When to Contact Reference
Get a reference librarian any time a patron has a legal research question beyond the location of specific resources. We can tell patrons where to find information; we cannot interpret legal information for them or help them with a case.
Example:
Assisting patron: Telling them where to locate tax information
Legal advice: Telling them how to fill out tax forms, evaluating the merits of their case
Currently, reference librarians may not be available. Visitors, students, or faculty needing reference or research assistance should fill out the appropriate reference form, listed here.
If a patron specifically has a question about electronic resources (e.g. “I lost my Westlaw password,” “I can’t get into this database”), ask them to email the reference email at referencelaw@nccu.edu and a librarian will get back to them as soon as possible.
Databases
Full access to Lexis and Westlaw is only available to law students (they have individualized passwords). The library no longer has access to Westlaw Campus for public patrons, however, there are many other databases available to anyone researching from on campus. Legal databases can be located here.
Research Basics
The three most common sources (particularly for pro se patrons) are:
1. Westlaw Campus (free database) – you can research cases by keyword searches; very similar to Google. Once a case is found, there is an email option so patron can send copy to themselves.
2. Strong’s NC Index – this publication provides a short summary of North Carolina law. It is arranged alphabetically by subject. Each section starts by stating if there is a statute on point, then discusses a few of the best cases on the issue. There are index volumes at the end of the set, and this is where you want to start your research. Strong's NC Index is also available on the LexisNexis Digital Library database.
3. NC Statutes (Lexis and Westlaw versions) – these publications contain the statutes passed by the legislature. They both have index volumes arranged alphabetically by subject.
Finding Cases
For NC cases, we have the NC Digest. It has one paragraph summaries of cases arranged alphabetically by subject. Use the index to find the subject you’re interested in. Once you find a summary on point, use the citation to find the case in the reporter. For example, Smith v. Jones, 215 NC 12 (2001). The reporter for this is the North Carolina Reports. The case would be in volume 215 and begin on page 12.
NC Specific Materials
Douglas’ Forms (on reserve) is our most commonly used NC item. It has fill in the blank style forms for most NC issues. There is an index in the last volume. Douglas' Forms can be located on the reserves shelves in the back room. These items are looseleaf materials and may not be checked out.
The LexisNexis Digital Library online database also has a host of NC specific materials, including Strong's NC Index.
The North Carolina Collection is also located on the first floor, near the Reference offices.
Legal Citations
Reporter abbreviations can be found in the T1 table of the Bluebook. This table also contains abbreviations for statutes.