The Internet -- A Free Law Library

 The information Highway will transform our culture as dramatically as Gutenberg's press did the Middle Ages.    - Bill Gates

The Internet is not a substitute for traditional legal research and computer assisted research such as LEXIS, WESTLAW, or LOISLAW.   It is, however, a quick and inexpensive way to find recent federal cases, recent state cases, federal government information, and factual information on any subject. If you have a specific question on almost any topic, the Internet is a fast way to locate experts and elicit their opinions.   It can also be a fast way to get yourself in trouble.   The Internet is only as good as your source of information -- always know the source.

The first step to good Internet research is deciding what resource tools to use.   If you have attempted to do research on the Internet then you can attest to frustrations that often accompany such efforts.  It is not uncommon to think "why can't someone just put all of this information together." The following list will provide a starting point. 

            Index to links on this page:  

Getting Started -- Learning To Use The Internet

International Law

Search Engines

Legal Search Engines

Legal Encyclopedias