Goodson Law Library

For a good overview of legal research itself, look at Stephen Elias, Legal Research: How to Find and Understand the Law, 19th ed. (Ref. KF240 .L417 2021). This book is a complete guide to legal research, and is meant to be read all the way through, but it can be used to answer a specific question, such as "How to Find a Federal Case" or "How to Research Current State Legislation."

If you are researching a matter of North Carolina law, see Childs & Sampson, North Carolina Legal Research, 3d ed. (Ref. KFN7475 .C48 2019), as well as the North Carolina Practice research guide. Research guides for other U.S. states are also available in the library’s Reference Collection; to locate them, search the Duke University Libraries catalog for the subject heading Legal research – [state].

For a brief guide to understanding legal research online, see How to Research a Legal Problem: A Guide for Non-Lawyers, published by the American Association of Law Libraries.

If you are new to the law, or to a particular area of law, you may wish to begin your research with a secondary source that provides background information and a roadmap to finding primary resources on your topic. Legal encyclopedias attempt to comprehensively cover all legal topics, and are generally a good place to begin research. There are several encyclopedias written for non-lawyers, such as the Gale Encyclopedia of American Law, 3d ed. (Ref. KF154.G77 2011; formerly West's Encyclopedia of American Law). This resource looks at practical implications of the law rather than the more theoretical approach taken by many legal resources, and provides a general overview of various legal issues, with breakdowns where state laws differ.

Legal encyclopedias geared towards use by lawyers are useful where more specific coverage of the law is required. These encyclopedias provide a summary of the law arranged by subject and extensive references to primary sources, including court decisions and other legal authorities.

The two most commonly used practitioner oriented legal encyclopedias are American Jurisprudence 2d (available to Library visitors via Nexis Uni) and Corpus Juris Secundum (Ref. KF 154 .C56) For a legal encyclopedia specializing in North Carolina law, see Strong's North Carolina Index, 4th (North Carolina Alcove).

Though you may be used to using a general web search engine such as Google or Bing, there are several more efficient places to search for legal information on the Internet. The following strategies may be helpful:

1. Begin with law-related search engines or websites

• Cornell Legal Information Institute:  A useful resource that includes both secondary and primary information on a variety of legal topics.
• FindLaw: Leading web portal for legal information.
• Google Scholar: Free access to federal and state case law, as well as indexing and limited full text for legal journal articles.
• Law Reviews & Journals Search: free search for open-access law reviews and legal journals, from the ABA Legal Technology Resource Center.
• Nolo Press, Free Legal Information: Articles on legal topics from Nolo Press, a publisher of self-help legal research guides. Selected Nolo publications are available in the Goodson Law Library Reference Collection.

2. Other useful sites for law-related research include:

• Congress.gov: Federal legislative information and bill-tracking.
• GovInfo: Website of the Government Publishing Office.
• LLRX:  This website is a clearinghouse of legal research materials developed, primarily, by law librarians.  It may include research guides specific to the area of law you are working with or to the jurisdiction you are working in.

Paul Bergman & Sara J. Berman-Barrett. Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare and Try a Winning Case, 11th ed. (Ref. KF 8841.B47 2022). This book is intended as a do-it-yourself guide to representing yourself in court, but includes a discussion of when it is appropriate to consult or hire an attorney. It explains what is necessary to prepare for a trial as well as to conduct one. It also includes a brief introduction to court system, legal research tips and a detailed index. Note: this book covers only civil court matters such as divorce, personal injury, and business disputes -- it does not cover criminal matters.

Jay Feinman, Law 101: Everything You Need to Know About American Law, 5th ed. (KF387 .F45 2018). This book provides an overview of a variety of legal topics, with chapters including constitutional, property, and criminal law.

Shae Irving, Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law, 12th ed. (Ref. KF387.N65 2023). This book "provides concise, plain-English answers to hundreds of the most frequently asked legal questions about issues you face every day." It includes lists of resources for obtaining more information on a subject as well as websites with additional information about the many subjects covered in the book.

Ralph Warner & Robin Leonard, 101 Law Forms for Personal Use, 12th ed. (Ref. KF170 .L46 2023). This text includes basic forms for topics such as estate planning, buying or renting real estate, borrowing or lending money, handling personal finances and settling legal disputes, with brief descriptions of the purpose of each form.

Please note when using the resources listed below that the law is continually changing, more often in some areas than others. Some topics, like bankruptcy, tax and immigration law, have had regular or recent changes that are reflected only in newer materials. Other topics, such as contracts, do not change quite as often. The listings below attempt to reflect the degree of change in a given area while also summarizing the holdings of the Goodson Law Library collection. To find newer or additional materials, please use the libraries' online catalog, or speak with a reference librarian.

Many of the resources below are published by Nolo Press, a company that specializes in the layperson’s legal needs. The Law Library does not own the complete library of Nolo Press products, and purchases its selected titles on a three-year update cycle.  For other topics and forms, or more updated editions of library titles, consult the Nolo website.

Animals

• Mary Randolph, Every Dog's Legal Guide: A Must-Have Book for Your Owner, 7th ed. (Ref. KF390.5.D6 E94 2012). This text discusses issues such as state and local regulations, buying and selling dogs, dealing with landlords and veterinarians, barking dogs and liability for dog bites, and what to do if a dog is injured or killed.

Bankruptcy/Credit

• Daniel A. Edelman, ABA Consumer Guide to Understanding & Protecting Your Credit Rights: A Practical Resource for Maintaining Good Credit. (Ref. KF1040 .E34 2017). Part of the “ABA’s Consumer Guide” series, this book covers your basic rights with respect to obtaining and protecting your credit. It also provides information on credit disclosures, common types of credit transactions, rights with respect to credit, debit cards credit reports, debt collection, and identity theft.
• Stephen Elias, et al. How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, 23rd ed. (Ref. KF1524.85 .H685 2023). Covering only Chapter 7 (personal) bankruptcy, this book discusses procedures for filing for bankruptcy, how to handle the case in court, and things that must be done after declaring bankruptcy.
• William C. Hillman et. al., Personal Bankruptcy Answer Book. (KF1524.85 .H55 2010 and online in PLI Plus). Although this text is not explicitly written for the layperson, it is very easy to read, particularly the first chapter that discusses the basics of bankruptcy. Following chapters go beyond the basics to answer more difficult questions.
• John Lamb et al., Credit Repair, 15th ed. (Ref. HG3756.U54 L46 2022). This book outlines strategies for improving credit, including sample letters to creditors, budget outlines, and forms to fix credit report errors. 
• Robin Leonard, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Repay Your Debts, 17th ed. (Ref. KF1524.85 .L46 2024). Chapter 13 of the bankruptcy law allows an individual to develop and implement a three-year plan for paying off debts under court supervision. This book includes advice about filing under Chapter 13 and the necessary forms.

Business Law

Looking for information on starting a small business or forming a partnership? The majority of resources on business formation are located in the Ford Library at The Fuqua School of Business, and can be found in the libraries' online catalog.

• Denis Clifford & Ralph E. Warner, Form a Partnership: The Complete Legal Guide, 8th ed. (available online). This title discusses whether partnership is the right type of business for you and how a partnership is formed and can change through the duration of a business.

Citizenship

• Ilona Bray, U.S. Immigration Made Easy, 21st ed. (Ref. KF 4819.6 .U2 2023). This manual discusses the various types of available visas, the qualifications needed to obtain one, how to prepare the necessary paperwork, and how long it will take for a visa to be received.
• Victor C. Romero, Everyday Law for Immigrants (Ref. KF 4819 .R663 2009). This easy to read text discusses the various types of visas with helpful charts. It also discusses the basic procedure of immigration law and the changes made after 2001.

Copyright, Patent and Trademark

• Stephen Fishman, The Copyright Handbook: What Every Writer Needs to Know, 15th ed. (Ref. KF2995.F53 2024). This book explains the basics of copyright law and how to copyright written works only. It also has sections on fair use, copyright infringement and samples of basic forms from the Copyright Office.
• Mary LaFrance, Understanding Trademark Law, 4th ed. (KF3180 .L34 2014). A guide to the law of trademarks and unfair competition. Section 2.10 addresses the federal trademark registration process.
• Richard Stim, Getting Permission: How to License & Clear Copyrighted Materials Online & Off, 8th ed. (Ref. KF3002 .S75 2022). Guide to gaining permission for personal use of copyright protected material. In addition to permission, it covers public domain material, fair use, academic permission, license and merchandise agreements and trademark.
• Richard Stim, Patent, Copyright & Trademark: An Intellectual Property Desk Reference, 17th ed. (Ref. KF2980.P38 2022). This book contains key terms and concepts used in intellectual property law, rather than a how-to guide. Chapters on each topic contain a short overview, an extensive section on definitions, and statutes with a few relevant forms and further resources.

Criminal Law and Traffic Offenses

• Paul Bergman & Sara J. Berman-Barrett. The Criminal Law Handbook: Know Your Rights, Survive the System, 18th ed. (Ref. KF9619.6 .B47 2024). This book is designed as a means to empower criminal defendants by explaining the criminal justice process in detail. The guide walks a defendant through the steps from initial arrest through trial, sentencing and appeal. It includes chapters on police procedures, looking up and understanding the "language" of criminal law, and a description of juvenile courts and procedures.

• Chad D. Garrett, The ABCs of Traffic Law: Do’s and Don’ts of Traffic Court (NC Alcove KFN7697 .G37 2011 & online to Law School Visitors in Nexis Uni). This reference guide from the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation is intended for attorneys, but is a useful resource for non-lawyers as well.

Education Law

• Lawrence M. Siegel, The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for your Special Ed Child, 12th ed. (Ref. KF4209.3 .S57 2024). If your child needs special education and you are working with your school district to develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP), use this guide to understand the procedural steps and complicated paperwork required to complete the process.

Elder Law

• Kenney F. Hegland & Robert B. Fleming, Alive and Kicking: Legal Advice...for Boomers (Ref. KF390.A4 H43 2007). A conversational guide to legal issues affecting seniors, including identity theft, Social Security, estate planning, and elder abuse.
• Joseph L. Matthews & Dorothy Matthews Berman, Social Security, Medicare and Government, 28th ed. (Ref. KF3650.M37 2023). This book explains, in plain language, how the various benefit programs work, what benefits are provided and how and when to apply for them. A chapter on age discrimination laws is also included.
• Deanne Morgan, Become an Informed Caregiver: What You Should Know When Caring for an Aging Loved One (Ref .RA645.3 .M67 2016). This book discusses how to handle the paperwork and demands of caring for a loved one from health care to finances to personal property and end of life decisions.

Employment and Worker's Compensation

• Randy Freking, ABA Consumer Guide to Employee Rights (Ref. KF3455 .F744 2015). Part of the ABA's "Consumer Guide" series, this book is designed to give the layperson a better understanding of their rights a an employee.
• Barbara K. Repa, Your Rights in the Workplace, 11th ed. (Ref. KF3319.6 .L32 2018). This book discusses basic rights of employees, such as wages and hours, benefits, job discrimination, sexual harassment and workplace safety.

Estate Planning

• Denis Clifford, Make Your Own Living Trust, 8th ed. (Ref. KF734.Z9 C57 2007). This book discusses the use of living trusts as an alternative to wills. It discusses all aspects of living trusts and includes sample forms.
• Denis Clifford, Estate Planning Basics, 12th ed. (KF750.Z9 C585 2024).  This book covers the basics of estate planning, going over each of the major categories and concerns that come along with planning one’s estate.
• Mary Randolph, 8 Ways to Avoid Probate, 7th ed. (Ref. KF750.Z9 A118 2008). This book provides tips for avoiding probate, along with real-world examples of how these tips have worked, and notes changes in the gift tax rules.

Family Law

• Emily Doskow, Nolo’s Essential Guide to Child Custody & Support, 6th ed. (Ref. KF547 .A15 N65 2023). Explains the process for deciding custody and support from negotiation and mediation through trial, including discussion on how judges make decisions, and provides charts identifying each states laws.
• Emily Doskow, Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce, 9th ed. (Ref. KF535.Z9 D67 2022). This publication provides succinct answers to questions related to divorce while providing tips for saving time and money during divorce proceedings.
• Emily Doskow & Frederick Hertz, Making It Legal: A Guide to Same-Sex Marriage, Domestic Partnership & Civil Unions, 5th ed. (Ref. KF539.A23 .M25 2018). This book is a comprehensive source for same-sex marriage laws and guidance related issues such as adoption, taxation, wills, trusts and estates
• Robert A. Katsky & Jeffrey A. Katsky, The ABA Consumer Guide to Adopting a Child (Ref. KF545 .K373 2016). Part of the ABA;s "Consumer Guide" series, this book covers the process of adoption from start to finish, including common pitfalls to avoid and what to expect when going to court.

Home Ownership

• Stephen Elias, The Foreclosure Survival Guide, 9th ed. (Ref. KF697.F6 F67 2023). This book helps the reader decide what steps might be best for their situation, whether it be keeping the house, bankruptcy or foreclosure, and explains the foreclosure process, including state by state information.

Landlord / Tenant

• Janet Portman & Marcia Stewart, Every Tenant's Legal Guide, 10th ed. (Ref. KF590.Z9P67 2021). A very thorough coverage of residential landlord/tenant issues including finding and renting property, security deposits, discrimination, repairs and maintenance, terminating rental agreements, and eviction. Includes tables with state-by-state comparisons of laws and a few simple forms and checklists.

Neighbor Law

• Cora Jordan, Neighbor Law: Fences, Trees, Boundaries & Noise, 11th ed. (Ref. KF639.Z9 J67 2023). Outlining the general laws governing relations between neighbors, this book contains information to help the reader solve problems amicably, including a section on mediation. Appendices list relevant state statutes on some matters.

Small Claims Court

• Ralph Warner, Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court, 19th ed. (Ref. KF8769 .A15 E94 2022). This book covers small claims court procedures, and specific types of cases. In the back is a list of each state's basic rules for suing in small claims court.

Taxation

• Frederick W. Daily, Stand Up to the IRS, 15th ed. (Ref. KF6324 .A15 S73 2024). Advises on different situations where you may need to contact, negotiate, or settle with the IRS and includes example of forms and other documents that are involved in these different situations.