Finding the Law: Home

This guide is designed for non-law users interested in conducting legal research.  Many of the resources listed in this guide are free to use.  Those that are not free may be used by coming into the law school and using our computers.

Disclaimer: The materials in this guide do not constitute legal advice.  This guide is simply designed to direct non-law researchers to resources they may find helpful when conducting their research.  Law Library faculty and staff are unable to provide legal advice, but we are happy to answer research-related questions.

When conducting legal research, there are four main types of documents you will be looking for:

1. Statutes - laws passed by Congress or your state general assembly
2. Cases - decisions of judges in civil and criminal cases
3. Administrative materials - regulations and administrative decisions passed by administrative agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service
4. Secondary sources - this category encompasses a number of different types of documents, designed to explain the law (numbers 1-3 in this list are primary sources, the law itself)

Using the tabs at the top of the screen, you can navigate to the remaining pages of this guide to learn more about each type of legal research resource.

For those representing themselves in court, the Indiana judiciary has created a Self-Service Legal Center on the state website, complete with a guide to self-representation, court forms and instructions on how to fill them out, and more.  Follow the link below.
 

There are many great legal resources out there.  Here are a few that everyone should know about.