Free and Low-Cost Legal Research: U.S. Secondary and Primary Sources

This guide provides links and suggestions for searching in resources that are freely available (or available for a low cost) when conducting legal research.  It is organized into secondary sources and primary sources. Secondary Sources will cover general research platforms with significant legal materials as well as selected research guides. Primary Sources will specifically address low cost legal research options, as well as free legal research options across all government branches.  Sources include:

• Judicial sources (cases, dockets, rules of court)
• Legislative sources (statutes/laws/codes, ordinances, constitutions)
• Administrative sources (regulations, proposed rules, agency decisions)

For foreign and international resources consider:

If you have any questions about the information in this guide; suggestions for additional sources to include; or any other questions, please contact us using one of the methods in the box to the left.

Please note that many of our services are limited to Stanford University affiliates. If you are not affiliated with Stanford, we recommend contacting a local public law library for assistance beyond the information provided in this guide.