basic legal research for any librarian
TRANSCRIPT
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Sarah MauldinDirector of Library ServicesSmith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
Margaret (Meg) ButlerAssociate Director for Public ServicesGeorgia State University College of Law Library
Civics Review
How Courts Work
How Statutory Law Is Made
How to Find:◦ Free General Legal Information Online
◦ Free Federal and Georgia Materials Online
◦ Forms: A Georgia Case Study
◦ Public Records
Referrals
Unauthorized Practice of Law
Forms of law◦ Cases, statutes, regulations, ordinances,
constitutions
Branches of government◦ Judicial, legislative, executive
Federal and state systems
Value of secondary sources
Court websites
Lower court dockets◦ Major differences in coverage
◦ What can you find?
◦ State versus Federal (PACER)
Appellate court dockets
Opinions◦ Published versus unpublished
◦ What is precedential?
US Code ◦ Created by Congress
◦ Available at fdsys.gov (official)
◦ Available at law.cornell.edu
Official Code of Georgia◦ Created by the General Assembly
◦ Available at https://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/gacode/
Henry County Code◦ Created by the County Board of Commissioners
◦ Available at Municode.com
Code of Federal Regulations◦ Created by federal agencies
◦ Available at fdsys.gov
Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia◦ Created by state agencies
◦ Available at http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/General/rules_and_regulations, from the Secretary of State
◦ Legal Information Institute (https://www.law.cornell.edu/) (explainer, federal statutes and regulations, links to state materials)
◦ Google Scholar (cases, patents)◦ Fastcase – free via app for mobile devices (primary
law)◦ Public Library of Law (primary law and forms)◦ Federal Practice Manual for Legal Aid Attorneys
(federal explainer)◦ Findlaw.com (explainer)◦ Nolo.com (explainer)◦ Interest groups—Legal Aid, LawHelp.org, agencies
(explainers, referrals)
◦ FDSys.gov—statutes, regulations, and so much more
◦ Congress.gov
◦ PACER—docket information
◦ Patent and Trademark Office
◦ Agency websites
◦ Find My Senator
◦ Statutes
◦ Bills
◦ Cases
◦ Regulations
◦ Ordinances
Court-provided forms
Statutory forms
Hospital forms
Corporation forms
Pay sources online
Professional licenses – Secretary of State
Corporations – Secretary of State
Property records – individual county assessor◦ Who owns a property?
◦ Property values
Inmate and Offender searches – State and County
County Legal Organs◦ Foreclosures
◦ Tax Sales
◦ Name Changes
◦ Other information required to be published
Law libraries—at law schools, courthouses
Legal Aid
Problem-based providers
State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services
Law school clinics
What is it?
How can you help patrons?◦ Direct patrons to forms sites/Law Depot
◦ Show patrons how to find legal materials in the catalog
◦ Direct patrons to free online legal resources
◦ Refer patrons to appropriate legal assistance agencies
What you can’t do to help?◦ Tell patrons which form is required
◦ Help patrons fill out forms
◦ Explain what a law, ordinance, etc. means
◦ Give opinions about what patrons should do about their legal problems
Contact Sarah for an electronic version of the annotated bibliography
◦ Sarah Mauldin
◦ 404-815-3538
◦ Margaret (Meg) Butler
◦ 404-413-9142