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You are here: Free & Low-Cost Legal Help > Libraries, Court Clerks, Web Sites, Self-Help Legal Books
This section explains the kinds of help you can get from:
Law Libraries
Law Librarians on the Internet
Law Library Research Guides
Public Libraries
Web Sites
Court Clerks
Self-Help Legal Books
How to Find Additional Information Questions & Answers
Law Libraries
Law libraries  have books about:
- Child custody,
- Small claims,
- Writing a will,
- Being arrested, and
- Other common legal problems.
Law libraries usually have self-help legal books. These books are written for people who are not lawyers. They explain the law in plain English and sometimes give you tips on how to handle your case. If you can't find them in your law library, try your favorite bookstore or public library .
In addition to self-help books, you can read the laws and cases interpreting the laws. You can also find guides written for lawyers that provide more detailed information than self-help books.
You can also ask the librarian for materials on "reserve" or at the "reference desk." Click here to find a law library in your area .
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Law Librarians on the Internet
California's county law libraries have created an online service that lets you chat live with a law librarian. The librarian can suggest or escort you to free online legal resources, recommend books and research techniques, and answer factual questions. Law Librarians cannot interpret the law or give legal advice.
Click here to Ask the Law Librarian for research advice.
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Law Library Research Guides
Sometimes law libraries have "research guides" that list books with information on your topic. Ask your law librarian for a research guide. Click here to find a law library near you. Some law libraries also post their research guides online:
Garret W. McEnerney Law Library, Boalt Hall School of Law.
Use the "Library Research Guides" pull-down menu on this site's homepage.
Hastings Law Library, Hastings College of the Law.
Click on "Legal Research " in the left navigation bar and then click on "Research Guides." On "Legal Research Guide" page, look for "CA Legal Forms" under "California Legal Research Guides."
Hugh & Hazel Darling Law Library at the UCLA Law School . To view these guides, click on "Hugh & Hazel Darling Law Library Research Guide Series" and then "Guide G6: Secondary and Practice Guides."
The following county law libraries also post online research guides:
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Public Libraries
Many public libraries also have self-help legal books. Click here to find a public library in your area .
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Web Sites
The Links & Resources section of this Self-Help Center has lists of Web sites on many different topics.
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Court Clerks
Court clerks can give you copies of your court's local rules and forms. Or they can tell you where to get them. They can also tell you about important information, like courtroom hours and locations, and filing fees.
Note: Court clerks can't give legal advice.
To find out more about how clerks can help you, click here.
Click here for the address and phone number of your local court.
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Self-Help Legal Books
Self-help legal books are written for people who aren't lawyers. They explain the law in plain English and sometimes give you tips on how to handle your case. Many law libraries and public libraries can loan you self-help books. Or you can check your local bookstore.
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How to Find Additional Information Questions & Answers
Who can help me find additional information?
Where can I go on the Web to get help with a legal problem in another state?
Where can I find links to other legal Web sites?
Where can I find the local rules for my court?
Where can I find constitutions and codes?
Where can I find the California Rules of Court online?
Where can I find California appellate briefs?
Where can I find federal court opinions online?
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Last modified: 03/17/2008
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