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Guide to Free Online Legal Resources: Legal Self-Help

This guide directs legal researchers to the best websites for locating legal information for free on the Web. It includes finding tools and legal search engines as well as primary sources from our three branches of government, both state and federal.

Introduction to Self-Help & Legal Services

It is always a good idea to talk to a lawyer about a legal issue. Yet sometimes this just isn't possible. People who represent themselves in court without a lawyer are called self-represented litigants (SRLs). They are also called pro se litigants (pro se means "for oneself" in Latin). There are many resources available for SRLs. But be careful before trusting any website. No website can provide you with legal advice, no matter what it promises. But many can give you trustworthy legal information. 

If you can't find the information you are looking for or need more help, please check out Resources for Self-Represented Litigants.

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