Legal Research FAQs: Home

This Guide is intended to provide basic answers on how to find certain types of resources in the Law Library's print and electronic collections. For more in-depth research questions, we encourage you to contact one of our Reference Librarians by email at loyolalawreference@luc.edu or by phone at 312-915-7205. Our current Law Library reference hours are:

• Sundays - closed
• Mondays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Fridays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Although we are happy to assist you with reference questions, please remember that our reference librarians will not answer questions that require performing research for you, providing legal advice, or assisting with legal procedures. For details about available reference services, see About Loyola Law Library Reference Services.

Reference librarians at the Law Library provide assistance with selecting and using resources for legal research. Our primary patrons are: current law students, law faculty, and law staff. If time and resources permit, we also provide reference services to: Loyola University Chicago non-law students, faculty, and staff; Loyola law alumni; and Illinois attorneys. We also assist those seeking access to federal depository materials.

For reference services for law faculty, see the Faculty Services Guide.
For reference services for law students, see the Law Library Student Services Guide.
For resources for alumni, see the Law Library Alumni Services Guide.
For access to federal depository materials, please contact LoyolaLawReference@luc.edu.

What kinds of questions may I ask the reference librarians?

Although we are happy to assist people doing legal research, the reference librarians may only provide help with selecting and using library materials and online resources. For example, we can:

• Recommend sources to begin your research.
• Explain how to use legal research tools.
• Assist you in using our collection, including how to find materials in the Law Library.
• Explain how to use the electronic resources available in the Law Library.
• Help you locate a particular legal source with a specific reference or citation.

Reference librarians will not conduct legal research for patrons, give legal advice, or answer specific questions about interpreting the law.  For example, librarians will not:

• Interpret the meaning of statutes, regulations, or court opinions,
• Advise on legal procedures;
• Provide assistance with legal procedures, filling out forms, or creating legal forms or documents;
• Review and/or edit documents;
• Summarize content from legal resources;
• Advise on proper citation format;
• Read text over the phone or send it in an email or text message;
• Confirm whether a resource is on the shelf; or
• Recommend attorneys.

Examples of acceptable questions:

• Does the Law Library have legal forms?
• What resources are available for researching Illinois child support law?
• What is the URL for the Illinois Secretary of State's website?
• What databases should I use to find journal articles on a legal topic?

Examples of unacceptable questions:

• Which form do I use and how do I fill it out?
• I need to write a complaint to sue someone for not paying child support. Can you help me do that?
• Is it better to set up my business as a corporation or as a limited liability company?
• I found this case in an article I was reading. What do you think this case means?

Resources for finding legal advice

People seeking legal advice should visit the websites of institutions that specialize in helping people find legal representation, such as the American Bar Association or the Illinois State Bar Association, or consult with Illinois Legal Aid Online.

Selected books on legal research in the Law Library collection. Unless otherwise indicated, these books are located in the Law Library Main Stacks. You can search our Library Catalog to find more books about Legal Research in our collection.

Address

Loyola University Chicago
School of Law Library 
Philip H. Corboy Law Center
25 E. Pearson Street
Chicago, IL 60611

Email

Access and borrowing questions:
Law-Library@luc.edu
Research questions: LoyolaLawReference@luc.edu

Phone Numbers

Main:  312.915.7200
Circulation:  312.915.6986
Reference:  312.915.7205
Interlibrary Loan:  312.915.7202
Fax:  312.915.6797

The resources listed below are compiled and published by professional associations for Law Librarians. While they are intended for use by non-lawyers, they contain tips on conducting legal research that can be of value to any researcher.