Gavin Howe
If you're looking to find a specific state law from a certain year, there are several ways to go about it. You can use secondary sources such as treatises, practice guides, and law review articles to learn more about the context, history, and analysis of a particular statute or area of law. Additionally, you can refer to state legal encyclopedias, treatises, or practice guides to find information on state law questions. For those with access, Westlaw Edge provides access to historical statutes, allowing users to see how specific statutes have evolved over the years. HeinOnline Session Laws is another resource that contains the session laws of all 50 U.S. states. If you're looking for public laws, the Government Publishing Office publishes annual volumes of the United States Statutes at Large at the end of each session of Congress. For more recent laws, GPO govinfo and Congress.gov provide the full text of public and private laws from as early as 1993.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to find state laws | Search for state laws on official websites ending with .gov |
| Choose a state from the dropdown list on the website | |
| Search for state laws on Westlaw, Lexis, HeinOnline, or GPO govinfo | |
| Search for state laws on Harvard Library or large library systems or college libraries |
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What You'll Learn
Using secondary sources
When it comes to finding state laws from a specific year, secondary sources can be a valuable tool. These sources can provide context, history, and analysis, as well as help locate the primary sources of law. Here are some tips for using secondary sources effectively:
Understanding Secondary Sources:
Secondary sources are materials that explain, discuss, analyse, describe, or critique the law. They are not the law itself but are used to help understand and navigate the law. Examples of secondary sources include legal dictionaries, encyclopaedias, law reviews, journals, treatises, and practice guides. These sources can provide valuable insights and explanations that can make complex legal concepts more accessible.
Locating Relevant Secondary Sources:
To find relevant secondary sources, start by consulting state legal encyclopaedias, treatises, or practice guides. These resources are specifically designed to provide comprehensive information on state laws. Look for earlier editions of treatises and practice guides to identify historical statutes and laws from specific years. Additionally, law schools and libraries, such as Harvard Law Library and Stanford Law School, often provide online research guides and databases that can be helpful.
Primary sources of law include constitutions, court cases, statutes, and administrative rules and regulations. Secondary sources can help you locate these primary sources by providing citations, references, and explanations. For example, a legal treatise may discuss a specific court case and provide a citation, allowing you to easily find the primary source document.
Analysing and Interpreting the Law:
Secondary sources can offer valuable analysis and interpretation of the law. They can help explain the legislative intent behind a statute, discuss its application in specific contexts, and provide insights into how the law has been interpreted over time. This can be especially useful when trying to understand the evolution of a particular law or its impact on specific areas of interest.
Keeping Information Up-to-Date:
It is important to ensure that the information you find in secondary sources is current and accurate. Laws can be amended or updated over time, so it is always a good idea to verify the information against primary sources or official government websites. Additionally, consult multiple secondary sources to cross-reference information and ensure its reliability.
In summary, secondary sources are a valuable tool for finding and understanding state laws from a specific year. They provide context, analysis, and guidance, helping you navigate the complex landscape of legal research. By using a combination of encyclopaedias, treatises, practice guides, and other resources, you can efficiently locate the information you need and gain a deeper understanding of the law.
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State legal encyclopaedias
Legal encyclopaedias are a comprehensive set of brief articles on legal topics, arranged in alphabetical order. They are useful as a general introduction to an area of law and provide more in-depth information than a legal dictionary. They are also a way to find citations to cases and other materials on a particular issue.
There are two popular general legal encyclopaedias: Corpus Juris Secundum (C.J.S.) and American Jurisprudence, 2d (Am. Jur. 2d). In addition, there are numerous state legal encyclopaedias, such as American Jurisprudence Trials, which can be found within the individual state's materials. These are listed alphabetically by state and electronic versions are included only if they are comprehensive in scope.
To find state laws from a specific year, you can refer to secondary sources such as state legal encyclopaedias, treatises, and practice guides. For historical statutes, earlier editions of treatises and practice guides can be particularly useful. In addition, public laws are published annually in volumes called the United States Statutes at Large, which can be found in many large libraries. The United States Code (U.S.C.) is the official, unannotated code of the United States and is published every six years with annual cumulative supplements. GPO govinfo and Congress.gov also provide access to the full text of public laws from recent years.
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Public law resources
Online Databases:
- GovInfo: Provides public access to official publications from all three branches of the US Federal Government. It offers the full text of public and private laws from 1995 onwards.
- GPO: Provides access to the full text of laws from 1993 onwards and summaries from 1973 onwards. It also offers a link to the Public Law via the GPO govinfo site.
- Google Scholar: Offers access to legal documents, including patents, legal opinions, and journals. While some resources are paywalled, there is an increasing number of high-quality, open-access journals.
- Social Science Research Network (SSRN): Offers a large collection of pre- and post-publication working papers covering various academic subjects, including law-related papers.
- Legal Scholarship Network: A sub-category of SSRN, focusing specifically on law-related papers.
- Open Access Theses and Dissertations (OATD): Indexes records of graduate-level theses that are freely available online, including those from law schools.
- Public Law Project (PLP): Publishes research, briefings, submissions, guides, and conference materials on policy issues related to public law.
Print Publications:
- United States Statutes at Large: Published by the Government Publishing Office, these annual volumes contain public laws from each session of Congress. They can be found in large public or academic libraries, especially those participating in the Federal Depository Library Program (over 1,100 libraries).
- U.S. Code Congressional and Administrative News (U.S.C.C.A.N.): A commercial publication offering timely access to the text of laws as originally passed by Congress. It may be available in large library systems or college libraries.
- Harvard Library: Provides access to HeinOnline Session Laws, which includes session laws from all 50 U.S. states and other countries. It also offers Proquest Congressional, a resource for information about members of Congress and their legislative activities.
- New York Public Library (NYPL): Offers electronic and print resources covering New York State, New York City, and U.S. Federal law. It also has a substantial collection of historical materials, including statutes, case law reporters, administrative codes, legislative history materials, and legal periodicals.
Legal Libraries:
- Federal Depository Libraries: Over 1,100 libraries participate in the Federal Depository Library Program, providing public access to government documents, including laws and legal resources.
- Local Law Libraries: Legal research can often be more effective when conducted in a local law library. The website of the Harvard Law School Library provides information on law libraries throughout the United States.
Other Resources:
- Citators: KeyCite (West) and Shepard's (Lexis) are citators that can lead you to cases interpreting a statute and secondary sources discussing its history and application.
- Secondary Sources: Treatises, practice guides, law review articles, encyclopaedias, and law reviews can provide context, history, and analysis of a particular statute or area of law.
- Law Directories: The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory allows users to search for lawyers and law firms by name, location, and practice areas.
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Online databases
There are several online databases that can be used to find state laws from a specific year. These databases offer a wealth of legal information, including state laws, case law, and other legislative materials. Some databases are freely accessible to the public, while others are restricted to paid subscribers or accessible only onsite at specific libraries. Here is some essential information about these online databases:
GPO GovInfo
GPO GovInfo is a valuable resource for accessing public and private laws. It provides the full text of laws from the 104th Congress (1995-1996) onwards and summaries from the 93rd Congress onwards. This database is freely accessible to the public and can be a great starting point for legal research.
Congress.gov
Congress.gov is another essential database that offers the full text of laws from the 103rd Congress (1993-1994) to the present. It also provides summaries of laws from the 93rd Congress onwards. This database is also freely available to the public and can be used to find state laws from specific years.
HeinOnline Session Laws
This database contains the session laws of all 50 U.S. states, as well as those of several other countries. It is accessible via HarvardKey, which may require affiliation with Harvard University or a subscription. This database can be useful for finding state laws from specific years, as session laws are annual compilations of laws passed in a legislative session.
Library of Congress Databases
The Library of Congress provides access to numerous databases and electronic resources (eResources) for legal and legislative research. These resources include links to the US Code, US Statutes at Large, legislative histories, and other materials. While some of these databases are subscription-based and accessible only onsite at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, there are also freely available online resources that can be accessed from anywhere.
Google Scholar and Google News Archive
Google Scholar provides access to legal documents such as patents, legal opinions, and journals. While some journals are restricted to paid databases, there is a growing number of high-quality, open-access journals. Additionally, Google News Archive allows users to search historical newspapers and retrieve scanned images, which can be useful for legal research in specific years.
Legal Information Institute (LII)
LII offers open access to a variety of legal materials, including an annotated version of the constitution, federal statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and more. This database can be a valuable resource for researching state laws and related topics.
Other Resources
In addition to the databases mentioned above, there are other online resources that can aid in finding state laws from specific years. These include Proquest Congressional, which provides information about legislative activities, and legal encyclopedias, treatises, and practice guides, which can offer historical context and analysis of specific laws. Utilizing these databases and resources can facilitate the process of locating and understanding state laws from specific years.
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Contacting a lawyer
If you need to find a state law from a specific year, there are several ways to go about it. Firstly, you can consult official government websites, which typically use the "gov" domain. These websites provide access to current and past laws, with the ability to search by name, subject, keywords, congressional session, or type of legislation. Additionally, you can refer to the United States Code, which contains the amended versions of laws that are currently in force. The United States Code is published in print every six years, with annual cumulative supplements.
Another option is to visit large library systems or college libraries, particularly those that participate in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). Over 1,100 libraries are part of this program, providing access to government documents, including public laws. Since most depository libraries are within universities or state libraries, it is recommended to call ahead to check their hours.
Additionally, Harvard Library's research guides suggest using secondary sources such as treatises, practice guides, and law review articles to learn about the context, history, and analysis of a particular statute or area of law. They also recommend using citators like KeyCite (West) and Shepard's (Lexis) to find cases that interpret and apply the statute, as well as relevant secondary sources. Harvard Library provides access to HeinOnline Session Laws, which contain the session laws of all 50 U.S. states, and Proquest Congressional, a database of legislative activities and publications of the U.S. Congress.
Now, if you are considering contacting a lawyer to help you understand state laws from a specific year, here are some detailed instructions and suggestions:
- Identify Your Legal Issue: Before reaching out to a lawyer, it is essential to have a clear understanding of your legal issue. Take some time to consider the specific state laws you need assistance with and any relevant details that may impact your situation.
- Research Lawyers in Your State: It is crucial to consult a lawyer who is licensed to practice in your state and has experience with the specific area of law you need help with. You can use online attorney directories, such as the one provided by FindLaw, to search for qualified attorneys near you. Look for lawyers who specialize in your state's laws and have a good understanding of the historical context.
- Prepare Relevant Information: Before making contact, gather all the relevant information and documents related to your case. This may include dates, locations, and any other details that could impact the legal advice you receive. Having this information ready will help the lawyer understand your situation more effectively.
- Initial Consultation: Many lawyers offer initial consultations, which can be a great opportunity to understand their legal expertise and how they can assist you. During this consultation, be prepared to explain your legal issue, ask questions about their experience and strategy, and discuss their fees and payment policies.
- Communication Preferences: Consider your preferred method of communication with your lawyer. Do you prefer in-person meetings, phone calls, or email correspondence? Discussing communication preferences early on can help establish a smooth and efficient working relationship.
- Ask for References: Don't hesitate to ask the lawyer for references or testimonials from past clients. This can provide valuable insight into their work ethic, client satisfaction, and the outcomes they have achieved for others in similar situations.
- Understand Fees and Payment Plans: Legal fees can vary, so it is essential to discuss payment structures upfront. Ask for a clear breakdown of costs, including any potential additional expenses. Many lawyers offer payment plans or alternative fee arrangements, so be sure to inquire about these options if needed.
- Establish Expectations: Before finalizing your decision, ensure you understand the lawyer's expected timeline, their strategy for handling your case, and the potential outcomes. It is crucial to have a clear understanding of what to expect throughout the process.
- Maintain Open Communication: Once you have engaged the lawyer's services, maintain open and honest communication. Keep them updated on any new developments or information that may impact your case. Respond promptly to their requests for information or documentation.
- Seek Clarification: If you have any questions or concerns throughout the process, don't hesitate to ask for clarification. It is essential to feel confident in the legal advice you are receiving and to understand the steps being taken to resolve your legal issue.
Remember, contacting a lawyer can provide you with valuable expertise and guidance on state laws from a specific year. They can help you understand your rights, options, and the best way to protect yourself legally.
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Frequently asked questions
Westlaw Edge is a useful resource for finding out how specific statutes have evolved over the years. You can also use HeinOnline, which contains the session laws of all 50 U.S. states. Lexis and Westlaw are also good resources, but they are not freely available. For free resources, you can try law.justia.com, which has old codes for most U.S. states, but only goes back to 2005 for many of them.
Secondary sources are usually the most efficient way to identify whether there is a controlling statute for your question and learn more about a particular area of the law. For state law questions, look for a state legal encyclopedia, treatise, or practice guide.
At the end of each session of Congress, public laws are published in annual volumes called the United States Statutes at Large, which are published by the Government Publishing Office. Public laws may also be available in large library systems or college libraries, frequently as part of their participation in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).
