Legal Research

Selected Subject Resources

Hunter Law Library Legal Research Guides

Books and Articles

Information about books owned by the Law Library is available through the library catalog. It can be searched by author, title, subject, etc.

Legal periodical (eg. law review) articles are indexed by Legaltrac and WilsonWeb. Both services index articles by keyword or subject. Many law review articles can be accessed through Hein Online. Additional research options are available within the Library. Reference staff are available within the Library for assistance (see reference schedule).

The Subject Listing of Call Numbers for Law Books gives general call number ranges for a variety of legal topics. Using these numbers, researchers can browse the Library's collections for books within a broad subject area.

Subject Listing of Call Numbers for Law Books

The call number list below is based on general Library of Congress subject classifications. These numbers are provided primarily as a browsing tool. The Howard W. Hunter Law Library does not necessarily purchase titles for every possible call number. This list is presented as a quick guide to selected subject and call number ranges, and not a comprehensive research tool. If you are unable to find the material you need using this tool, please contact a reference librarian for further assistance.

To browse the Law Library catalog for a particular subject,
click on that call number range. 

Reference

Reference librarians are available to help direct patrons to information that may answer their questions or aid in their research. Be advised that library policy prohibits reference librarians from doing research for patrons or answering specific legal questions; however, librarians can direct patrons to relevant sources and give instruction on their use. The full-time reference librarians are also responsible for teaching and conducting the legal research classes offered at the law school.

Reference desks are located on the main floor and the third floor of the Library.   The Reference Department is staffed by both full-time and part-time reference librarians. When school is in session, reference assistance is available Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 9 p.m and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. During the summer months, reference assistance is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday thru Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Reference librarians are also available for additional assistance by appointment and may be contacted by telephone at (801) 422-6658.

Self-Help Legal Resources

The Law Library's printed reference collection includes a number of general legal self-help resources. In addition to general self-help materials, there are materials published by the National Business Institute on various topics of Utah law. These are found in the Reserve Library under the call number KFU.

The reference staff has also compiled a list of online self-help resources for Utah, set forth below.

• Utah Legal Services: Internet Information and Free Legal Clinics Statewide
• Northern Utah Legal Services and Information Access Guide
• The Utah Online Court Assistance Program (OCAP)

  • (OCAP) Criminal and Civil Court Processes 
  • (OCAP) Obtaining Legal Assistance
  • (OCAP) How To
  • (OCAP) Landlord-Tenant
  • (OCAP) Free Legal Clinics Statewide

• (Utah Courts) Mediation
• (Utah Courts) Model Utah Jury Instructions, 2d edition (2006)
• (Utah Courts) Filing/Record Fees
• Utah State Court Online Forms
• Other Utah State Court Online Forms
• Utah Legal Services (ULS)-Domestic Law Handbook

  • ULS-Marriage Requirements
  • ULS-Common Law Marriage
  • ULS-Guardianship
  • ULA-Powers of Attorney
  • ULS-Protective Orders/Resourses and Referrals on Domestic Matters
  • ULS-Child Abuse
  • ULS-Ending Domestic Relation/Divorce
  • ULS-Custody
  • ULS-Visitation
  • ULS-Enforcement of Your Decree
  • ULS-Notice to the Landlord
  • Legal Match
  • ULS-Handbook on Public Benefits
  • ULS-Utah Renters' Handbook
  • ULS-Bankruptcy
  • ULS- Direction for a Motion to Set Aside a Default Judgement

• Disability Law Center  
• Social Security Disability Benefits
• Women's Services - How to Obtain a Protective Order?
• Social Security Retirement or Survivors Benefits 

Online Resources available in the Library for Public Use

The Law Library subscribes to a number of online legal research resources. The most frequently used of these are Lexis and Westlaw.

How to Use LexisNexis Academic

LexisNexis Academic provides worldwide access to full text cases, codes, and other legal research materials to the BYU community (BYU netid/password required). After entering LexisNexis Academic, choose the appropriate database. Then enter the terms to search for in the database into the search box. Additional assistance in using LexisNexis Academic Universe is available at the Law Library reference desk.

How to Use Westlaw Patron Access

Westlaw Patron Access is available to the public only within the Library. It is accessed by clicking on the appropriate icon on designated computers near the reference desk. After agreeing to Westlaw’s “terms and conditions,” click on the "directory" to choose databases. Then put in the terms to search for in those databases. Additional assistance in using Westlaw is available at the Law Library reference desk.