Georgetown Law Library

• Georgetown restricted access
• Interactive tutorial
• On Westlaw
  (password required)
• On Lexis
  (password required)
• PDF Document

• Study Aid - This is a useful resource to introduce or brush up on a new subject specialty.
• Preeminent Treatise - This is recognized by scholars and practitioners as one of the leading authorities on a specific subject.

California Resources

This State Guide lists the major sources of law in this state. Members of the Georgetown University community can seek additional assistance in person at the reference desk or online.

RESEARCH GUIDES

• California Research In Depth Guide, by Georgetown University Law Library
• Larry D. Dershem, California Legal Research Handbook, 2nd edition KFC 74 .D47 2008
• Heather McFarlane & Suzanne Rowe, California Legal Research, KFC74 .M33 2008
• John K. Hanft, Legal Research in California, 5th edition KFC74 .H36
• Daniel W. Martin, Henke's California Law Guide, 7th edition KFC74 .H46

STATUTES & LEGISLATION

Statutes/Code

• Print: Deering's California Code KFC30.5.D4 & West's Annotated California Code KFC30.5 .W4
• Electronic:
  • Westlaw: CA-ST-ANN (online version of West's Annotated California Code)
  • Lexis: CAL;CACODE (online version of Deering's California Code)
  • Internet: State Statutes

Legislative History

• HeinOnline: Session Laws (1849-2000)
• Amy Atchison & Jennifer Lentz, California Legal History, 30 Leg. Ref. Serv. Q. 127 (2011) (K12 .E357 Print, Electronic version)
• California Legislative History
  (Golden Gate University Law Library)
• California Legislative History
  (UCLA Law Library)
• California Legislative History
  (University of San Diego Legal Research Center)
• California Legal Research Guide
  (Loyola Law Schoo Law Library)
• Compiling a California Legislative History
  (University of California Hastings Law Library)
• Finding California Legislative History: Guide and Checklist
  (University of San Francisco Law Library)
• Guide to California Legislative History
  (Los Angeles County Law Library)
• Legislative History Clearinghouse
• Bertha Rothe White. Sources of Legislative Intent in California. 3 Pacific Law Journal (McGeorge Law Review) 63 (1972). An older article with information on locating materials useful in compiling a California legislative history, includes an appendix and index. References in this article may also prove useful in that legislative documentation was not significantly maintained prior to 1970's.

Legislature

• State Legislature Homepage
  • Senate
  • California State Assembly (House)
• Bill Tracking
• California Statutes, 1993- (Session Laws accessible by year and chapter no.)
• California Law Revision Commission
• California Legislative Analyst's Office (agency of legislature that analyzes policy and budget)

REGULATIONS & AGENCIES

Regulations

• Print: Barclay's Official California Code of Regulations KFC35 1990 .A22
• Electronic:
  • Westlaw: CT-CS (state cases) & CA-ADC (online version of Barclay's )
  • Lexis: CODES;CAADMN
  • Internet:
    • Administrative Code
    • California Regulatory Notice Register

Agencies

• Office of the Governor
• State Agencies and Departments
• Attorney General Opinions

CASES & COURTS

Cases

• Print: Pacific Reporter (1st, 2nd & 3rd series) KF135 .P213, California Reports (1st , 2nd , 3rd & 4th series) KFC45 .A24, California Appellate Reports (1st , 2nd 3rd & 4th series) KFC48 .A22, & West's California Reporter (1st, 2nd & 3rd series) KFC47 .C32
• Electronic:
  • Westlaw: CA-CS (state cases) & CA-CS-ALL (state and federal cases)
  • Lexis: CAL;CACTS (state cases) & MEGA;CAMEGA (state and federal cases)
  • Internet:
    • Court Opinions (Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals; published opinions 1850 - present, unpublished opinions for last 60 days only)

Courts

• California Courts
• Administrative Office of the Court
• Judicial Council
• California Rules of Court
• Trial Courts - Municipal and Superior

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• California Counties (California State Association of Counties)
• California Cities (League of California Cities)
• Municipal and County Codes and Ordinances

STATE LAW REVIEWS & BAR JOURNALS

• California has too many law school journals to list on this page. Please see the Findlaw list at: http://stu.findlaw.com/schools/usaschools/california.html . Georgetown subscribes to the electronic versions of several California Law reviews. Search for those titles through our Hein Online subscription or in GULLiver for a print version.

GENERAL

• State Encyclopedias in Print:Cal Jur III KFC80 .C29; Witkin's Summary of California Law KFC80 .W5
• Electronic:
  • Westlaw: CA-JUR
  • Lexis: not available
• Internet:
  • California State Library
  • State Bar of California
    • Ethics Research Online (includes ethics code and ethics opinions complete from 1965)
  • FindLaw: California
  • Legal Information Institute: California
  • Library of Congress: California Legal Resources
  • California Bar Journal (1996-)
  • Tax Forms
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • Bar Association of San Francisco

Last Updated 06/11(MK)

© Georgetown University Law Library.
These guides may be used for educational purposes, as long as proper credit is given.  These guides may  not be sold.  Requests to republish or adapt a guide should be directed to the Head of Patron Services. Proper credit includes the statement: Written by Georgetown Law Library (current as of .....).