Free Internet Legal Research  

This guide is designed to present alternatives to fee-based research databases.  In practice you may not have access to subscription databases or you may be working for a client that will not pay for research time and fees, but there are many free legal research resources available online now.  Consult this guide for links to free primary and secondary resources.

If you have questions or need a resource recommendation, consult a law librarian.  The reference librarians are the JMLS Library are available to assist with your research questions.   Additionally, the Cook County Law Library on the 29th floor of the Daley Center (118 N. Clark St, Chicago) is open to the public and is staffed by knowledgeable law librarians.

The key to being an effective researcher is to develop a plan.  Regardless of whether you are using free or fee based resources, your strategy should remain the same.  If you don't know where to start or when to stop, consult this chart. 

Need more help? Reference librarians are available to meet with JMLS students in one-on-one sessions (or in small groups) to discuss research strategies, recommend relevant resources or review specific topics of legal research. 

Fill out a request form and a librarian will get back to you to set up an appointment.   We ask that you request your appointment at least 2 days in advance, but remember you can always stop by the reference desk for immediate help with a quick research question.