1L Research Guide
Offers a general strategy for approaching any legal research question; links to online resources for each step in the process; and tips applicable whether you are working on assignments in your Legal Research & Writing or Written & Oral Advocacy classes, matters for a clinical course or externship placement, or client research in a summer associate position.
1L RESEARCH GUIDE HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=507592 OFFERS A GENERAL STRATEGY FOR APPROACHING ANY LEGAL RESEARCH QUESTION; LINKS TO ONLINE RESOURCES FOR EACH STEP IN THE PROCESS; AND TIPS APPLICABLE WHETHER YOU ARE WORKING ON ASSIGNMENTS IN YOUR LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING OR WRITTEN & ORAL ADVOCACY CLASSES, MATTERS FOR A CLINICAL COURSE OR EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENT, OR CLIENT RESEARCH IN A SUMMER ASSOCIATE POSITION.
2L/3L Guide
Some starting points to find law library resources that support your 2L/3L research, work, and development. Topics include research and writing for the JD Writing Requirement (aka "Option 1" and "Option 2"), or for a student Note for journal publication; upper level course prep, clinical/externship/field placement work, and journal editorial tasks; and career planning and interviewing skills.
2L/3L GUIDE HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=1363129 SOME STARTING POINTS TO FIND LAW LIBRARY RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT YOUR 2L/3L RESEARCH, WORK, AND DEVELOPMENT. TOPICS INCLUDE RESEARCH AND WRITING FOR THE JD WRITING REQUIREMENT (AKA "OPTION 1" AND "OPTION 2"), OR FOR A STUDENT NOTE FOR JOURNAL PUBLICATION; UPPER LEVEL COURSE PREP, CLINICAL/EXTERNSHIP/FIELD PLACEMENT WORK, AND JOURNAL EDITORIAL TASKS; AND CAREER PLANNING AND INTERVIEWING SKILLS.
American Indian Law
A guide to the law of the United States as it pertains to the American Indian. Includes print and microform resources held by the Law Library as well as online databases, texts, and web sites.
AMERICAN INDIAN LAW HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=326659
A GUIDE TO THE LAW OF THE UNITED STATES AS IT PERTAINS TO THE AMERICAN INDIAN. INCLUDES PRINT AND MICROFORM RESOURCES HELD BY THE LAW LIBRARY AS WELL AS ONLINE DATABASES, TEXTS, AND WEB SITES.
Basic & Background Sources for International & Foreign Legal Research
A research guide that focuses on basic and background sources for researching international, foreign, and comparative law topics. Sources include freely available websites as well as subscription databases. Research guides, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and more are suggested for any stage in the research process.
BASIC & BACKGROUND SOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL & FOREIGN LEGAL RESEARCH HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=326623 A RESEARCH GUIDE THAT FOCUSES ON BASIC AND BACKGROUND SOURCES FOR RESEARCHING INTERNATIONAL, FOREIGN, AND COMPARATIVE LAW TOPICS. SOURCES INCLUDE FREELY AVAILABLE WEBSITES AS WELL AS SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES. RESEARCH GUIDES, ENCYCLOPEDIAS, DICTIONARIES, AND MORE ARE SUGGESTED FOR ANY STAGE IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS.
California Legislative History Research
A guide to doing a California legislative history at the Berkeley Law Library.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE HISTORY RESEARCH HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=326647
A GUIDE TO DOING A CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AT THE BERKELEY LAW LIBRARY.
California Propositions Research
How to find text, analyses, arguments, status, history, and case law or secondary sources relating to California ballot initiatives, referenda, and recall elections, including information on attempted ballot measures that failed to qualify for the ballot.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS RESEARCH HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=326615 HOW TO FIND TEXT, ANALYSES, ARGUMENTS, STATUS, HISTORY, AND CASE LAW OR SECONDARY SOURCES RELATING TO CALIFORNIA BALLOT INITIATIVES, REFERENDA, AND RECALL ELECTIONS, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON ATTEMPTED BALLOT MEASURES THAT FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR THE BALLOT.
Consumer Protection Law
Consumer protection law covers a number of different interrelated subject areas including bankruptcy, commercial law, real estate, debtor-creditor and privacy law intended to protect consumers. It is governed by both federal and state laws as well as a complex array of state and federal agencies and regulations. This guide introduces the major federal and California laws governing consumer protection, as well as the federal and California agencies enforcing and regulating those laws.
CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=834909 CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW COVERS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INTERRELATED SUBJECT AREAS INCLUDING BANKRUPTCY, COMMERCIAL LAW, REAL ESTATE, DEBTOR-CREDITOR AND PRIVACY LAW INTENDED TO PROTECT CONSUMERS. IT IS GOVERNED BY BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AS WELL AS A COMPLEX ARRAY OF STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND REGULATIONS. THIS GUIDE INTRODUCES THE MAJOR FEDERAL AND CALIFORNIA LAWS GOVERNING CONSUMER PROTECTION, AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL AND CALIFORNIA AGENCIES ENFORCING AND REGULATING THOSE LAWS.
Dockets, Briefs & Oral Argument
Tips for searching sponsored academic subscription services, as well as free online and fee-based or low-cost court-hosted resources, for viewing docket sheets, downloading filed documents, and finding oral argument transcripts and recordings. Covers federal and state courts.
DOCKETS, BRIEFS & ORAL ARGUMENT HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=1390873 TIPS FOR SEARCHING SPONSORED ACADEMIC SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES, AS WELL AS FREE ONLINE AND FEE-BASED OR LOW-COST COURT-HOSTED RESOURCES, FOR VIEWING DOCKET SHEETS, DOWNLOADING FILED DOCUMENTS, AND FINDING ORAL ARGUMENT TRANSCRIPTS AND RECORDINGS. COVERS FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS.
Free & Low-Cost Legal Research
There are countless free (or low-cost) legal research resources available online. The trick is narrowing down the available information to find reliable and up-to-date information. This guide provides links and suggestions for free and low-cost legal research resources, including: free federal, California, and secondary resources; low-cost legal databases; and other resources and guides.
FREE & LOW-COST LEGAL RESEARCH HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/FREEANDLOWCOSTRESEARCH THERE ARE COUNTLESS FREE (OR LOW-COST) LEGAL RESEARCH RESOURCES AVAILABLE ONLINE. THE TRICK IS NARROWING DOWN THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION TO FIND RELIABLE AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION. THIS GUIDE PROVIDES LINKS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FREE AND LOW-COST LEGAL RESEARCH RESOURCES, INCLUDING: FREE FEDERAL, CALIFORNIA, AND SECONDARY RESOURCES; LOW-COST LEGAL DATABASES; AND OTHER RESOURCES AND GUIDES.
Generative AI Guide
Covers GenAI terminology, tools, resources, news, and other information relevant to law school and legal practice. The guide also links to other GenAI resources from the Law Library.
GENERATIVE AI GUIDE HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=1320304 COVERS GENAI TERMINOLOGY, TOOLS, RESOURCES, NEWS, AND OTHER INFORMATION RELEVANT TO LAW SCHOOL AND LEGAL PRACTICE. THE GUIDE ALSO LINKS TO OTHER GENAI RESOURCES FROM THE LAW LIBRARY.
How to Get Published: A Guide to Human Rights and Social Justice Journals
This guide is aimed at undergraduate students, law and other graduate students, and recent alumni who wish to publish their research related to human rights and social justice. The guide provides information on preemption checking, picking a publication, the mechanics of the submission process, and more information.
HOW TO GET PUBLISHED: A GUIDE TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE JOURNALS HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=1276656 THIS GUIDE IS AIMED AT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, LAW AND OTHER GRADUATE STUDENTS, AND RECENT ALUMNI WHO WISH TO PUBLISH THEIR RESEARCH RELATED TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE GUIDE PROVIDES INFORMATION ON PREEMPTION CHECKING, PICKING A PUBLICATION, THE MECHANICS OF THE SUBMISSION PROCESS, AND MORE INFORMATION.
International Arbitration & Litigation
The guide includes information on locating treaties, awards, national laws, and other information. Includes both print and electronic sources, including databases like KluwerArbitration.
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION & LITIGATION HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=326736
THE GUIDE INCLUDES INFORMATION ON LOCATING TREATIES, AWARDS, NATIONAL LAWS, AND OTHER INFORMATION.  INCLUDES BOTH PRINT AND ELECTRONIC SOURCES, INCLUDING DATABASES LIKE KLUWERARBITRATION.
International Business Transactions
This IBT guide covers researching national laws related to international business transactions. It covers specific topics: arbitration, commercial law, competition/antitrust, labor, securities regulation, and more.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=326627
THIS IBT GUIDE COVERS RESEARCHING NATIONAL LAWS RELATED TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS.  IT COVERS SPECIFIC TOPICS: ARBITRATION, COMMERCIAL LAW, COMPETITION/ANTITRUST, LABOR, SECURITIES REGULATION, AND MORE.
International Human Rights
This guide to international human rights research covers strategy and sources, both print and electronic.
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=326748
THIS GUIDE TO INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS RESEARCH COVERS STRATEGY AND SOURCES, BOTH PRINT AND ELECTRONIC.
JD Writing Requirement
This guide provides students with resources and information that support them in completing the Berkeley Law writing requirement.
JD WRITING REQUIREMENT HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=909425 THIS GUIDE PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH RESOURCES AND INFORMATION THAT SUPPORT THEM IN COMPLETING THE BERKELEY LAW WRITING REQUIREMENT.
Legal Advice and Referrals
Suggestions for self help services, finding a lawyer, and locating organizations that provide specialized legal help.
LEGAL ADVICE AND REFERRALS HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=326635
SUGGESTIONS FOR SELF HELP SERVICES, FINDING A LAWYER, AND LOCATING ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SPECIALIZED LEGAL HELP.
Lexis & Westlaw Search Tips & Tricks
For all you need to know to start using smart, logical, sophisticated Terms & Connectors on the major legal research services. Includes examples with a comparison of results.
LEXIS & WESTLAW SEARCH TIPS & TRICKS HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=848033 FOR ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO START USING SMART, LOGICAL, SOPHISTICATED TERMS & CONNECTORS ON THE MAJOR LEGAL RESEARCH SERVICES. INCLUDES EXAMPLES WITH A COMPARISON OF RESULTS.
LLM Guide
Library resources and good starting points for basic legal research and writing skills, geared to LLM candidates in the Traditional and Executive tracks at Berkeley Law.
LLM GUIDE HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=326826 LIBRARY RESOURCES AND GOOD STARTING POINTS FOR BASIC LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING SKILLS, GEARED TO LLM CANDIDATES IN THE TRADITIONAL AND EXECUTIVE TRACKS AT BERKELEY LAW.
Local Government Legal Resources
Suggested sources of information pertaining to municipal or county legal research, with a special emphasis on California local government.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEGAL RESOURCES HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=326671
SUGGESTED SOURCES OF INFORMATION PERTAINING TO MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY LEGAL RESEARCH, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CALIFORNIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Newspapers
This guide is designed to assist the scholar or student seeking access to subscription news sources for current and historical news.
NEWSPAPERS HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=865279 THIS GUIDE IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE SCHOLAR OR STUDENT SEEKING ACCESS TO SUBSCRIPTION NEWS SOURCES FOR CURRENT AND HISTORICAL NEWS.
Preemption Checking: Checklist
A guide for student authors to make sure the paper you’re writing hasn’t been written by someone else.
PREEMPTION CHECKING: CHECKLIST HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=404969
A GUIDE FOR STUDENT AUTHORS TO MAKE SURE THE PAPER YOU’RE WRITING HASN’T BEEN WRITTEN BY SOMEONE ELSE.
Prep for Your Clerkship InterviewUCB only
Resources and tips for finding out about biographical and career history, caseload and docket profiles, and jurisdictional facts about a specific judge.
UCB ONLY PREP FOR YOUR CLERKSHIP INTERVIEW HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=707562
RESOURCES AND TIPS FOR FINDING OUT ABOUT BIOGRAPHICAL AND CAREER HISTORY, CASELOAD AND DOCKET PROFILES, AND JURISDICTIONAL FACTS ABOUT A SPECIFIC JUDGE.
Prep for Your Law Firm Interview
A selection of library and other research resources to help you get an overview of a law firm, attorney, or judge's organization and practice, in preparation for interviewing for a summer associate, intern/extern, or entry-level position.
PREP FOR YOUR LAW FIRM INTERVIEW HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=1105193 A SELECTION OF LIBRARY AND OTHER RESEARCH RESOURCES TO HELP YOU GET AN OVERVIEW OF A LAW FIRM, ATTORNEY, OR JUDGE'S ORGANIZATION AND PRACTICE, IN PREPARATION FOR INTERVIEWING FOR A SUMMER ASSOCIATE, INTERN/EXTERN, OR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION.
Refugee & Asylum Law
This guide covers researching refugee and asylum law around the world. It includes sections on researching U.S. immigration law, how to find how to find foreign asylum law, how to research country conditions and country of origin (COI), IGO and NGO reports, and current awareness.
REFUGEE & ASYLUM LAW HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=458043 THIS GUIDE COVERS RESEARCHING REFUGEE AND ASYLUM LAW AROUND THE WORLD. IT INCLUDES SECTIONS ON RESEARCHING U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW, HOW TO FIND HOW TO FIND FOREIGN ASYLUM LAW, HOW TO RESEARCH COUNTRY CONDITIONS AND COUNTRY OF ORIGIN (COI), IGO AND NGO REPORTS, AND CURRENT AWARENESS.
Source Collection 1-2-3
Covers the basics of sorting through and tracking down a list of sources you are assigned to collect for a journal's cite-checking project. Tips on understanding what kind of source you are looking for, and how to collect the copies you need from books, articles, and primary sources (cases, constitutions, statutes, etc.).
SOURCE COLLECTION 1-2-3 HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=1348052 COVERS THE BASICS OF SORTING THROUGH AND TRACKING DOWN A LIST OF SOURCES YOU ARE ASSIGNED TO COLLECT FOR A JOURNAL'S CITE-CHECKING PROJECT. TIPS ON UNDERSTANDING WHAT KIND OF SOURCE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR, AND HOW TO COLLECT THE COPIES YOU NEED FROM BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND PRIMARY SOURCES (CASES, CONSTITUTIONS, STATUTES, ETC.).
Student Computing Guide
A guide to computing at Berkeley Law. Covers laptops, the lab, printing, scanning, and other miscellaneous computer-related concerns.
STUDENT COMPUTING GUIDE HTTP://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/COMPUTING A GUIDE TO COMPUTING AT BERKELEY LAW. COVERS LAPTOPS, THE LAB, PRINTING, SCANNING, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS COMPUTER-RELATED CONCERNS.
Study Aids
Study aids, including Nutshells, Examples & Explanations, Understanding series and Outlines are introductory texts that help you prepare for class and exams. They complement your own reading, class preparation and outlining, explaining various topics of law in a straightforward manner. This guide describes different types, uses, and formats of study aids available via Law Library subscriptions, including specific titles for all 1L required courses and tips on finding study aids for other level topics.
STUDY AIDS HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=1413467 STUDY AIDS, INCLUDING NUTSHELLS, EXAMPLES & EXPLANATIONS, UNDERSTANDING SERIES AND OUTLINES ARE INTRODUCTORY TEXTS THAT HELP YOU PREPARE FOR CLASS AND EXAMS. THEY COMPLEMENT YOUR OWN READING, CLASS PREPARATION AND OUTLINING, EXPLAINING VARIOUS TOPICS OF LAW IN A STRAIGHTFORWARD MANNER. THIS GUIDE DESCRIBES DIFFERENT TYPES, USES, AND FORMATS OF STUDY AIDS AVAILABLE VIA LAW LIBRARY SUBSCRIPTIONS, INCLUDING SPECIFIC TITLES FOR ALL 1L REQUIRED COURSES AND TIPS ON FINDING STUDY AIDS FOR OTHER LEVEL TOPICS.
Tools for Legal Practice
Law students working as summer associates, as judicial externs, and in clinical and other field placements have access to a broad variety of databases and services offering practical tools and guidance. This guide points to resources for document drafting, researching law and policy issues, and other practical tasks typical of litigation and court practice, transactional and business law practice, or government and public interest law practice.
TOOLS FOR LEGAL PRACTICE HTTPS://LIBGUIDES.LAW.BERKELEY.EDU/C.PHP?G=1396274 LAW STUDENTS WORKING AS SUMMER ASSOCIATES, AS JUDICIAL EXTERNS, AND IN CLINICAL AND OTHER FIELD PLACEMENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A BROAD VARIETY OF DATABASES AND SERVICES OFFERING PRACTICAL TOOLS AND GUIDANCE. THIS GUIDE POINTS TO RESOURCES FOR DOCUMENT DRAFTING, RESEARCHING LAW AND POLICY ISSUES, AND OTHER PRACTICAL TASKS TYPICAL OF LITIGATION AND COURT PRACTICE, TRANSACTIONAL AND BUSINESS LAW PRACTICE, OR GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC INTEREST LAW PRACTICE.