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Law Library
The State Law Library, a division of the Library of Michigan, is open from 10am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. State government employees and the general public alike are welcome to come and make use of our print and electronic resources, and our staff can demonstrate how to use these materials effectively. We can also assist you by phone or email in navigating state websites or by suggesting resources to help locate legal or legislative information. We do not perform research for the general public, however, as our primary function is to provide research support to state government employees working in their official capacities.
Moreover, as librarians, we cannot provide advice or guidance on legal matters, explain whether something is "legal" or otherwise interpret the law, nor speak for or on behalf of another government agency. Those seeking legal help should contact a private attorney or legal assistance organization - for more information, see the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) Legal Gateway.
| • Contact Information for the Law Library | • State Law Library Research Services for State of Michigan Employees | • State Law Library Research Request Form for State of Michigan Employees | • Document Delivery Information for non-State Employees |
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Workshops
• Michigan Legal Help: How the Public Librarian Can Assist Those Representing Themselves in Court Registration is now open
The workshop will help library staff develop a better understanding of why this community turns to the public library for help and will have the opportunity to discuss strategies for assisting them. Learn how the new Michigan Legal Help website can help you better serve these patrons. The Michigan Legal Help training program has been made possible through a grant from the Michigan State Bar Foundation and is administered by the Library of Michigan Foundation. The training is scheduled for twelve locations throughout Michigan from May to October 2013. Find dates and locations through the registration link.
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Links to Legal and Government Information
Finding Legal Resources Around the State
• Directory of Michigan Law Libraries Libraries in the Upper Peninsula Libraries, Northern Part Of The Lower Peninsula, Southeastern Part Of The Lower Peninsula, South Central Part Of The Lower Peninsula, Southwestern Part Of The Lower Peninsula
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More | • MeL Legal Gateway An excellent starting point for legal research! Access local, state and federal laws and regulations. Find information about common legal concerns such as bankruptcy, foreclosure, and landlord/tenant issues. Discover where to get legal aid and aids for deciphering "legalese" including legal self-help guides.
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More | • Michigan Legal Help The Michigan Legal Help website was created to help people who have to handle simple civil legal problems without a lawyer. There are articles you can read to learn about a specific area of the law and toolkits to help you prepare to represent yourself in court. It is not a substitute for having a lawyer. If you need more help, you can search the website for a lawyer or community services in your area.
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Research Guides
• How to Find Information on a Legal Topic This guide is intended to help those unfamiliar with law libraries to do basic research in the State Law Library for a report or term paper on a legal topic. It will lead you to books and articles which discuss, analyse or explain the law.
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More | • How to Use an American Case Digest A case digest is an indexing system which enables the researcher to find appellate court opinions that deal with particular subject matter. There are digests for federal cases and/or state cases. There are digests that cover the entire country, groups of states or individual states.
The structure and function of the many digests published by West Group are described here. Other digests are similar; each contains instructions on its use. The reference librarians are available to answer any questions you may have.
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More | • Sources of Michigan Legislative History | • How to Find Current Michigan Statutes This is an introduction to some aspects of researching Michigan statutes, which are the laws enacted by the Michigan Legislature.
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More | • How to Find Articles in Legal Periodicals This guide will help you use periodical indexes and other sources to identify articles on legal topics and to find the articles in the law library.
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More | • How to Find Current Federal Statutes This is an introduction to some aspects of researching federal statutes, which are the laws enacted by the U.S. Congress.
A bill passed by the House and Senate and approved by the President becomes either a public law (abbreviated P.L. or Pub.L.) which has general applicability, or a private law (not discussed here) whose purpose is to benefit a specific person or locality.
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More | • How to Find Federal Regulations This guide is intended to help you use the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations, the official sources of administrative regulations issued by the executive branch of the federal government.
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