept on WCCA for 10 years or the minimum period of time for the case type as set by the supreme court rules (SCR Chapter 72 Retention and Maintenance of Court Records), whichever is longer.
Wisconsin Briefs (University of Wisconsin Law Library)

This searchable site contains briefs for all published Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals published cases and all unpublished Court of Appeals cases beginning with 173 Wis.2d (November, 1992). Briefs from very recent or pending cases may not be available.
Wisconsin State Legislature

State law available from here includes legislation (proposed bills, acts, resolutions) from the current and previous (since 1995/1996) legislative sessions, state statutes, and the Wisconsin Constitution. Also available in Andersen Library: bills and amendments from the current and one previous legislative session, as well as current and historical session laws and state statutes. The Wisconsin Legislator Briefing Book, 2007-08 explains the legislative process.
Wisconsin Legislative Notification Service - Internet Explorer browser required

Citizens using the system will receive daily or weekly emails when specified legislative activity occurrs. For example, users may choose to be notified about every action affecting a specific proposal, bills introduced by a particular legislator, activities of a specific committee, or introductions relating to a particular topic.
Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau

Provided in full text are several LRB publications related to the topics of recent legislative activity and the Wisconsin Blue Book (since the 1995-1996 edition), which contains state agency addresses and descriptions. Current and previous editions of the Blue Book and other LRB publications are available in print in the University Library (listed in the online catalog). Blue Books back to 1853 are available through the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections. An excellent guide to Researching legislative history in Wisconsin is online, and indicates that the bill drafting records (documents to examine as part of this research) are online since 1999 via the University of Wisconsin Law School Library .
Wisconsin Administrative Code (Wisconsin Revisor of Statutes Bureau)

A link to the Administrative Register is provided also. Both the register and the entire state administrative code are available in print in the University Library.
Equal Rights Decision Digest (Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission) - and selected LIRC Equal Rights Decisions
LIRC Unemployment Insurance Decisisons (Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission) - Selected fulltext cases.
LIRC Workers Compensation Decisisons (Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission) - Selected fulltext cases.
WI Law: Codes & Ordinances (Wisconsin State Law Library) includes Whitewater

See also the links for municipal codes at the bottom of the next section "All 50 States."

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All 50 States

LexisNexis Academic database -

Contains codes, constitutions, court rules, and court cases from all fifty states. Search for specific citations, case name, or keywords in fulltext, sections, or headings. To search only materials for a particular state, click on the "Sources" tab. Select "Area of Law" and filter by country United States, then select a particular state. Also select a publication type (cases, constitutions, etc.) if desired.
Campus Research (Westlaw) -
Type search term(s) into the "Search for:" box, then
- for court cases select "All State Cases," or "State Jurisdictions:" with a specific state highlighted in the drop-down box, or
- for statutes select "State Statutes:" with a specific state highlighted in the drop-down box, or
- for administrative codes select "State Administrative Codes:" with a specific state highlighted in the drop-down box.
StateLaw: State Government & Legislative Information (Washburn University)
State and Local Governments (Library of Congress) - Scroll down to states listing.
Administrative Law Resources Arranged by State (ABA Administrative Procedure Database, via Florida State University) - Alternatively, see the listing of Internet Access to Rules by the National Association of Secretaries of State.
Court Web Sites (National Center for State Courts)
Drafts of Uniform and Model Acts (The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, via University of Pennsylvania.
Uniform Commercial Code Locator (via Cornell University) - From this site the text of the UCC may be viewed, as well as locating state statutes corresponding to Articles of the UCC. There are similar sites for the Uniform Probate Code, Uniform Rules of Evidence, uniform matrimonial, family, & health laws, and uniform business & financial laws.
Municipal Codes Online (Seattle Public Library)
Online Library (Municipal Code Corporation) - Includes several Wisconsin codes, including Fort Atkinson, Madison, and the Walworth County Code of Ordinances. Also available in Andersen Library at the Reference Desk: Whitewater (Wisconsin) municipal code.

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Federal (U.S.) Administrative Law

Agency Decisions

Administrative Decisions & Other Actions (University of Virginia Library)
Bureaus and Offices (Federal Communications Commission) - Most fulltext notices and orders are found under the appropriate bureau of the FCC. Brief synopses of FCC orders, as well as news releases and speeches, can be found in the Daily Digests, online since 1994. Browse by bureau, by document type, or use the FCC Search Tools to look for keywords.
United States National Labor Relations Board - Decisions (since v.321, July 1996) and Weekly Summary of NLRB Cases are available. Also available in the University Library's Federal Documents collection: Decisions and Orders at LR 1.8:

Regulations & Rules

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (National Archives and Records Administration, via GPO Access)

Administrative agencies' regulations and rules are arranged into 50 titles, which are revised annually. Search here by keyword(s) or by citation. It is possible to limit a search to specified title(s) of the CFR. Also available in the University Library's Documents Reference collection: current edition only.
Code of Federal Regulations (LexisNexis Academic database) -

Under "Sources" select "CFR - Code of Federal Regulations."
Federal Register (daily issues since v.59, 1994, via GPO Access)

This publication updates the CFR, containing proposed and newly adopted administrative agency regulations and rules. Also available in the University Library's Federal Documents collection: daily issues since 1986 at AE 2.106: (microfiche format 1986-Nov. 1994).
Regulations.gov

This U.S. Government website facilities public comment on proposed regulations printed in the Federal Register. Search by federal agency or by keyword(s).
Unified Agenda (1994 to date, via GPO Access)

Scroll down to select from the database list. The agenda is published in the Federal Register semiannually, summarizing pending regulatory actions by Federal agencies.
Campus Research (Westlaw) -
Type search term(s) into the "Search for:" box, then select either "Code of Federal Regulations" or "Federal Register."

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Federal (U.S.) Court Cases

About the Courts | Court Rules
U.S. Supreme Court | U.S. Circuits/Courts of Appeals | U.S. District Courts

About the Courts

Understanding the Federal Courts (Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts)
About the Supreme Court (U.S. Supreme Court) | The U.S. Supreme Court (InfoSynthesis, Inc.) | The Current Court (Supreme Court Historical Society)
The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States -
The Oxford Guide to United States Supreme Court Decisions -

Court Rules

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure | Federal Rules of Evidence | Rules of the Supreme Court of the U.S. (Cornell University)

U.S. Supreme Court

Also available in the University Library's Reference Collection (U.S. Supreme Court Reports, Lawyers' Edition), and in the Federal Documents Collection (U.S. Reports).

Federal Case Law (LexisNexis Academic database) -
Decisions since 1790, briefs since 1970. Under "Sources" select either "U.S. Supreme Court Cases" or "U.S. Supreme Court Briefs." Under "Date" make an appropriate selection.
Opinions (U.S. Supreme Court) since vol.502 U.S. Reports (1991:Oct.)
Oyez (Jerry Goldman, Northwestern University) Access to abstracts of U.S. Supreme Court cases, with digital audio of oral arguments for cases since 1995, selected audio for earlier cases, and links to written opinions for all cases since 1891.
Supreme Court Decisions (1937-1975) (historical decisions 1937-1975, v.300-422 U.S. Reports, via GPO Access, or via FedWorld)
U.S. Supreme Court Collection (decisions since 1990, via Cornell University)
USSC+ Online (Annual subscription required. Complete coverage since 1897 plus selected earlier leading cases as far back as 1793)
Campus Research (Westlaw) -
Search U.S. Supreme Court cases since 1893, v.150 U.S. Reports (via Findlaw):

Browse by U.S. Reports volume | by year

Citation Search

Title Search

Full-Text Search

Seminal Supreme Court Cases Regarding Federal Indian Law (Wisconsin Judicare's Indian Law Office)

U.S. Courts of Appeals/Circuit Courts

- map (Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts)

Also available in the University Library's Reference Collection (Federal Reporter)

U.S. Circuit Courts (FindLaw) - Select one circuit or search all.
Federal Case Law (LexisNexis Academic database)-
Contains decisions since 1789. Under "Sources" select "U.S. Courts of Appeals cases." Under "Date" make an appropriate selection.
Search (Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute) - Search one or all U.S. circuit courts.
Campus Research (Westlaw) -
Federal Courts Finder (Emory University School of Law)
First Circuit (decisions since Jan. 1992)- ME,MA,NH,PR,RI

First Circuit Opinions (decisions from Nov. 1995 through Jul. 2001, via Emory University)
Second Circuit - CT,NY,VT

Option to search all decisions provided.
Third Circuit (decisions since May 1994, via Villanova University) - DE,NJ,PA

Opinions Archive Search Form provided at the Court's website.
Fourth Circuit (decisions since Jan. 1996) - MD,NC,SC,VA,WV

Fourth Circuit Opinions (decisions from Jan. 1995 through May 2001, via Emory University)
Fifth Circuit (decisions since 1992) - LA,MS,TX
Sixth Circuit (decisions since Jul. 1999)- KY,MI,OH,TN

Sixth Circuit Opinions (decisions from Jan. 1995 through Jun. 1999, via Emory University)
Seventh Circuit - IL,IN,WI
Eighth Circuit (decisions since 1995) - AR,IA,MN,MO,NE,ND,SD
Ninth Circuit (decisions since 1995) - AK,AZ,CA,HI,ID,MT,NV,OR,WA

Ninth Circuit Opinions (decisions from Jun. 1995 through Apr. 2001, via Villanova University)
Tenth Circuit (decisions since Oct. 1997, via Washburn University) - CO,KS,NM,OK,UT,WY

Tenth Circuit Opinions (decisions from Aug. 1995 through Oct. 1997, via Emory University)
Eleventh Circuit (decisions since 1994) - AL,FL,GA
D.C. Circuit (decisions since Mar. 1995, via Georgetown University)
Federal Circuit (decisions since Aug. 1995, via Georgetown University)

U.S. District Courts

Also available in the University Library's Reference Collection (Federal Suplement)

Federal Case Law (LexisNexis Academic database) -
Contains decisions since 1789. Under "Sources" select "U.S. District Court Cases." Under "Date" make an appropriate selection.
Campus Research (Westlaw) -
Federal Courts Finder (Emory University School of Law) - Scroll down to links to official WWW sites, by state. Content varies, many do not provide full-text opinions on the WWW.
District Courts (FindLaw)

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Federal (U.S.) Legislation

The legislative process:

Enactment of a Law (U.S. Senate)
How Our Laws Are Made (U.S. House)

U.S. Code

Laws currently in force in the United States, enacted by the U.S. Congress and arranged into 50 broad subject "titles". Also available in the University Library's Documents Reference collection.

U.S. Code (via GPO Access) - Scroll down to the search box.
U.S. Code (via Cornell University)
United States Code Service (LexisNexis Academic database) -
Under "Sources:" select more specific titles within the U.S. Code if desired. It is also possible to browse the U.S. Code.
United States Code Annotated (Campus Research, powered by Westlaw) -
Type search term(s) into the "Search for:" box, then select "United States Code Annotated."

Bills & Public Laws

LexisNexis Congressional database -

CIS Index to legislation, with links to full-text bills since the 101st Congress (1989-1990).
Bills & Public Laws (via Thomas, Library of Congress)
Bills & Public Laws (via GPO Access) - Scroll down to select from the database list.

Legislation introduced (bills) & enacted (public laws) by the U.S. Congress since the 103rd Congress (1993/1994) available at both online sites above.
Search public laws by keyword (LexisNexis Congressional database) -

Enacted legislation since 1988 (100th Congress) may be searched here. Select "Public Laws."
United States Statutes at Large (Library of Congress)

Here are the enacted laws of the first forty-three Congresses, 1789-1875. Vol. VII is an early collection of treaties with Indian tribes, although it is not complete to date. Also available in the University Library's Documents Reference collection: slip laws (current session's enacted laws) and previous sessions' public laws in U.S. Statutes at Large (The earliest volumes are in microfiche format in the Reference Microforms Room).
United States Statutes at Large: Main Page (U.S. Government Printing Office)

Here is searchable full text of the statutes only for the 108th Congress (2003-2004, vol. 117).

Congressional Record

Official daily record of proceedings and debates on the Senate and House floors of the U.S. Congress, online fulltext since 1994 (104th Congress). The index is available via GPO Access since 1983. Also available in the University Library's Federal Documents collection: daily issues since 1983 and bound volumes since 1873.

Congressional Record (101st Congress, 1989/1990 to date, via "Thomas", Library of Congress)
Congressional Record. (v.140, 1994 to date, via GPO Access)
Congressional Record Index (since 1983, via GPO Access)

The three titles that were published covering the years before the Congressional Record are available online via the Library of Congress:

Annals of Congress, 1789-1824 (1st-18th Congresses) - also known as The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States)
Register of Debates, 1824-1837 (18th Congress:2d session-25th Congress:1st session)
Congressional Globe, 1833-1873 (23rd-42nd Congresses)

Congressional Committee Publications

See WWW sites of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for links to committee WWW sites, where some full-text hearings, prints, reports, and documents may be found.

Selected Congressional committee documents and reports since the 104th Congress (1995/1996- ) are full-text online. These materials also are available in the University Library's Federal Documents collection, along with committee hearings - some in microfiche format (search the online catalog for exact classification numbers).

Senate, House, & Treaty Documents (since 104th Congress, 1995/1996, via GPO Access)
Senate, House, & Executive Reports (since 104th Congress, 1995/1996, via GPO Access)

Presidential Signing Statements

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents (via GPO Access, since 1993)

Also available in the University Library since 1983.

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U.S. Constitution

About America: The Constitution of the United States of America with Explanatory Notes (U.S. Dept. of State, International Information Programs)
The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation (via GPO Access, sponsored by the U.S. Senate) - This publication includes annotations of U.S. Supreme Court cases, and also is available at the University Library's Reference Desk.
The Constitution of the United States of America (via FindLaw)
The Constitution of the United States (National Archives) - Also available here: the Declaration of Independence.
Constitution of the United States of America (LexisNexis Academic database) -
Under "Sources:" select "Constitution of the United States."

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International Law

Foreign and International Law (Washburn University) - alphabetical list
International Constitutional Law (via University of Bern, Germany) - Select a country.
Law by Source: Global (Cornell School of Law) - Select a continent, then countries listed alphabetically. Many country listings include consitutions.
UN Documentation Centre (United Nations) - Selected official UN documents are posted here.

International Courts

Court of Justice of the European Communities - Recent decisions are full-text online. Descriptions of other institutions of the European Union also available.
The International Court of Justice (via Cornell University) - Also known as the World Court, this is the supreme judicial body of the United Nations. Its decisions since 1996 are online.
International Court Web Sites (National Center for State Courts)

International & Multilateral Treaties

Environmental Treaties & Resource Indicators (ENTRI) (via Columbia University)
Multilaterals Project (Tufts University) - Select a subject category, or a chronological listing
Treaties in Force (annual, U.S. Dept. of State)

This is an annual listing of treaties and other international agreements with the United States.

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Dictionaries

- Also available in the University Library's Reference Collection (and highly recommended): Black's Law Dictionary

A Dictionary of Law (Oxford Reference Online) -
Duhaime's Law Dictionary
Everybody's Legal Glossary (Nolo.com)
Legal Lexicon's Lyceum (The 'Lectric Law Library)
Oxford Companion to American Law (Oxford Reference Online) -
Wex (LII, Legal Information Institute, Cornell University)

Electronic Law Reviews (Journals)*

*Not all law reviews are fulltext online; some provide abstracts and/or table of contents only.

Law Reviews (LexisNexis Academic database) -
Contains more than 200 law reviews and law journals. Click on the gray "i" to see a list of titles.
Academic Law Reviews and Journals - Journals listed by topic or law school; annotations show abstracts/full-text availability online.
Law Journals on the Net (Cornell University)
University Law Review Project (Indiana University)
Campus Research (Westlaw) -

Type search term(s) into the "Search for:" box, then select Journals and Law Reviews (also select a specific state or "All Journals and Law Reviews" in the drop-down box as appropriate).

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Indexes

Law indexes that may be used to identify articles on legal topics
LexisNexis Academic database -
Campus Research (Westlaw) -

Type search term(s) into the "Search for:" box, then select Journals and Law Reviews (also select a specific state or "All Journals and Law Reviews" in the drop-down box as appropriate).

Legal Encycopedia

- Also available in the University Library's Reference Collection: Corpus Juris Secundum.

American Jurisprudence 2d (Campus Research, powered by Westlaw) -

Type search term(s) into the "Search for:" box, then select American Jurisprudence 2d under "Encyclopedias."
American Jurisprudence 2d (LexisNexis Academic) -

Under "Sources" select "American Jurisprudence 2d" and search by keywords or browse by the AmJur topics.

Citation Guide

Introduction to Basic Legal Citation (Cornell University)

Based on A Uniform System of Citation (aka the "Blue Book"), which is available at the University Library's Reference Desk
Universal Citation Guide (Committee on Citation Formats, American Association of Law Libraries)

Product of an effort to reform citation of legal materials.

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Directories of Lawyers, Law Firms, Law Schools, & Legal Associations (searchable)

Chambers Global Search for names of lawyers or firms, or browse by area of practice.
Chambers USA Search for names of lawyers or firms, or browse by area of practice.
Chambers UK Search for names of lawyers or firms, or browse by area of practice.
GaleNet -
Three databases are available: Associations Unlimited, Biography and Genealogy Master Index, and Contemporary Authors.
Law Schools:Full List A - Z or USA Law Schools By State (Findlaw)
Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory (LexisNexis Academic database) -

Either search for Martindale or click on "Law Directories" and then select Martindale from the list of course.
Martindale-Hubbell® Lawyer Locator - Also available in print in the University Library's Reference Collection, along with the companion state, U.S., and international "law digest" volumes.
FindLaw Lawyer Directory

Legal Forms

ILRG Legal Forms Archive (Internet Legal Resource Guide)
Law Practice Forms (The 'Lectric Law Library)
Practice and Legal Forms (The State Bar of Wisconsin)

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Shepardizing

How to Shepardize - This guide shows how to use print Shepard's titles
Shepard's® (LexisNexis Academic database) -

Updating and citing information is available for federal and state court cases, law review articles, and attorney general opinions.

Miscellany

ABA Lawinfo.org (American Bar Association)
Browse WisBar by Topic (The State Bar of Wisconsin)
CCH Products Liability & Safety Law (Restricted to 2 users at a time) -

Click on the link to the CCH Research Network on the top right portion of the screen. When the log in screen appears, type in your CCH User ID and password.
Court TV Online
EFF: Legal Guide for Bloggers (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
Guide to Law Online (Library of Congress)
How to Research a Legal Problem (American Association of Law Libraries)
Legal Subjects Index (FindLaw)
Podcasting Legal Guide (Creative Commons)
Seminal Supreme Court Cases Regarding Federal Indian Law (Wisconsin Judicare's Indian Law Office)
Tribal Courts (National Tribal Justice Resource Center)

History of the courts, links to courts on the Web, tribal court constitutions and codes.
Topical Index of Legal Resources (Internet Legal Resource Guide) - Includes links to law school course outlines, law school rankings, and links related to practice areas.
WWW Virtual Library--Law (Indiana University) - Select legal information by organization type or by topic

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Search Internet

FindLaw
LawCrawler
LawGuru
LawRunner
Meta-Index for U.S. Legal Research (Georgia State University)

Last revised: BRB - August 13, 2007