Legal Research (page 1)
How to Use -- Contents
Slightly Creaky does extensive research to find the links you would most likely need and provides them for you in an easy-to-find format. You can access the various categories from any of our web pages using the top or side menus. Each category has generalized headings, followed by more specific ones.
Law Research Categories
Updated July 15, 2010
Our legal research sections are located on four pages.
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Legal Research
Legal Research
| "The law is often esoteric, eccentric and remote. From time to time, there are movements to simplify the law, usually under the byword of "plain language". However, the task is daunting and likely impracticable given the depth and breadth of the law. At the same time, ignorance of the meaning of a legal word can have grave or very expensive consequences." | |
| Duhaime's Legal Dictionary | |
| What is Litigation? | "A controversy before a court or a "lawsuit" is commonly referred to as “litigation”. If it is not settled by agreement between the parties it would eventually be heard and decided by a judge or jury in a court. Litigation is one way that people and companies resolve disputes arising out of an infinite variety of factual circumstances." |
| Types of Law | A lengthy list of national, international, criminal, and civic laws explained. |
| Commonly Used Legal Terms | Dictionary compiled by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts |
| Law Information Index | "Information on this page is organized by topic or key word." |
| The ExpertLaw Library | "ExpertLaw - Your Source for Legal Information" |
| Law.com Dictionary | "For the definition of a legal term, enter a word or phrase below." |
| Recent Articles About Law Issues | From "Total Lawyers." |
| Justia Criminal Law Glossary | Presented alphabetically |
| U.S. House of Representatives Downloadable U.S. Code |
The entire Federal criminal code |
| Differences between Civil and Criminal Law in the USA |
"Criminal law is much better known to laymen than civil law, as a result of journalists' reports of famous criminal trials. In talking with people about law, I find that they often misapply principles from criminal law to situations in civil (e.g., tort) law, which results in their misunderstanding. They are surprised when they learn the actual legal principles that apply to a problem. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast criminal and civil law. " |
| What is Due Diligence? | It is best described as: “The process of systematically evaluating information, to identify risks and issues relating to a proposed transaction, i.e. to verify that information is what it is proposed to be”. |
"Failure to have a process in place that preserves documentary and electronic evidence can result in massive penalties, monetary and worse! When parties to litigation have failed to preserve evidence, or allowed its destruction, courts have been willing to impose sanctions such as default judgments or instructing the jury to draw adverse inferences against a party." |
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| Preserving Documents for Litigation | |
| Legal Forms from Rominger Legal | Legal Form Resources |
| Free Legal Forms | "The following resources provide free legal forms on a wide range of subjects. This list is not intended to be comprehensive, but is instead meant to direct you to reliable, high quality sources." |
| Legal Forms | "Access a variety of forms from child support modification requests to name changes to tax. The forms are offered for free by the federal government or by the specific state" |
| Free Legal Forms | "Please choose an Area of Law." |
| State Specific Legal Forms - Thousands Available | "U.S. Legal Forms is the original and premiere site for legal forms on the Internet. Over 36,000 legal documents and forms, including wills, name change, real estate and more." |
| Find Forms | "Thousands of free legal forms are at your fingertips with our one of the kind legal forms search engine. Search results with a $ in front, indicate premium forms." |
| Legal Forms.com | "Legalforms.com offers legal forms drafted to comply with the laws of your State. Most forms are available for downloading in Word format. Free form descriptions, previews and law summaries are available. Over 50,000 legal documents are available." |
| Get Free Legal Forms | (A Slightly Creaky Recommended site) "Your online source for free legal forms and documents." Easy to access and download. Just about everything you can need. |
| "The remedy you will be able to ask for depends on the type of claim you have, the harm you have suffered or may suffer, the nature of the defendant’s conduct, and the authority of the court itself. The remedy you receive frequently depends on the relative strengths of your case and your opponent’s case, your resourcefulness and ability to get all the facts, the ability of both sides’ attorneys to spend the time and effort necessary to do the job that is required is. " | |
| Legal Remedies | |
| Damages | "Damages, in a legal sense, is the sum of money the law imposes for a breach of some duty or violation of some right." |
| Legal Remedies 101 | Remedies are of two types, legal and equitable. An example of a legal remedy is monetary damages. An example of an equitable remedy is an injunction. |
| Remedies | "A remedy is a form of court enforcement of a legal right resulting from a successful civil lawsuit. " |
| Federal Criminal Appeals: 10 Things You Should Know | "Federal appellate courts are deliberately designed to be cordoned off from criminal defendants, their attorneys, and the public at large. Federal appellate judges and their staffs work behind closed doors, except for the oral arguments that are held every week, month, or several times a year, depending on the court." |
| Legal Remedies | "Whether you are a student in my Remedies class at Santa Barbara College of Law or studying law elsewhere, the material on these pages will hopefully serve as a useful outline for you." |
| Help for Victims | "The following topics offer links to information resources that may be of interest to victims of crime" |
| The Center for Victims of Violence and Crime | "We offer victim advocacy, crisis intervention, counseling, and community education programs to those impacted by all forms of violence and crime including, but not limited to: adult and child sexual assault; physical assault; child and elder abuse; homicide; robbery; and burglary." |
| Family & Friends of Violent Crime Victims | "The mission of Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims is to support and advocate for all victims of crime, missing persons, and their loved ones, and to provide education about victims' rights and services." |
| Law and Legal Advice | "FreeAdvice.com has benefited from advice from members of its distinguished former Editorial Advisory Board comprised of distinguished attorneys, including law school deans and law professors, consumer advocates, former senior Government officials, senior partners at several of America's leading law firms and senior counsel in leading corporate law departments. " |
Each section has a brief explanation. |
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| A Timetable of World Law | |
| Notes on the History of Legal Systems | "If we are to live with others, we must have a way to resolve the inevitable disputes. Perhaps we also need to have a code to provide a framework for our relations with others. We need to be able to create contracts that are enforceable over long time periods. So if we are to design the institutions for a free society, we must include a legal system in our deliberations. " |
| Penal Law | "The Penal Law Web attempts to harness web technology to capture the structure, diversity, and scope of modern penal law. Through hyperlinks and frame-based comparers, the Law Web allows users to explore the connections within a given system of criminal law, as well as across different systems. At the same time, the Web's focus extends beyond the core of penal law—including serious crimes such as homicide, robbery, and rape—to the everexpanding periphery of regulatory offenses, which has long threatened to become the exception that swallows the rule. " |
| English Legal History Materials | "The sole objective of this course is the analysis of the ways in which law changes, examined through the historical base of English legal history from the twelfth to the eighteenth century." |
| The American Legal System | "Jurisdiction is the power of a court to hear a particular case. In order for a court to have jurisdiction, it must have both subject matter jurisdiction (the power to hear the type of claim being asserted) and personal jurisdiction (power over the person)." |
| Outline of the US Legal System | "This Outline covers the history and organization of the federal and state judicial systems; the criminal and civil court processes; the background, qualifications, and selection of federal judges; the role of other participants (lawyers, defendants, interest groups) in the judicial process; and the implementation and impact of judicial policies. " |
| Great American Court Cases | "The most basic function of the American legal system is to maintain peace by resolving disputes. Federal and state courts, tribunals, and administrative bodies do this by applying laws to cases between specific individuals or organizations." |
| Famous Trials | "The materials included in the Famous Trials website are original works of authorship, government records, works for which copyrightprotection has expired" |
| The Canadian Legal System | "For legal researchers unfamiliar with Canada, this part of the guide sets out some basic information about Canada and the Canadian government." |
| International Legal Profiles | Of selected countries "The legal profiles are organized country by country, as opposed to regionally as with the social-cultural profiles. The 'official' legal systems, and legislative and judicial aspects correspond to the boundaries of nation-states in a way that religious, linguistic, cultural and social aspects do not." |
| Legal History & Philosophy | "For all who enjoy legal history and theory. This site is intended to include materials not easily found at other sites on the internet. This site will be modified occasionally. Sources currently include Sir Edward Coke, the Laws of the Cherokee Nation, Learned Hand, Francis Lieber, Abraham Lincoln, the Code of Hammurabi, the 1648 Laws of Massachusetts, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Frederick Pollock, and Michael Dalton." |
"If you are hurt in any type of an accident, it’s in your best interest to get a free legal evaluation of your accident as soon as possible. If you wait, evidence that could help prove your case may be lost, damaged or even destroyed. In addition, the laws for each state put a time limit on when you can file a claim. " |
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| Statute of Limitations by State | |
| Statue of Limitations | "Statutes of limitations are laws that set the deadline or maximum period of time within which a lawsuit or claim may be filed. The deadlines vary depending on the circumstances of the case and the type of case or claim. The periods of time also vary from state to state and vary depending on whether they are filed in federal or state court." |
| Minimum Age to Gamble in United States of America | "The chart outlines the minimum age for gambling in the 50 American states, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. When a question mark is next to an minimum age figure this means that there is a state limit but some casinos could be exempt (like indian casinos) - it is unclear whether the state imposed limit is enforced in these gambling facilities." |
| Canada's Legal Age Of Consent To Sexual Activity | "This paper will review the origins of the current "age of consent" laws in Canada and discuss some of the arguments for and against raising the legal age for consent to sexual activity from 14 to 16." |
| Age of Concent: Child Molestation & the Legal System | "We cannot discriminate law on the basis of any universally accepted age bar. We need to consider every case individually because in some cases, a person can surely be above that irrational age limit for consent, yet he/she may not be competent for having any consensual contract or relation." |
| Age of Concent in Europe | "The ages of consent for sexual activity vary by jurisdiction across Europe. The Vatican City has the lowest age of consent in Europe (set at 12) while Turkey and Malta have the highest, set at 18. " |
| Why Are There Age of Consent Laws? | "Sometimes teens will encounter people who will try to play on the fact that they are still learning about love. The age of consent laws protect them from exploitation." |
| State-by-State Marriage "Age of Consent" Laws | "The following is a state-by-state summary of the "age of consent" for marriage and other pertinent marriage information for the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico " |
| U.S. Teen Marriage License Laws | "Many states' teen marriage laws are making it harder for teens to marry. There are recent studies that indicate that teen marriage is simply not a good idea. Marriage license laws in the United States are reflecting that belief. " |
| Legal Drinbking Ages | "The legal drinking age for different countries varies dramatically, from 0 to 21, as seen in the table below. The United States has the highest drinking age in the world." |
| Brief history of the minimum legal drinking age | "A higher minimum legal drinking age is effective in preventing alcohol-related deaths and injuries among youth. When the MLDA has been lowered, injury and death rates increase, and when the MLDA is increased, death and injury rates decline" |
| "You maintain privacy and control over the outcome of the dispute. It is informal and inexpensive -- attorneys may but are not required to participate. It is a quick, non adversarial approach to conflict resolution." | |
| Why Use Mediation? | |
| United States Arbitration and Mediation | "United States Arbitration & Mediation (USA&M) has provided alternative dispute resolution services throughout the United States since 1984. With its network of professional mediators, arbitrators, administrators and training staff, USA&M provides a wide range of dispute resolution services to the legal community, insurance industry, private businesses and government agencies across the country." |
| Mediation in Canada | Many in the legal and justice system swear by mediation: The success rate is very high – 55% to 85%. It cuts down on the number of cases that have to be heard by judges and the courts.The hearings are private; not public. |
| Alternate Dispute Resolution | Ten sections explaining negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. |
| Alternative Dispute Resolution | "Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is how disputes can be negotiated and resolved outside of the courtroom in a non-adversarial manner. ADR typically includes arbitration, mediation, early neutral evaluation, collaborative law (most popular in family law settings) and conciliation, among other methods. But, arbitration and mediation are the two most common methods." |
| A Guide to Mediation | "Mediation comprises an act of bringing two states, sides or parties in a dispute closer together toward agreement through alternative dispute resolution." |
| Arbitration Database | "To find material, just search down a hierarchy." |
| Alternative Dispute Resolution: an Overview | "ADR refers to any means of settling disputes outside of the courtroom. ADR typically includes early neutral evaluation, negotiation, conciliation, mediation, and arbitration." |
US & Canadian Federal Law
US & Canadian Federal Law
| "The clumsily-titled Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 introduced a plethora of legislative changes which significantly increased the surveillance and investigative powers of law enforcement agencies in the United States. The Act did not, however, provide for the system of checks and balances that traditionally safeguards civil liberties in the face of such legislation." | |
| The USA Patriot Act | |
| The Patriot Act | "Just 45 days after the September 11 attacks, with virtually no debate, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act. There are significant flaws in the Patriot Act, flaws that threaten your fundamental freedoms by giving the government the power to access to your medical records, tax records, information about the books you buy or borrow without probable cause, and the power to break into your home and conduct secret searches without telling you for weeks, months, or indefinitely." |
| Canadian Anti-Terror Act | "The Anti-terrorism Act (ATA) is one of several pieces of legislation that form the Government of Canada's overall anti-terrorism strategy. It takes aim at terrorists and terrorist groups and helps the Government of Canada meet the extraordinary challenges presented by terrorism. The legislation protects the safety, security and fundamental rights of Canadians." |
| The Canadian Bill of Rights | "The Parliament of Canada, affirming that the Canadian Nation is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God, the dignity and worth of the human person and the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions;..." |
| USA Patriot Act: Rights of Non-American Citizens | "Since its inception in 2001, the Act's restrictive effects upon individual rights and liberties have been much discussed. However, few have analyzed the international effects of its application." |
Links to the various types of laws governed by the US Federal courts |
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| Subcategories of United States Law | |
| US Laws of All Jurisdictions | If you can't find it elsewhere it may be here. |
| Canada's Criminal Code: A History | "When the Provinces of Canada were confederated in 1867, the first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald was adamant that Canada would not suffer the disparate criminal law system inherited from England for long (at that time, each province had its own criminal law). Macdonald believed strongly in the need for a single, uniform regime of criminal law for the entire country." |
| Correctional Services of Canada | "Canadians play an active role in public safety. Citizens are involved in Correctional Service Canada (CSC) operations on a daily basis. They attend outreach events, participate in consultations, volunteer at our institutions and community offices, as well as take part in our Advisory Committees." |
| The Canadian Legal System | "Researching Canadian Law" |
| U.S. House of Representatives Downloadable U.S. Code |
The entire Federal criminal code |
| American Indian Law | "Federal law recognizes a special kind of sovereign authority in Indian tribes to govern themselves, subject to an over-riding federal authority. Indian tribes are considered by federal law to be "domestic, dependent nations."" |
Article covers..."Every statute, regulation, court decision, and other legal authority relating to the imposition of any tax by the federal government of the United States." |
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| U.S. Federal Tax Law | |
| Tax Law Information | Articles and links |
| Estate Taxes | "One of the oldest and most common forms of taxation is the taxation of property held by an individual at the time of their death. Such a tax can take the form, among others, of estate tax (a tax levied on the estate before any transfers). An estate tax is a charge upon the decedent's entire estate, regardless of how it is disbursed. An alternative form of death tax is an inheritance tax." |
| The Canadian Tax Man Cometh! | "Canada had a substantially voluntary income tax reporting system (called “self-assessment”) in that the Government relies on each individual, corporation and other taxable agencies, to submit, annually, a statement of their taxable activities." |
| Income Tax Law | "While some states do not have an income tax (Nevada), all residents and all citizens of the United States are subject to the federal income tax. Not everyone, however, must file a return." |
| Tax Law | "Tax law is found in many places - tax law is generated by the federal government, state government as well as counties, cities, and other municipalities. The variety of taxes that everyone faces is staggering - tax law affects almost every aspect of your life." |
| Property Taxes | "Property taxes are based on ownership of the property, and are payable regardless of whether the property is used or not and whether it generates income for the owner." |
| The Sherman Anti-Trust Act | "While later laws would expand upon the definition and enforcement of antitrust as a legal concept, the Sherman Act has been the foundation of antitrust law for over one hundred years in the United States." |
| "Federal immigration law determines whether a person is an alien, and associated legal rights, duties, and obligations of aliens in the United States. It also provides means by which certain aliens can become naturalized citizens with full rights of citizenship. Immigration law serves as a gatekeeper for the nation's border: it determines who may enter, how long they may stay and when they must leave." | |
| Immigration | |
| Immigration Law | Residency, citizenship, naturalization, asylum and related topics |
| Immigration Law | "The laws and processes that permit persons who are not citizens of the United States to come to the United States for purposes of visiting as tourists; working in the U.S.; studying in the U.S.; and becoming a citizen of the U.S. " |
| Criminal Charges and Immigration Consequences | "The federal government has recently executed numerous raids upon meat packing plants, poultry companies, restaurants, and other industries that employ alleged illegal aliens. The difference this time around is that the government is not only seeking deportation of these individuals, but federal criminal charges as well. A conviction of this type can result in a criminal sentence of several years in prison." |
| National Immigration Law Center | "In the past 20 years, NILC has earned a national reputation as a leading expert on immigration, public benefits, and employment laws affecting immigrants and refugees. Our extensive knowledge of the complex interplay between immigrants' legal status and their rights under U.S. laws is an essential resource for legal aid programs, community groups, and social service agencies across the country. " |
| Research in Naturalization Records | Information for Federal Courts (U.S. District and Circuit Courts) in New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico. To locate others areas, backtrack through the site. |
| The Canadian Immigration Handbook | "There are situations where a foreign national is not entitled to enter as a temporary resident because he or she is inadmissible or otherwise fails to meet the requirements of the IRPA. In such situations, it is still possible to enter Canada as a temporary resident provided that the foreign national is issued a temporary resident permit ..." |
| How to Stop Deportation | "Many people mistakenly believe that merely being a good person with a job, no criminal history, etc., is a defense to deportation and makes one eligible to stay in the United States. This is wrong. There are very specific factors in the immigration law that determine whether you can stay in the country." |
| "Most people are aware of the fact the private property can be taken for public use. Somehow it makes sense to give up private property for the benefit of hundreds, maybe thousands of other people in the community. However, the situation is very different when unexpectedly you are notified that public bodies have decided to take on your piece of land. " | |
| Facts About Eminent Domain | |
| Eminent Domain | "Eminent domain refers to the power possessed by the state over all property within the state, specifically its power to appropriate property for a public use. In some jurisdictions, the state delegates eminent domain power to certain public and private companies, typically utilities, such that they can bring eminent domain actions to run telephone, power, water, or gas lines." |
| Eminent Domain and Property Rights | "You know the great thing about America is once you own property - you own it," says Drew Carey in a new Reason.tv video examining eminent domain abuse. "You can do anything you want with that property. You can build a house on it, a business. You can plant flowers, grow daisies. Whatever you want to do with it, it's your property. You own it. And the only way somebody can take your property is if they steal it. Am I right? That's why the government invented eminent domain." |
| Eminent Domain Watch | "Eminent Domain: the power of a government to take private property for public use; the 5th Amendment of the US Constitution and articles in many state constitutions allow this practice provided that just compensation is made." |
| "At the present time the voting age across the world is typically 18. When the right to vote was first accorded in democracies the voting age was generally set at 21, or in some cases at an even higher level. In the 1970s widespread reform led to a reduction to 18 in a large number of countries. Debate is currently underway in many places on proposals to reduce the voting age below 18." | |
| Voting Age | |
| List of Election Issues | "Many election-related topics are not under the jurisdiction of the FEC. Some of these topics are listed below, along with links to the appropriate web sites. " |
| Voting & Registration Results | "Information on reported voting and registration by various demographic and socioeconomic characteristics is collected for the nation in November of congressional and presidential election years" |
| Commission on Presidential Debates | "Established in 1987 to ensure that debates, as a permanent part of every general election, provide the best possible information to viewers and listeners. Its primary purpose is to sponsor and produce debates for the United States presidential and vice presidential candidates and to undertake research and educational activities relating to the debates." |
| Election Law Resource Guide | Resource guide |
| Federal Election Commission | "The Highlights section features the most significant web postings from the last several months; the Recent Additions section lists postings made within a couple of months; and the Previous Months section archives What's New entries for the six months before that." |
| Election Law Blog | "The law of politics and the politics of law: election law, campaign finance, legislation, voting rights, initiatives, redistricting, and the Supreme Court nomination process." |
| Federal Election Campaign Laws | (PDF) 244 page document of laws as of 2008. |
| "The purpose of this Act is to extend the laws in Canada to give effect, within the purview of matters coming within the legislative authority of Parliament, to the principle that all individuals should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have and to have their needs accommodated, consistent with their duties and obligations as members of society, without being hindered in or prevented from doing so by discriminatory practices based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability or conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted." | |
| Canadian Human Rights Act | |
| Discrimination Attorneys | "The web site has sections on nearly every area of employment law, including job discrimination, sexual harassment, age, race, gender, pregnancy, glass ceiling, and disability discrimination, manager wage & overtime claims, breach of contract, non-compete clauses, wrongful termination, whistle blowing, and much more. Various resources and government information are provided." |
| Workplace Law | "If you would like more information on Workplace Discrimination, please click on one of the topics below:" |
| Canadian Race Relations Foundation Act | "The purpose of the Foundation is to facilitate throughout Canada the development, sharing and application of knowledge and expertise in order to contribute to the elimination of racism and all forms of racial discrimination in Canadian society..." |
| Hate Crimes | "Hate crime is the violence of intolerance and bigotry, intended to hurt and intimidate someone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religious, sexual orientation, or disability." |
| Hate Crimes & Civil Rights | "Under "color of law" it is a crime for a person acting to willfully deprive any person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws. Title 18 makes it unlawful to willfully injure, intimidate or interfere with any person, by force or threat, because of race, color, religion, or national origin, or deprive admission to a public school or college; benefits, services, privileges, programs, facilities, activities administered by government, employment, labor organizations, hiring halls; employment agency, jury duty, interstate commerce facility, common carriers, public accommodations, exhibitions, entertainment, hotels, motels, restaurants, lunchrooms, bars, gas stations, theaters, concert halls, sports arenas or stadiums. " |
| Civil Rights | "A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Examples of civil rights are freedom of speech, press, and assembly; the right to vote; freedom from involuntary servitude; and the right to equality in public places. Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of their membership in a particular group or class." |
| Civil Rights: Basics and Background | "Introductory information on the legal concepts of civil rights and unlawful discrimination, links to key federal laws and U.S. Supreme Court cases on civil rights." |
| American Indian Law | "Federal law recognizes a special kind of sovereign authority in Indian tribes to govern themselves, subject to an over-riding federal authority. Indian tribes are considered by federal law to be "domestic, dependent nations."" |
| Fair Housing Rights and Housing Discrimination | "Welcome to the "Fair Housing Rights and Housing Discrimination" section of FindLaw's Civil Rights Center, with information on discrimination and fair housing rights for home buyers and renters (tenants)" |
| Racial Discrimination | "This section offers in-depth information on unlawful race discrimination in a number of settings -- including employment and education -- and provides links to key federal laws and U.S. Supreme Court decisions related to unlawful race discrimination." |
"Police officers generally have broad powers to carry out their duties. The Constitution and other laws, however, place limits on how far police can go in trying to enforce the law." |
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| Police Misconduct | |
| Law Enforcement: Good Cop Bad Cop | "Aside from terrorist murders, officers were slain making arrests, answering disturbance calls, helping someone in danger and intervening in assaults. Officers were killed because they wore a police badge or uniform. Cars were used as weapons -- including officers dragged to death, intentionally run down and whose cars were hit intentionally by vehicles." |
| Can the Police Search Your House Without a Warrant? | "If a judge is convinced that there is "probable cause" of either criminal activity or contraband at a place to be searched, he or she will issue and sign a search warrant—a court order that allows the police to search a specific location for specified objects at a specific time." |
| Criminal Procedure | "Currently, in many countries with a democratic system and the rule of law, criminal procedure puts the burden of proof on the prosecution – that is, it is up to the prosecution to prove that the defendant is guilty, as opposed to having the defense prove that s/he is innocent, and any doubt is resolved in favor of the defendant." |
| The Validity of Consent Searches | "Consent operates as a waiver of one's Fourth Amendment rights. Consent dispenses with, not only the need to have probable cause justifying the search, but it also dispenses with the need to have a warrant. It simplifies law enforcement to a considerable degree." |
| Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure | "These rules govern the conduct of all criminal proceedings brought in Federal courts. " |
| State Criminal Procedure Statutes | Links. Contains additional related information. |
| Criminal Law & Criminal Procedure Case Briefs | "These case briefs are written by law students" |
| Do School Children Have Fourth Amendment Rights? | "All law enforcement officers–and most citizens–know that the Fourth Amendment protects people only from those searches and seizures by officials of the government that society has decided to recognize as legitimate and reasonable. Thus, police are not prohibited from arresting and searching a person whom they have probable cause to believe has committed a crime, or from seizing his property if they have a lawfully issued search warrant. But how do these “rights” play out in schools when directed against school children?" |
| Limits on Police Searches | "All people should be trained to assert their constitutional rights in order to avoid the hassle and humiliation of police misconduct and illegal searches." |
| Know Your Rights: What to Do If You're Stopped by the Police | "To fight police abuse effectively you need to know your rights. There are some things you should do, some things you must do and some things you cannot do. If you are in the middle of a police encounter, you need a handy and quick reference to remind you what your rights and obligations are." |
| Forecsic Evidence | "An information center in forensic science, law and public policy for lawyers, forensic scientists, educators, and public officials" |
| ACLU: Police Procedures | "Abuse by police continues to be a major civil liberties problem in the U.S., particularly for the poor and for people of color. Everyone needs and deserves effective and humane law enforcement in communities and courtrooms." |
| Police Powers in England | "Many rules about police behaviour are set down in codes of practice, and there are also laws about some of the things the police can and can't do." |
| Police Misconduct and Civil Rights | "The Constitution and other laws place limits on how far police can go in trying to enforce the law. As the videotaped beating of motorist Rodney King, in Los Angeles and several recent cases in New York have illustrated, police officers sometimes go too far, violating the rights of citizens." |
| "Military law consists of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and other statutory provisions for the government of persons in the Armed Forces to which may be added the unwritten common law of the usage and custom of military service as well as regulations and authorized by the President. It is a part of our body of law as a whole, and is fully recognized by civil courts; it is in force in time of peace as well as in time of war. All persons serving in the Armed Forces of the United States are subject to military law at all times." | |
| Military Law | |
| Military Law | "The President likes to think the generals and admirals will obey his orders, and the generals and admirals like to think their orders will be obeyed. No one likes to think the people with ships, missiles, bombs, planes and guns are not subject to control." |
| Office of the Judge Advocate General for the Canadian Forces | "Whether providing legal advice at one of the many bases and wings across the country, defending an accused at a court martial, teaching courses to other CF members, or advising a commanding officer in an operational theatre, the legal officers and staff of the Office of the Judge Advocate General constantly strive to uphold the ethical and legal principles established by both the Canadian Forces and the Government of Canada." |
State & Provincial Laws
From HG.org. Links to all states - laws, governmental branches and general information |
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| State Law and Government | |
| Canadian Provincial Law | Scroll down the page for links by provence. |
| Canadian Law by Provence | "CanLII is a non-profit organization managed by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. CanLII's goal is to make Canadian law accessible for free on the Internet." |
| Legal Resources by State | Select state. |
| U.S. State and Territorial Laws | "The Internet Law Library was originally provided to the public courtesy of the United States House of Representatives Law Revision Counsel Office. Part of the Counsel's mission is to make the law (particularly the U.S. Code) available to the public. " |
| List Of U.S. State And Local Law Enforcement Agencies | "This is the list of U.S. state and local law enforcement agencies — statewide government agencies (state police) of the U.S. states that provide law enforcement duties, including investigations and state patrols. In addition, the Attorney General's office of each state has their own investigators." |
| US State Law, Government and Commercial Sites | From HG.org |
| US Census Data by State | From the US Bureau of Census |
| US Zip Code Locator | From the USPS. Search for city if zip code is known or search for the zip code by city. |
| "The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,066 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money." | |
| National Association of Counties | |
| National Association of Towns & Townships | "NATaT seeks flexible and alternative approaches to federal policies to ensure that small communities can meet federal requirements. As part of these efforts, NATaT advocates for fair share funding, technical assistance and other affirmative steps to address the inherent disadvantages that small governments face in our present intergovernmental system. T" |
| National League of Cities | "The National League of Cities is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States. Its mission is to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance." |
| Building Code Resources | A lengthy list of links to building codes by state and topic |
| Building Code Library | "Our exclusive national codes resource provides you with detailed information on building codes for all 50 states, major cities, and some counties. We have information on codes and amendments as well as contact information for up to 17 authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) in each market." |
| Zoning Laws | "Zoning laws typically specify the areas in which residential, industrial, recreational or commercial activities may take place. For example, an R-1 residential zone might allow only single-family detached homes as opposed to duplexes or apartment complexes. On the other hand, a C-1 commercial zone might be zoned to permit only certain commercial or industrial uses in one jurisdiction, but permit a mix of housing and businesses in another jurisdiction." |
"This page seeks to link to sites containing full-text state constitutions, statutes (called codes or compiled laws in some states), legislation (bills, amendments, etc.), session laws (bills that have become laws), and administrative rules." |
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| Full-Text State Statutes And Legislation | |
| State Resources | Information about Federal, State, and Territory governments |
| Crime & Criminal Procedure | "Whoever commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal. Whoever willfully causes an act to be done which if directly performed by him or another would be an offense against the United States, is punishable as a principal." |
| Differences between Civil and Criminal Law in the USA |
"Criminal law is much better known to laymen than civil law, as a result of journalists' reports of famous criminal trials. In talking with people about law, I find that they often misapply principles from criminal law to situations in civil (e.g., tort) law, which results in their misunderstanding. They are surprised when they learn the actual legal principles that apply to a problem. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast criminal and civil law. " |
| Law Information Resources | Links to law and legal resource web sites. |
| Digital Librarian Law Resources | Links to law and legal resource web sites. |
| BitLaw Legal Resource | "In this site, you will find complete copies of the United States Patent, Copyright, and Trademark statutes, as well as the relevant regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations" |
| State Statutes | "Most but not all state statutes on the Internet are organized along lines fitting the following topical breakdown. " |
| Find Law | Legal resources by topic |
| International Law | Home page of the United Nations Law office. |
| Electronic Resource Guide to International Law | "The chapter format of the ERG is designed to be used by students, teachers, practitioners and researchers as a self-guided tour of relevant, quality, up-to-date online resources covering important areas of international law." |
| Media Law Resource Center | "To monitor developments and promote First Amendment rights in the libel, privacy and related legal fields." |
| Health Law Resources | "This page is intended as a resource for health care practitioners, professionals or anyone interested in learning more about the dynamic field of health care law, and more specifically, the regulatory and transactional aspects of health care law practice." |
| Guide to International Refugee Law Resources on the Web | "This updated research guide by Elisa Mason directs readers to some of the key texts and resources available on the Web that can help shed light on, and provide a context for, many of the issues currently being deliberated in the refugee law arena. The guide covers international and regional instruments, human rights and humanitarian law, international bodies (especially the UNHCR), national legislation, case law, and periodicals." |
"This page contains a summary of and links to state laws related to speeding, and in particular excess speeding and reckless driving." |
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| State Traffic and Speed Laws | |
| DUI and DWI Ignition Interlock Devices | "There are many ways of punishing drunk drivers, such as fines, loss of license, and even jail time; but many states are now looking for updated technology to deter future problems of drunk driving. Many US states are now turning to a tool called the ignition interlock device." |
| Drunk Driving | "Driving with a blood alcohol level over the state’s maximum permissible blood alcohol limit. The limit for adults is 0.08% in all 50 states as of May, 2007." |
| Auto Theft Info | "The average value of motor vehicles stolen was $6,646. The estimated total value of all motor vehicle stolen was $8.2 billion. Approximately 62% of all vehicles stolen are eventually recovered, although not all intact." |
| Car Jacking | "The US Department of Justice (DOJ) defines carjacking as the attempted or completed robbery of a motor vehicle by a stranger that includes the use or threat of use of force." |
| Carjacking - Don't be a Victim | "CARJACKING has become one of the most prevalent crimes in many parts of the world. Most carjackings occur for the sole purpose of taking the car; it is a crime without a political agenda and does not specifically target Americans." |
| International Association of Auto Theft Investigator's Official Web Site |
"We recognize that, just as law enforcement agencies cannot successfully function independent of one another, auto theft investigation requires the active participation of the private sector; therefore, our membership also includes the insurance industry, automobile manufacturers, car rental companies and, of course, the National Insurance Crime Bureau and its sister agencies in Canada and Europe." |
| Car Theft Prevention | "Most cars are stolen off the street or from parking areas. Putting your car into a garage not only saves the finish, but tends to deter auto thieves. They risk detection by dogs, motion sensors and even homeowners by coming on the property. Locked garages and gates create another level of difficulty for the thief who intends to quietly sneak in and steal." |
| Vehicular Crime & Homicide | "According to the NHTSA, over 80 percent of child car seats are installed incorrectly. In order to simplify this installation process and enhance child safety, an innovative tether system has been developed. This means big changes for both car seat and automobile manufacturers. This article will help you get up to speed on the latest advancements in child safety." |
| "State laws are the most important knife laws, but they are certainly not the only knife laws. Some state legislatures have pre-empted weapons law (i.e. claimed a monopoly on making this type of law), but most have not. In states which have not pre-empted, individual counties, cities, and towns can have their own knife or other weapons ordinances, and many of them do. " |
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| Is A Knife Legal In Your State? | |
| NRA: Gun Laws by State | Guam, Puerto Rico, New York City listed separately |
| Hand Gun Laws US | "This US Map is hot-linked to the state Information and reciprocity maps for each of the states in the United States and it's possessions. Simply click on the states abbreviation on the map to view that state's information page in a new browser window." |
| Gun Laws by State | "Gun laws in the United States vary from state to state and are independent of, but not contradictory to, existing federal firearms laws. Some U.S. states have also created so-called assault weapon bans that are independent of, though often similar to, the expired federal assault weapons ban. The state level bans vary significantly in their form, content, and level of restriction. " |
| The Brady Campaign | "Most states have weak gun laws that help feed the illegal gun market. However, more and more states are working to strengthen their gun laws to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people." |
| Gun Control | "Although, this Web site is not for the purpose of discussing natural and positive rights, below are quotes from two Founding Fathers telling us that the right to self-defense is a natural right, it cannot be justifiably taken away by any governing body." |
| Dun Control Policy Issues | "The first major gun control initiative was enacted by Congress in 1934 which regulated the sale of fully automatic firearms like machine guns. This legislation was followed in 1938 by a new federal law which required gun sellers to be licensed and which prohibited persons convicted of violent felonies from purchasing guns" |
| Handgun Control Debate | "On June 26, 2008, the Supreme Court made a landmark ruling upholding the right of individuals to bear arms for hunting and for self-defense. " |
| Is A Particular Knife Legal in My State? | "Occasionally, knives are employed as weapons, both defensively and offensively. Unfortunately, knives are also occasionally used to commit crimes. It is the potential that knives can be used criminally and perhaps a misperception as to the frequency of criminal use that has given rise to laws regulating knives in essentially every state." |
| Knife Possession Laws in the U.K., United States and Other Countries | "To show the solidarity in how both the U.S. and the U.K. once felt about guns, we both agreed already in the late 1600's that bearing arms was a fundamental right of every individual. Times (and threats of violence) change, however, and the U.K. took the initiative to ban all use of firearms all through the country starting in the 1980's to date." |
| Weapons and the Law | "An offensive weapon is any object that has been made or adapted to cause injury. This covers anything from purpose-built weapons such as guns and knives, to that snooker cue you've just picked up to swing at somebody." |
| "Click on the name of a State in the table below to read the excerpted text of its basic gambling laws. Websites containing state statutes are available for all states, although they may be out of date. The excerpts presented here are taken from those websites. " | |
| State Gambling Laws | |
| Charitable Gaming Laws | " Many states have enacted laws exempting certain gambling activities from the applicable anti-gambling laws. The most commonly exempted activities are bingo and charitable raffles as well as certain types of casino games. The charitable gaming statutes from all states that have them are listed in the table below. The states of Hawaii and Utah do not have any charitable gaming laws. " |
| Gambling Laws US | "Gambling laws in the United States at the state and federal levels are examined in depth." |
| State Gambling Laws | "Gambling laws prohibit (and in some states, regulate) activities such as casino gaming, horse racing, and dog racing. Choose a link from the list below for state-specific gambling laws, including the definition of gambling, identification of prohibited gaming activities, and more." |
| State Gaming and Gambling Laws | From the National Gambling Impact Study Commission |
| Minimum Age to Gamble in United States of America | "The chart below outlines the minimum age for gambling in the 50 American states, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. When a question mark is next to an minimum age figure this means that there is a state limit but some casinos could be exempt (like indian casinos) - it is unclear whether the state imposed limit is enforced in these gambling facilities." |
| State Gambling Law Summary | "The conclusions in the chart below are primarily based on the texts of the state criminal anti-gambling laws and thus are only educated guesses in many cases. There is relatively little decided case law on gambling infractions including the conduct of casino games." |
| Legality of Online Gambling | "In the case of the EU, European Union officials have taken a pretty clear pro-online gambling position and even though some individual member states have attempted to legislate on the activity, bans are generally prohibited and run counter to EU law, which must feature conformity across the Union. In the U.S., attempts have long been made to legislate against online gambling, but such attempts have generally been made on a state-by-state basis and they all focused on different laws and practices regarding online gambling." |
| Is Online Poker Legal | "What is here is a collection of court rulings and the best information on this subject that I have been able to find. " |
International Law
| Law and Government Resources for 230 Countries | "Areas of Practice section contains over 70 primary practice areas which are further broken out into 130 additional areas. The organization and format of each topic is consistent from supra-national to local. " |
| The United Nations | The official UN web site. |
| The UN on the Internet | "The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. It was founded in 1945 at the signing of the United Nations Charter by 51 countries, replacing the League of Nations founded in 1919" |
| INTERPOL | "INTERPOL aims to facilitate international police co-operation even where diplomatic relations do not exist between particular countries. Action is taken within the limits of existing laws in different countries and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. INTERPOL’s constitution prohibits ‘any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.’" |
| Germain's International Court of Justice Research Guide | "The International Court of Justice (I.C.J.), located at The Hague, The Netherlands, is the main judicial organ of the United Nations. It decides disputes between nations which have agreed to accept its jurisdiction, and gives advisory opinions." |
| Cornell Law School Collection of World Legal Materials | A guide to world law with links to international doctrine, country-by-country law, constitutions, and associated legal information. |
| An Introduction to International Law | "There is no bite to international law. As the American writer Leon Uris correctly pointed out in Exodus (1958), a novel about the creation of the state of Israel: "International Law is that thing which the evil ignore and the righteous refuse to enforce". |
| International Law | "International law consists of rules and principles which govern the relations and dealings of nations with each other. International Law, which is in most other countries referred to as Public International Law, concerns itself only with questions of rights between several nations or nations and the citizens or subjects of other nations. In contrast, Private International Law deals with controversies between private persons, natural or juridical, arising out of situations having significant relationship to more than one nation." |
| Laws & Government Resources | Alphabetical by country |
| European Union Law Links | "This page provides you with links to the different services the European Commission offers on career opportunities, education and training, traveling, your rights, possibilities for participating in EU policy making, and answering your questions." |
| The Coalition for the International Criminal Court | "2,500 organizations around the world working in partnership to strengthen international cooperation with the ICC; ensure that the Court is fair, effective and independent; make justice both visible and universal; and advance stronger national laws that deliver justice to victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide." |
| Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law | "Most legal scholars agree that a recognizable body of international criminal law does exist. However, the precise parameters of this body of law are often unclear, perhaps due to the rapid and complex developments of our global society. In its widest context, the source of international criminal law might be derived from the general principles of international law recognized by civilized nations; and therefore, found in the customary law accepted by states, the general criminal law recognized by nations, and the treaties which govern particular conduct. " |
| International Criminal Law: A Selective Resource Guide | "The purpose of this guide is to provide researchers with a selective quick guide to basic and significant materials, both print and electronic, in the topic area of international criminal law and its processes." |
| " There are hundreds of legal systems in the world. At the global level, international law is of great importance, whether created by the practice of sovereign states or by agreement among them in the form of treaties and other accords. Some transnational entities such as the European Union have created their own legal structures. At the national level there are over 180 sovereign states in the United Nations Organization. Many of these are federal or confederal, and their constituent parts may well have their own law." | |
| International Legal Systems | |
| Retaining a Foreign Attorney | From the US Department of State. "When you receive a list of attorneys, consider contacting several attorneys, briefly describing the nature of the services you desire. Find out the attorney's qualifications and experience. Find out how the attorney plans to represent you." |
| Legal Aid Around the World | "Links to websites providing information about legal aid and legal services for the poor around the world." |
| International Judicial Assistance | "We’ve put together information that we hope will be of use to you, should you want to check a process or procedure – or wish to find an attorney. The laws and procedures governing service of process and obtaining evidence vary widely from country to country and if we receive information from foreign governments concerning these topics, we include that information in the country specific judicial assistance information pages at the link below." |
| International Lawyers Network | "An association of full-service law firms with over 5,000 lawyers worldwide. The Network provides clients with easily accessible legal services in 66 countries on six continents." |
| International Legal Aid Association | Resources fro Encyclopedia Britannica. |
| "Trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy are serious Intellectual Property (IP) crimes that defraud consumers, threaten the health of patients, cost society billions of dollars in lost government revenues, foreign investments or business profits and violate the rights of trademark, patent, and copyright owners. Fake products pose a significant safety threat to consumers worldwide. Unsuspecting customers and patients put their health, and even lives, in jeopardy each time they use fake medicines, alcoholic beverages, food products and travel in automobiles or aircraft maintained with substandard counterfeit parts." | |
| Intellectual Property Crime | |
| World Intellectual Property Organization | "The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest." |
| Center for International and European Law on Immigration and Asylum | "Detailed rules governing the status of migrants have been adopted and implemented in Europe. Jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights has significantly constrained administrative discretion in respect of deportation and expulsion of aliens. In addition, EU policy making has purported the aim of developing a common framework of aliens and asylum law long before the Amsterdam Treaty entered into force." |
| Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War | "Adopted on 12 August 1949 by the Diplomatic Conference for the Establishment of International Conventions for the Protection of Victims of War, held in Geneva from 21 April to 12 August, 1949"
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| Space Law | "Space law introduces a novelty to jurisdictional issues in that it purports to govern conduct outside of Earth's atmosphere." |
| International Space Law | " In 1959, by resolution 1472 (XIV), the United Nations General Assembly established as a permanent body the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), which today has 64 member states. COUPOS launched the five major international law instruments " |
US, State & Canadian Court Systems
"One of the most fundamental questions of law is whether a given court has jurisdiction to preside over a given case." |
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| Jurisdiction | |
| The Federal Judiciary | "The federal courts often are called the guardians of the Constitution because their rulings protect rights and liberties guaranteed by it. Through fair and impartial judgments, the federal courts interpret and apply the law to resolve disputes. " |
| International Court Systems | Alphabetical listing by country |
| The Coalition for the International Criminal Court | "In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly (UN GA) adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in which it called for criminals to be tried “by such international penal tribunals as may have jurisdiction” and invited the International Law Commission (ILC) “to study the desirability and possibility of establishing an international judicial organ for the trials of persons charged with genocide.”" |
| The International Criminal Court | "The International Criminal Court (ICC) is able to investigate and prosecute those individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and crimes of war. The ICC complements existing national judicial systems and will step in only if national courts are unwilling or unable to investigate or prosecute such crimes. T" |
| International Courts & Tribunals | Links to International, regional and country court systems |
| Comparative & Foreign Law | Subcategories include: Cultural Property, Human Rights, Immigration Law, International Legal Research, Islamic Law, Parliamentary Procedure, Refugees, Terrorism, Treaties |
| Your Right to Travel | "For years professionals within the criminal justice system have acted on the belief that traveling by motor vehicle was a privilege that was given to a citizen only after approval by their state government in the form of a permit or license to drive. In other words, the individual must be granted the privilege before his use of the state highways was considered legal. Legislators, police officers, and court officials are becoming aware that there are court decisions that disprove the belief that driving is a privilege and therefore requires government approval in the form of a license." |
| "In the American judicial system, trial courts are the foundation of the judicial process. This is the forum where disputed facts are decided. These courts hear the testimony of witnesses, examine the evidence, evaluate the merits of the case according to legal precedents, and resolve the dispute." | |
| Court Trials | |
| Do You Have A Right To A Jury Of Your Peers? | "The 6th Amendment guarantees the accused the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. The phrase "jury of one's peers" is not included in the Amendment, however, the courts interpret peer to mean equal, i.e., the jury pool must include a cross section of the population of the community in terms of gender, race, and national origin. The jury selection process must not exclude or intentionally narrow any particular group of people." |
| Juror Service in Federal Courts | "Jury service is one of the most important civic duties. You do not need any knowledge of the legal system to be a juror. The protection of rights and liberties of litigants in federal courts is largely achieved through the teamwork of judge and jury." |
| Family Friendly Jury Duty | " Jury Service is an important civic responsibility. Family friendly jury duty laws ensure these obligations would be met as soon as children are older, and not in need of constant care, or when family care-giving responsibilities have ceased." |
| What is Jury Duty | " In the American legal system, individuals or groups accused of a crime have the right to a trial in which they can make a plea to a jury of their peers. In order to assure this for all individuals tried in an American court, all adult American citizens and those with permanent residency status are required to serve as a member of a jury from time to time. This service is referred to as jury duty." |
| Preparing for Jury Duty | "Jury duty is as important to citizenship as voting - maybe more so. Certainly, a citizen has more influence and power when serving as a juror than as a voter." |
| Jury Duty Fraud | Describes how Identity Theft is carried out through a judy duty scam |
| The Federal Grand Jury: Ten Tips for the Unwary | "Other than violating certain testimonial and constitutional privileges, the federal grand jury can pretty much do what it wants. Here you will find 10 tips you must know about the federal grand jury." |
| "Federal Courts have limited subject matter jurisdiction. They can only hear cases that fall both within the scope defined by the constitution and Congressional statutes " | |
| U.S. Federal Courts | |
| Administrative Office of the United States Courts | " The PACER Service Center is the Federal Judiciary's centralized registration, billing, and technical support center for electronic access to U.S. District, Bankruptcy, and Appellate court records." |
| Federal Court Finder | Use map or links to find federal courts |
| Guide to Law Online | The Guide to Law Online, prepared by the Law Library of Congress Public Services Division, is an annotated guide to sources of information on government and law available online. It includes selected links to useful and reliable sites for legal information. |
| Federal Court System: United States Of America | In the United States of America, there are two separate and distinct types of judicial system that have cognizance over the various and sundry legal issues which, from time to time, come to affect the everyday person who lives and/or works in the United States: the Federal court system- which enforces Federal laws, rules and regulations plus applies and interprets the Constitution of the United States, where applicable- and the court systems of the several States, which enforce the laws, rules and regulations of a given State and its Civil Divisions plus applies and interprets the State's own Constitution. |
| Update to A Guide to the U.S. Federal Legal System | "This guide is intended to direct legal research through publicly accessible web-based databases. It is not intended to supplant traditional sources of legal research. Indeed the initiative to make primary law sources available freely accessible on the internet is new." |
| History of the Federal Judiciary | The History of the Federal Judiciary portion of the Federal Judicial Center’s Web site presents basic reference information about the history of the federal courts and the judges who have served on the federal courts since 1789. It was compiled by the Federal Judicial History Office in furtherance of the Federal Judicial Center’s statutory mandate to “conduct, coordinate, and encourage programs relating to the history of the judicial branch of the United States government.” |
| A Resource Guide to the US Supreme Court | "The cases that have gone before the Supreme Court were some of the most important cases in the history of the United States. In all cases, the Supreme Court is the final stop in the United States justice system. Here’s a resource guide to the US Supreme Court." |
| Links to Bankruptcy Courts | A bankruptcy database |
| US Court of Federal Claims | "Despite the nature of the claim, the notability of the claimant, or the amount in dispute, the Court of Federal Claims acts as a clearing house where the government must settle up with those it has legally wronged." |
| "This page provides judicial branch links for each state, focusing on the administrative office of the courts, the court of last resort, any intermediate appellate courts, and each trial court level. To simplify finding court addresses, we have created new pages for some state trial courts to provide comprehensive contact information and will gradually add links to specific district or courthouse Web sites on those pages rather than on this index page." | |
| Court Web Site | |
| US Counties | Find the state, click on the county |
| State & Local Governments | "The judicial branch of state government interprets and applies existing law to cases brought before its courts. Many states, such as Massachusetts and Utah, now have unified court systems that include a Supreme Court, courts of appeals, juvenile or family courts, and district or trial courts located throughout a state." |
| Find Federal State And Local Courts | "If you are you looking for federal, state or local courts you will find them here. This is a directory of federal, state and local courts that maintain sites on the internet. Click on one of the court links listed below in order to find the court web site you are seeking." |
| State & Local Court Sites | Easy access links |
| "A lawsuit is a civil legal action brought in a court. Typically one "party" is suing another party for money or other property. (The term "party" can include individuals, businesses and government agencies.)
The person suing is typically called the "plaintiff"; the person being sued is the "defendant"." |
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| Suing & Being Sued | |
| How to Use the Small Claims Court | "Small claims courts resolve disputes over small amounts of money. While the maximum amount that can be claimed differs from state to state, court procedures are generally simple, inexpensive, quick and informal. " |
| Small Claims Court | "Depending on state law, small claims courts are limited to claims for damages ranging from $2,500 to $15,000. The types of cases tried in small claims courts are also limited, and include damages from fender benders, disputes over security deposits, and claims based on bad checks. Because the procedures in small claims courts are not as complex as in other courts, you may be able to file and present your cases quickly and cheaply, without a lawyer." |
| Collecting Your Small Claims Judgment | "Although it feels great, winning your case in small claims court is only half the battle. Next comes collecting your judgment. And as many small claims victors are shocked to discover, getting the defendant to pay up isn't always easy." |
| Small Claims Center | "Small Claims Courts are especially designed to handle disputes between individuals, or an individual making a claim against a business, where the amount of money involved is relatively "small" – at least in terms of the cases courts usually decide." |
| Small Claims Court Procedures | "In trials before the small claims court, witnesses shall be sworn. The judge shall conduct the trial in an informal manner so as to do substantial justice between the parties. The judge shall have the discretion to admit all evidence which may be of probative value although not in accordance with formal rules of practice, procedure, pleading or evidence, except that privileged communications shall not be admissible. The object of such trials shall be to determine the rights of the litigants on the merits and to dispense expeditious justice between the parties." |
| "Canadians are privileged to live in a peaceful country. Much of our collective sense of freedom and safety comes from our community’s commitment to a few key values: democratic governance, respect for fundamental rights and the rule of law, and accommodation of difference." | |
| The Supreme Court of Canada | |
| Canadian Appeals and Courts of Appeal | "In Canada, each province has a court of appeal which hears appeals from its superior level courts (and sometimes a superior level court can hear appeals from a provincial court). There is another appeal even from these courts of appeals to the Supreme Court of Canada but the Supreme Court has a stringent screening process. " |
| Canada's Court System | "There are essentially four levels of court in Canada. First there are provincial/territorial courts, which handle the great majority of cases that come into the system. Second are the provincial/territorial superior courts. These courts deal with more serious crimes and also take appeals from provincial/territorial court judgments. On the same level, but responsible for different issues, is the Federal Court. At the next level are the provincial/territorial courts of appeal and the Federal Court of Appeal, while the highest level is occupied by the Supreme Court of Canada." |
| Canada's Criminal Law and The Jury System | "Canada's criminal law can in much part be traced back to the great Common Law traditions of England and the reign of Henry II, where permanent courts were established at Westminster. Canada also enjoys constitutional rights enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which was one of the legacies of our former Prime Minster Pierre E. Trudeau. The judicial branch - comprising of courts - also "interpret" the law and assist in its application." |
| Provincial & Federal Court Web Sites in Canada | "This list is constantly being updated, so check back often, as new court links will be added regularly, and incorrect links are removed or updated" |
Finding a Lawyer
Finding a Lawyer
| "The only time you should always be represented by an attorney is when you appear in a criminal matter." In almost all other instances, the answer to this question is, "it depends." | |
| Hire an Attorney or Represent Yourself in Court? | |
| Client - Attorney Relationships | "All lawyers are subject to strict standards of professional responsibility. These standards are set forth in codes of conduct and Privileges, ethics, rules of professional conduct that are established by state bar associations." |
| Canada: The Unrepresented Party's Survival Guide to Trial | " Even a junior lawyer in a large city makes at least $200 an hour. Obviously, for many litigants, just to retain a lawyer to defend an otherwise trivial dispute, may cause insolvency." |
| When Do You Need to Talk to an Attorney? | "The best time to consult with an attorney is when you don’t need one! Whenever you have concerns about a potential problem, that is the time to talk to a lawyer." |
| Attorney-Client Privilege | "Can a lawyer ever violate his/her duty of confidentiality to protect his/her own interests?" |
| Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting: A False Dilemma? | "The existence of state laws requiring clergy to report evidence of physical or sexual abuse of children has become a source of controversy. " |
| What is Attorney Client Privilege? | "The attorney-client privilege is the foundation for which confidentiality issues lie in legal matters. It is everything in terms of how a case is handled and how it proceeds." |
| Silence is Golden | "Generally, in order for the attorney-client privilege to apply, there must be an attorney-client relationship and the communication must be made by the client in confidence for the purpose of obtaining legal advice. It does not matter whether the information is communicated orally, in writing, or by nonverbal communication, such as nodding the head. The privilege also applies to information provided by the attorney to the client." |
| Attorney Pages | "Helping you find the right attorney and law firm." |
| "It is true that lawyer advertising has made it easier to find an attorney. However, there is still a problem in finding the right attorney for one's particular needs. If the selected lawyer is inexperienced, incompetent, or lacks the willingness or ability to communicate effectively with a client, the client will not be satisfied with the lawyer's service." | |
| How to Find an Attorney | |
| Tips For Choosing An Attorney | "If you need an attorney to advise or represent you, ask friends and family for recommendations. You can also contact the Lawyer Referral Service of your state, county, or city bar association listed in your local phone directory." |
| How to Hire a Lawyer | "If you end up meeting the lawyer in person for a consultation, you shouldn't expect it to last any longer than 15 minutes to a half-hour. Write down all the information you get from each lawyer." |
| What Does an Attorney Do? | "The primary functions of an attorney are advising clients on matters of legal precedent and acting on behalf of a client in representing him or her in matters of the law." |
| How to Find an Excellent Lawyer | "If your legal problem is complex or involves lots of money, you might not want to attempt to handle the entire matter without a lawyer. After all, lawyers do more than dispense legal information. They offer strategic advice and apply sophisticated technical skills to legal problems." |
| Finding an Attorney That Works For You | "It’s important to invest time and energy into finding a firm or independent that you can effectively work with. " |
| Hiring & Working with a Lawyer | "If you are faced with a legal dispute, who you hire to represent you may be the most important decision you make regarding your case. Even legal matters that do not involve a dispute benefit greatly from the help of an attorney who specializes in that area of the law. Who you hire and how you work with them can mean the difference between success or failure in a legal dispute or in the execution of important legal documents. " |
| "Fees are one of the least discussed parts of any legal case yet are often of primary importance to both the client and the lawyer. Frequently fees are not discussed early enough, candidly enough, or in enough detail. Why? Generally, because the discussion can be uncomfortable for both the client and the attorney." | |
| Information About Attorney Fees | |
| How Much will my Lawyer Cost? | "All lawyers have different fees, and fighting a parking ticket will cost less than a complicated tax appeal. It is not always true that you get what you pay for so shop around and follow these tips" |
| The Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics | "The Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics is published by the students of Georgetown University Law Center." |
| Legal Ethics Forum | Articles, discussions, and recent news |
| American Legal Ethics Library | "This digital library contains both the codes or rules setting standards for the professional conduct of lawyers and commentary on the law governing lawyers, organized on a state by state basis. " |
| Legal Ethics.com | "A web site focused on the ethical issues associated with the use of technology by legal professionals." |
| Legal Malpractice Law and Litigation | "Legal malpractice may occur where a lawyer acts in a negligent manner when providing legal advice or representation." |
| Legal Malpractice | "Malpractice may arise from a professional's misconduct or failure to use adequate levels of care, skill or diligence in the performance of the professional's duties that causes harm to another. Malpractice typically occurs if a professional fails to exercise his or her professional skills at the level of care, skill and learning applied in similar circumstances by the average reputable member of the profession." |
| Complaints Against a Lawyer (NY) | "All lawyers promise when they enter practice to uphold the law and to be guided by rules of ethics, known as the Code of Professional Responsibility, which have been adopted by our Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court. A lawyer who commits a breach of this code of professional conduct is subject to discipline which, in some cases, could mean suspension of his or her license to practice or even its permanent loss. Discipline of a lawyer must be considered very carefully since it may drastically affect the lawyer's career, reputation, and ability to earn a living." |
| Reversing a Bad Result - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel | "A plea bargain accepted by the trial judge waives most of a defendant's rights to appeal. However, there are a few cracks in the armor which potential clients should be aware." |
"If you're accused of a crime and your liberty is somehow threatened (for example, with potential jail time), you're entitled under the United States constitution to be represented by an attorney." |
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| Public Defenders | |
| What is a Court-Appointed Attorney? | "Generally referred to as public defenders, court-appointed attorneys are lawyers who provide legal counsel to those who have been criminally charged and cannot otherwise obtain or pay for an attorney. Access to a court-appointed attorney is a defendant’s right under the 6th Amendment or Miranda Rights, which are issued at the time a person is criminally charged. " |
| Court Appointed Lawyers | "Crimes for which the punishment is a fine only (for example traffic tickets) do not carry this guarantee. " |
| Before You Fire Your Court-Appointed Lawyer | "You should expect your appointed lawyer to have experience defending people accused of crimes similar to the crime of which you are accused, but it's important to remember that lawyers are individuals - some are more experienced and some are less experienced, some have comforting personalities and others may come across as gruff and even belligerent. " |
| Gap Seen Between Court-Appointed Lawyers and Public Defenders | (NY Times article) "Some poor people accused of federal crimes are represented by full-time federal public defenders who earn salaries, others by court-appointed lawyers who bill by the hour. A new study from a Harvard economist says there is a surprisingly wide gap between the two." |
| "Lawyers Without Borders is the world’s largest group of volunteer lawyers from around the globe who stand ready to offer pro bono service to worldwide projects and initiatives. Our goal is to provide legal support to Rule of Law projects and initiatives in the human rights and nation building sectors at low or significantly discounted cost. In the Global Capacity Building arena, our ability to bring together pro bono partners from the Large Law Firm Sector, the private bar, in-house counsel and non-profit organizations from around the world represents an unprecedented achievement in global "Tier Two" Pro Bono. " | |
| Lawyers Without Borders | |
| Legal Aid Around the World | "Pine Tree Legal Assistance will maintain here links to websites providing information about legal aid and legal services for the poor around the world. We will include as many as possible in this list." |
| Retaining a Foreign Attorney | From the US Department of State. "When you receive a list of attorneys, consider contacting several attorneys, briefly describing the nature of the services you desire. Find out the attorney's qualifications and experience. Find out how the attorney plans to represent you." |
| International Judicial Assistance | "We’ve put together information that we hope will be of use to you, should you want to check a process or procedure – or wish to find an attorney. The laws and procedures governing service of process and obtaining evidence vary widely from country to country and if we receive information from foreign governments concerning these topics, we include that information in the country specific judicial assistance information pages at the link below." |
| International Lawyers Network | "An association of full-service law firms with over 5,000 lawyers worldwide. The Network provides clients with easily accessible legal services in 66 countries on six continents." |
| International Legal Aid Association | Resources fro Encyclopedia Britannica. |
Many of these sites are commercial. |
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| Attorney Find | US & International "Whether you need an attorney for the first time in your life due to some pressing issues or are rather in a business that quite often relies on the knowledge, skill and expertise of an experienced attorney, it's important that you find representation that you are comfortable with." |
| Find Law | " FindLaw is the highest-trafficked legal Web site, providing the most comprehensive set of legal resources on the Internet for legal professionals, corporate counsel, law students, businesses, and consumers. These resources include Web search utilities, cases and codes, legal news, an online career center, and community-oriented tools, such as a secure document management utility, e-mail newsletters, and message boards." |
| Find Attorney | "When finding a lawyer one needs to look for credentials specific to the area of need. An attorney search includes discovering what aspect of the law you need representation in. Inquire about attorneys friend have used previously." |
| Attorney Help | (Commercial) "For many legal situations, you need qualified legal counsel. Trying to navigate our legal system by surfing the web can be reckless" |
| Certified Elderly Attorneys | "An increasing number of lawyers are choosing to be recognized as having special knowledge and experience by becoming certified specialists in certain fields of law." |
| Disability Lawyers | " While a disability attorney or non attorney advocate representative cannot guarantee that a claimant will be awarded social security disability or ssi benefits, a social security lawyer can guarantee that a case will be properly developed prior to a hearing date." |
| Discrimination Attorneys | "The web site has sections on nearly every area of employment law, including job discrimination, sexual harassment, age, race, gender, pregnancy, glass ceiling, and disability discrimination, manager wage & overtime claims, breach of contract, non-compete clauses, wrongful termination, whistle blowing, and much more. Various resources and government information are provided." |
| Reference from Coast to Coast | "The goal of this column is to help you find attorney information from a variety of sources, especially State Bar directories of members. We don't describe the process and caveats of finding an attorney to handle your personal legal problem." |
| Patent Attorneys | "Although there are some times when proximity is helpful, it may not be in your best interest to hire a patent attorney just because he or she is located in your zipcode. Modern technology (telephone, fax, e-mail, internet) allows for easy communication and transfer of documents." |
| Personal Injury Lawyers | "Personal injury lawsuits involve more than seeking compensation for physical injuries. They are about getting compensation for medical treatment, financial losses, emotional trauma, and extended care in cases involving catastrophic injuries with lifelong disabilities." |
| State Divorce Resources and Laws | " The state divorce resources directory lets you easily access divorce laws by state, child support guidelines and calculators, as well as divorce lawyers and professionals. " |
| "In 2002, the NNA launched its Notary Signing Agent Section, the first of a growing number of specialized membership sections offering tailored training and resources to Notaries in fields with special demands. Other sections programs include Attorneys, Immigration, eNotarization, and Small Business." | |
The obvious legal statement.
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