Author Archives: Cynthia Lambert

Representing yourself in a legal matter?

July 17, 2024Research Library Spotlight No Comments

NJSL Law Library Can Help!

If you are representing yourself in a legal matter, researching information and resources from credible sources can be difficult. The Law Library of the New Jersey State Library, can help. We offer a variety of print and digital legal research resources, as well as other materials to help you understand what you find. The Law Librarians on staff are available to assist you in using these collections, and can point you to resources available when the library is closed.

Basic Legal Research

Basic legal research is the process of finding the statutes, regulations, and court opinions that apply to your particular set of circumstances. In New Jersey, all of our statutes, regulations, and court opinions can be found free online (Statutes, Regulations, Court Opinions, and Older Court Opinions). However, what you get is simply the full-text of the statute, regulation, or court opinion, without any context.

At the State Library’s Law Library, we have tools that help explain the information you find, how it relates to other sources, and how it can be used within the legal system. We have powerful databases like Lexis, WestLaw, Vitalaw (Wolters Kluwer), and HeinOnline. In print, we have encyclopedias and dictionaries that can provide an overview of a topic or concept.

The New Jersey Statutes Annotated books have extensive information about the history of a statute, what cases are related to the statute, and information on finding additional information in practice guides.

Titles like the NJ Court Rules Annotated, NJ Personal Injury Recovery, and NJ Condominium Law provide in-depth discussions on topics complete with notes, court cases, and citations with explanations and references to additional resources. Practice guides such as NJ Practice and NJ Pleading and Practice Forms provide details on formats, wording, and information needed for specific situations.

First, some tips as you get started

Legal research involves a slow and complex process that requires a great deal of reading. Be prepared to read – legal research resources are dense and complex. Likewise, as you seek answers to your legal questions, many new questions and topics will arise that need to be researched. Be sure to budget enough time to complete your research!

When working with a librarian, they will need to ask you a number of questions about your research. At times this may feel like they are being nosey or rude. That is not the case! This process is called the “reference interview”. It is the way the librarian formulates a search strategy. Law Librarians don’t simply “know the answer” to these complex issues, we have to do research before we can help you with your own research. Please note, we take your privacy very seriously—anything you say at the reference desk, stays at the reference desk.

If you will be going to court, come prepared to identify what court – Federal, State (NJ, other states), Municipal, or Administrative. Each court may have its own set of rules that need to be followed.

Take a Top-Down Approach

Begin your research by learning about the general subject related to your area of interest. Start by using encyclopedias, dictionaries, and legal periodicals to get a better understanding not only of the topic, but the language used when discussing the topic. Understanding keywords may help you determine if you’re on track.

Forms – often library users want forms. In New Jersey, standardized forms are not the norm, but there are many templates available. The Lexis and Westlaw databases have some forms available. The NJ Practice Print series has numerous templates covering many subject areas, as does NJ Pleading and Practice Forms.

The Librarians are not lawyers. We are unable to give you advice, decide what form works for you, or interpret laws or legal topics. Still, we are dedicated to helping you find your answers. We will help you select resources to use, and teach you to use those resources. This will help you make informed decisions and choices about your particular situation.

As you go through your research process, consider hiring a lawyer. Legal issues can be difficult to understand and navigate. Researching them is very time consuming. Not sure? Consider contacting your local bar association for a low cost initial referral or use the American Bar Association free legal answers program.

Can’t make it to the NJ State Library?

The New Jersey State Library, located at 185 West State Street in Trenton, is open for walk-in visitors Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. However, legal research takes a lot of time and it is likely you will need to do some of that research outside the library. Our Law Library can help steer you to outside resources as well.

You can email the Law Reference Desk or call us at 609-278-2640 x 102. We can often assist remote users with their research when they are unable to come onsite. If you find a citation or case that you would like additional information about, we can send that to you via email. We can help you navigate Google Scholar for case law research when the legal databases are out of reach to you.

We have a number of online Research Guides available, which cover a wide variety of topics, not just those related to legal research. These guides will introduce you to materials available through the library, but also to many resources available through the internet.

New Jersey State Library, Law Library

The New Jersey State Library’s Law Library is one of only a few full-service law libraries open and available to the public. We are dedicated to helping visitors research, learn-about, and utilize our extensive legal collections and materials. We hope you come to visit soon.

New Jersey Legal Research Resources

December 9, 2024Research Library Spotlight No Comments

Cynthia Lambert

Often when people need to do legal research, they are intimidated, unsure of where to start, and struggle finding information that is current and known to be from a trusted source. The New Jersey State Library Law Library has a large, curated collection of legal resources that are available to visitors. Below is a review of some of the most commonly used legal research resources at the law library, and some alternatives you can use when you can’t get to the library.

Where to Start?

If you have no idea where to start your research, The New Jersey Legal Research Handbook by Paul Axel-Lute is my recommendation.

This book provides an overview of the sources of law, legal citations, case law, and reviews many resources on how to do legal research. While there is some information relating to Federal Laws and international law, the primary focus is on New Jersey laws and resources.

The language is clear and concise, making this resource accessible to both experienced legal researchers and those just starting out. Both primary and secondary resources are covered. In addition to explaining what the resources are and how they are used, it tells you where to find these publications. The appendices include addresses and contact information for publishers, libraries, courts, and organizations. There is even an appendix covering legal abbreviations used in NJ—invaluable when you are looking at a citation, search results, or court documents.

New Jersey Statutes and NJ Administrative Code

There are many sources of “law” in New Jersey. The NJ Statutes are the laws created by the legislature, while the NJ Administrative Code are the regulations set forth by specialized agencies of the government such as the Department of Health or Department of Environmental Protection. While free, full-text databases for both can be found online[i], here at the Library, we have books and databases that can provide you with additional information and context regarding the history and implementation of these laws.

The New Jersey Statutes Annotated set of books published by West provide the full-text of the law and much more. The annotations include the history of the law, related cases, and things like committee statements and notes on state and federal decisions related to the statute. A list of resources for finding additional information is often provided. The set includes a general index and a popular name table to help you find the statutes quickly. These books are updated regularly to reflect the most recent information available.

The New Jersey Administrative Code books are published by Lexis. Included in these volumes are extensive history and notes for each chapter and citation, as well as amendment notes and case notes prepared by the Lexis editors in conjunction with the NJ Office of Administrative Law. These volumes are updated twice monthly to ensure the most up to date information is included.

In addition to print materials, the Lexis Plus electronic database is available to the public while in the library. This powerful tool allows you to easily search the statutes or administrative code using citations or key words. There are annotations, case law materials, and additional historic information. There are hot links to additional and related information, all of which can be easily printed, saved to a flash drive, or emailed to yourself for use when not at the library.

If you are unable to make it to the library but have a specific law or regulation you are interested in, contact us at with your citation and we will email you the Lexis Plus report.

The library also has books covering specific statutes and regulations in-depth. For example, the New Jersey Drunk Driving Law by Robert Ramsey provides detailed coverage and discussion all current NJ Laws and Regulations related to Drunk Driving, as well as discussion of the cases that have impacted the interpretation of these laws and regulations. There are similar titles covering family law, real estate, civil service, education law, and land as well as many other topics.

Navigating the Courts

The NJ Courts have an excellent website that includes a self-help section where you can find information on how the courts operate, resources, and some forms. However, these resources are often limited in scope. For example, while you can access and search the Rules of the Court, the information is only the full-text of the rules. If you want to learn about the history, implementation, cases related to the rules, or place the rule in context, you will need to access additional resources. Here at State Library, we have those resources.

Resources such as the New Jersey Practice Series and the New Jersey Pleading and Practice Forms provide you with context, commentary, related case information, and templates for creating the legal documents needed in court. We have books that provide comments and annotations to the Rules of the Court, Attorney Ethics, and the Rules of Evidence.

Public Access to Lexis Plus allows users to access secondary sources such a law journals and practice guides covering topics such as employment litigation, estate planning, real estate, civil litigation, and insurance. This powerful tool allows you to email your results to yourself, download documents in PDF form, or print out information.

Case Law Research

Case law is the laws developed from judicial decisions. Decisions are published in print publications called “reporters”, which are available at the library. Digests published by West are available and are used to find cases by topic or subject. In addition, on-site at the library, the Lexis Plus database is available for public use. Using this electronic resource makes short-work of doing case-law research. You can search for cases using key words, or find links to specific cases embedded in the annotations of the statutes or regulations. Once you find a case, links and commentary help you to identify additional cases that may be related to your research.

If you are unable to make it to the library, you can use Google Scholar to search for cases using key words. When you click on the case law button under the search box, you can limit your searches to New Jersey or Federal Courts. The Library of Congress has a terrific tutorial for using Google Scholar. If you find a case you are interested in and want additional information, contact us with your citation and we can email you the Lexis Plus report.

Legal Research at the State Library

These are but a few of the legal research tools available on-site at the New Jersey State Library. Our extensive collection of legal materials focused on New Jersey are available to anyone visiting our library. In addition to these resources, the librarians on staff can help you to select a resource, teach you how to use these resources, and how to craft your research strategy. If you are unable to visit the library, our librarians are still available to help. Simply send us an email. We look forward to helping you!

[i] An up to date, searchable database of the New Jersey Statutes can be found on the NJ Legislature’s website. The full-text of the NJ Administrative Code, hosted by Lexis, is also available.

The Wolters Kluwer Cheetah Legal Database is now VitalLaw

July 17, 2024Research Library Spotlight No Comments

Cynthia Lambert

The Law Department of the New Jersey State Library (NJSL) has a number of powerful digital reference sources to make your legal research easier, faster, and accessible from a variety of locations.
One of these resources—Wolters Kluwer Cheetah—recently changed its name to VitalLaw. With the launch of VitalLaw, the database has expanded its primary source content by more than 40%. If you are not familiar with this resource, now is a terrific time to explore the database!

Our VitalLaw subscription focuses on four practice areas: Healthcare; Human Resources; Labor & Employment; and Sexual Harassment & Workplace Compliance. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the database has also been providing in-depth coverage of the fast-changing laws and legal issues that emerged, especially in relation to how they impact the four primary areas of coverage. Federal laws and regulations are covered, as well as New Jersey specific information. The Covid-19 notices cover the laws of all 50 states.

In addition to the specific laws, regulations, and case information in each subject area, VitalLaw provides interpretive information including news, commentary, white papers, treatises, settlement agreements, and a compliance library. Each subject area has a dedicated Dashboard that makes accessing the information relating to your area of interest easy and quick.

Accessing VitalLaw:
State employees can access VitalLaw from anywhere using their NJSL library card. Don’t have a card? You can apply for a card here. Not sure if you already have a card or if it is still valid? Our circulation department can help you via email (circulation@njstatelib.org), or you can call (609) 278-2640, ext. 104 for assistance. Once you have a valid NJSL library card, you can access this powerful tool from any device with an internet connection.

Using the VitalLaw Database:
When you log into VitalLaw, the homepage Is laid out so you can easily find the practice area you want to research at the top left of the page (see below). In the center of the home page, you will find links to the latest White Papers and Special Reports. On the far right, you will find items that VitalLaw is featuring—right now, a recap of 2021 and look ahead to 2022.

Clicking on the links moves you through the database, and the HOME button located at the top left will bring you back to this screen.

The practice area specific dashboards contain the in-depth research resources. These work like the main dashboard, but provide a number of resources including newsletters, law trackers, arbitration awards, highlighted recent court decisions, agency manuals, and state specific summaries of the laws relating to that practice area. For example, the Labor & Employment Dashboard (see below) provides EEOC, NLRB, and OSHA manuals, and newsletters on topics like accommodating disabilities, and a guide to Family and Medical leave.

These practice area specific resources include interpretation and analysis of these topics written by attorney and curated by the Wolters Kluwer analytics teams.

While the new name VitalLaw may make you think of the classic “I Love Lucy” Vitameatavegamin episode, the database remains a powerful legal research tool.

If you have any legal reference questions, or would like assistance in using VitalLaw, contact the Legal Reference team at reflaw@njstatelib.org.

The National Consumer Law Center Digital Library can help you Know Your Rights

July 17, 2024Research Library Spotlight No Comments

Cynthia Lambert

Eviction, Foreclosure, Repossession, Utility Shut Off, Student Loans, Bankruptcy:

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
As the pandemic grinds on, many of the protections against eviction, foreclosure, and utility shut off are coming to an end. Often when faced with these situations, consumers struggle to understand their rights, responsibilities, and options. Luckily, the New Jersey State Library has a powerful tool—The National Consumer Law Center Digital Library–that can help people to understand these complex issues. The database is available to anyone on-site and to NJ State Employees remotely using your NJ State Library (NJSL) card.

The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) is a non-profit organization with expertise in consumer law. They are dedicated to “work for consumer justice and economic security for low-income and other disadvantaged people in the United States”. The NCLC Digital Library is a database of clear, easily understood articles on a variety of consumer law topics including Debtor Rights, Mortgages & Foreclosures, Credit & Banking, Deception & Warranties, and Consumer Litigation.

These articles introduce the topic, provide instruction on how to use the treatise, and then present an in-depth discussion of the topic and related issues. Each treatise contains a clear table-of-contents so you can easily find the section that best meets your needs. All sections contain active links to help you find more information or move to a related area.

For example, when a vehicle is repossessed, what happens to the personal property that was in the vehicle? The Repossessions treatise, Chapter 7 “Unsecured Personal Property Taken During Repossession” will help you to understand what to do and how to retrieve your property.

Looking to prevent repossession? Chapter 8 discusses the use of bankruptcy to prevent repossession. Lease your vehicle? Chapter 14 covers vehicle leases of all types, including Rent to Own.

Every topic is followed by links for Companion Materials such as Pleadings & Discovery, Practice Tools, and Primary Sources.

In addition to discussion of many topics, there is an excellent eBook available called “Surviving Debt, Expert Advice for Getting Out of Financial Trouble”. The resource covers all types of debt including medical debts, education loans, criminal justice debt, and credit cards. Topics include borrowing to pay off debt, responding to debt collectors, and “choices to avoid at all costs”. This book is fully updated for 2021 and, as with all the offerings, there are links throughout the book that help you get to the topics you are specifically interested in quickly.

If your focus is on COVID specific information, simply place the word COVID in the search box at the top of the page in the blue banner toward the right side of the screen and hit enter. This information is continuously updated as things change at both the Federal and state level. When reviewing COVID related information regularly, you can easily screen for new content by using the navigation tools on the far left of the page.

Finally, using the Home button (located at the top of the page in the blue banner just to the right of the database name), you will see blurbs on the latest updates and information available and a Quick Start Guide to help you navigate the database. There is also a section containing tips on searching the database. In addition, we offer a number of NCLC published companion volumes in print which can be checked out using your NJSL Library Card. Our staff Librarians will be happy to help you navigate this powerful database and find the companion books.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us via email at reflaw@njstatelib.org

The National Consumer Law Center Digital Library can help you to Know Your Rights

July 17, 2024Research Library Spotlight No Comments

Cynthia Lambert

Eviction, Foreclosure, Repossession, Utility Shut Off, Student Loans, Bankruptcy:

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

As the pandemic grinds on, many of the protections against eviction, foreclosure, and utility shut off are coming to an end. Often when faced with these situations, consumers struggle to understand their rights, responsibilities, and options. Luckily, the New Jersey State Library has a powerful tool—The National Consumer Law Center Digital Library–that can help people to understand these complex issues. The database is available to anyone on-site and to NJ State Employees remotely using your NJ State Library (NJSL) card.

Looking to prevent repossession? Chapter 8 discusses the use of bankruptcy to prevent repossession. Lease your vehicle? Chapter 14 covers vehicle leases of all types, including Rent to Own.

Every topic is followed by links for Companion Materials such as Pleadings & Discovery, Practice Tools, and Primary Sources.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us via email at reflaw@njstatelib.org