Public Patron Policy

Policy on Legal Research and Legal Advice for Public Patrons

The Law Library is staffed and funded to serve the scholarly needs of the University Of California students, faculty and staff. Its primary purpose is to provide a place for the study and research of law. A quiet environment must be maintained at all times in the Reading Rooms.

The Reference Librarians can not provide you with legal advice, or discuss the legal theories behind your case. The Reference Librarians are available to help you locate specific titles and identify and use appropriate legal sources, as well as provide a general overview of the Law Library's information systems, services, and collection. As a Government Printing Office Depository Library the Reference Librarians can assist with the locating and use of these materials. In addition, they can advise you on appropriate research strategies, including the use of electronic resources. The Reference librarians are unable to provide assistance by e-mail and telephone reference assistance is available for brief questions only and as time permits. Priority is always to give to patrons who are in the library. When the reference desk is closed reference assistance can not be provided by the library employees at the Patron Services Desk. Please consult the library hours section for the reference desk schedule.

If you need someone who will research and interpret the law for you, you should consider talking to an attorney. For information on identifying and locating attorneys, see the General Legal Advice and Referrals page on the Library's website.