Subscription Databases and E-books

• Legal Collection
  Containing full text for more than 250 scholarly law journals, this database is a source for information on current issues, studies, thoughts and trends of the legal world. Legal Collection offers information centered on the discipline of law and legal topics such as criminal justice, international law, federal law, organized crime, medical, labor & human resource law, ethics, the environment and much more. Full text contained in this database includes: American Journal of Criminal Law, California Law Review and more.
  
• West's Encyclopedia of Law
  Provides current information on more than 5,000 legal topics. Includes completely revised articles covering important issues, biographies, definitions of legal terms and more. Covers such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, and physician-assisted suicide.

Websites Selected by Librarians

Legal Research

• Legal Information Institute
  From Cornell Law School, a gateway to extensive materials on law, including court opinions, summaries of legal topics, full text legal journals, and current events.
  
• Guide to Law Online
  Part of the site prepared by the Law Library of Congress, this is an annotated guide to international, national, and state government and law sites. The California guide is divided into categories: constitution, executive, judicial, legislative, guide, and general sources.
  
• Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet
  From the Library of Congress, this is a searchable database with information on Congress, bills and laws, the Congressional Record, committee reports, and historical documents.
  
• Your Public Law Library
  From the Council of California Law Librarians, links designed for self-represented litigants, an online basic research class, plus a variety of links to legal sites. Translated into several languages, including Spanish and Chinese.
  
• LawHelpCalifornia.org
  Provides Californians with referrals to free and low-cost legal help organizations and information on legal rights. Information is organized by subject.
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Law: Attorneys
  A selection of sites listing attorneys and law firms. Included is the Phoenix Data Center which lists local agencies providing free and low income legal services.
  
• Karen's Reference Notebook - Law: Legal Forms
  A selection of sites offering legal forms.

International Law

• NYU Law Library
  A guide to international legal databases from the New York University School of Law.
  
• World Legal Information Institute
  Provides links to law-related web sites worldwide.

Federal Law

• U.S. Code
  This database contains the general and permanent laws of the United States.
  
• Federal Register
  Official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and presidential documents.
  
• Code of Federal Regulations --
  A codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government.
  
• U.S. Supreme Court -- FindLaw's searchable database of the Supreme Court decisions since 1893.

State & Municipal Law

• California Law
  California law consists of 29 codes covering various subject areas, the state constitution, and statutes. Provides access to California Bills and legislative histories.
  
• California Courts
  Maintained by the Judicial Council of California, this site provides information on the California Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals, links to County Courts, the Self-help Center, forms, rules and procedures, and current events.
  
• Court Resource Center
  From the Santa Clara County Bar Association, a site providing access to local, state, and federal court information covering rules of court, calendars, procedures, and judges profiles.
  
• California Code of Regulations
  This database contains all 27 titles with the exception of Title 24 (California Building Standards).
  
• California Tenants
  From the California Department of Consumer Affairs, this is a guide to the rights and responsibilities of residential tenants and landlords. It covers such issues as the eviction process, security deposits, and unlawful discrimination.
  
• California Local Codes And Charters
  From UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies, this site contains links to California city and county codes and charters currently available online.
  

Local Resources

• Santa Clara County Law Library
  This website presents basic information on the San Jose location.
  
• Self-Service Center, Superior Court of California
  Legal information, court forms, court descriptions and locations, case and calendar information. Provides in-person self-help assistance at the Self-Service Center Office and the Courtmobile van.