How to Search Legal Resources (Start Here)
This page links to legal research tools, court rules, legal aid directories, and law library resources.
What this page covers: Federal legal research databases, court rules, and legal aid directories. What it does not cover: Case records (Court Records page) or attorney directories (Attorneys page).
Where to start: For federal law, use congress.gov (statutes) and ecfr.gov (regulations). For free case law, use Google Scholar or CourtListener. For free legal help, use lawhelp.org.
Visit →
Legal Citations Handbook
Visit → Official Free
Cornell University Law School online handbook for purposes, types, and examples of Legal Citations.
Visit →
World Legal Information Institute | U.S. Legal Databases
Visit → Official Free
Search by phrase, keyword, document title, or browse by category for legal information in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I read federal laws for free? ▼
Congress.gov provides the U.S. Code. eCFR provides the Code of Federal Regulations. Both are free.
Where can I find free legal help? ▼
LawHelp.org connects low-income individuals with free legal aid programs by state.
Other Federal Databases
Last reviewed:
BBB A+ Rated