Law Libraries

A law library is a library designed specifically to be used as a resource by law students, lawyers, law clerks, and judges when studying or preparing for case. Law libraries are also open to anyone else with legal questions. Every law school in the United States should have its own library, and large universities often devote a section of their main library specifically to law. In some states, each county is required to have a law library available for use by the general public, and most courthouses have their own.

In the United States, the American Bar Association (ABA) sets the rules for law schools and their libraries. Most importantly, they require every law school to have a law library. In addition, these libraries must meet certain standards of content. In general, law libraries contain most or all of the following: a full set of the United States Reports, the United States Code, the Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Register, the unofficial U. S. Supreme Court reporters, and several other legal journals from around the country. Like any good library, it should also contain reference books like encyclopedias to aid their patrons.

As previously stated, the ABA sets very specific regulations for its law schools' libraries and their core content. For the year 2010, its libraries are required to possess, for example, all reported federal court decisions and all decisions from each state's highest appellate court, information on all of the United States' current published international treaties and agreements, and all materials appropriate to the law school's curriculum. It also requires each library to contain the tools necessary to enable its students to obtain any other information, if necessary.

In addition, these libraries usually contain information related to the law, such as resources on legal education, speaking techniques, and legal history. The use of the internet has made resources more readily available, and many libraries now have internet databases such as FindLaw, HeinOnline, and LexisNexis at their disposal. These online databases allow the libraries to have more information available to their patrons, while saving space.

Law libraries are a vital part of any law school. They are an important resource for students hoping to one day practice law. Even lawyers who have already graduated find themselves back in the library on a regular basis. Because of strict ABA regulations, American law libraries are guaranteed to be legitimate and valuable halls of learning.