Public Services

The Rutgers Law Library welcomes attorneys and our alumni back to the Law Library.  As you know, we have a broad spectrum of print and digital information resources to support your work.  Everyone is welcome to come in and use our print resources as well as the array of digital resources that are available to walk-in visitors.  Please ask at the Reference Desk if you have any questions about the scope and availibility of our digital collections.

Library Cards: Attorneys and Alumni may sign up for borrowing privileges to law materials, allowing them to use circulating law library materials. Active looseleafs, reference books, government documents (including New Jersey government documents), reporters, regulatory codes, and statutes do not circulate. Materials from the New Jersey Reference Room in Newark do not circulate. Exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Alumni and attorneys may purchase an Attorney Card for $25. With the card, attorneys are able to borrow books that are permitted to circulate outside of the library for a limited loan period. Call or stop by a Library Circulation Desk for information on obtaining and using an Attorneys Card, or complete the online attorney borrower pre-registration form in advance of your visit. Library card privileges are not transferable to other persons and privileges may be revoked or suspended for violations of library policies.

Document Delivery: The Law Library will provide photocopies of documents to law firm libraries, corporate libraries and attorneys on a fee basis. The patron must have an exact citation for the needed materials and agree to pay any copyright royalty fees incurred by the Rutgers Law Library for this copying service. Call the Reference Desk for information on obtaining and using an Attorney Card. Library card privileges are not transferable to other persons and privileges may be revoked or suspended for violations of library policies.
NOTICE: The document delivery service will be provided at the library's discretion dependent upon library staffing availability. If the library is unable to complete the request within the time and manner requested, the customer will be notified.

Make sure you stop by the Circulation Desk and update your contact information. You will be provided with an Alumni Card. This card will help expedite your borrowing. The Alumni Card will also identify you to security personnel and insure your ability to stay late in the Library after members of the public are asked to leave. If you are using your laptop, your WiFi access should allow you to login to most of the databases that are on our Library database page. If you don't bring your laptop please sign in and use one of the several public access computers. Make sure you register at the Circulation Desk. Please see Rule 20 on our policies page for information about our public terminals.

And, please don’t forget our Reference services. Our librarians are ready to help you tackle your any research problem.

Members of the public must sign the guest book at the Circulation Desk when visiting the Law Library.

Reference: During normal business hours, Reference Librarians are available to help members of the public locate informational resources for legal research. However, due to the complexities of our federal and state court systems, the services of a qualified attorney may be required. Reference librarians cannot provide patrons with legal advice or help people make decisions regarding legal rights and liabilities. Reference librarians also cannot interpret statutes, cases, or any other materials for patrons. For instance, we can help you craft a search string to return relevant results in Westlaw Campus. However, we cannot analyze whether a particular case strengthens your argument. We provide contacts for attorney referrals and pro bono legal aid for patrons in need of professional assistance.

Borrowing: Only Rutgers University ID holders and Library Card holders may check out circulating materials from the Library.

Reserve Materials: Members of the public must leave a photo ID with the Circulation Desk to access Reserve Materials.

Public Computer Terminals: We offer public computers where visitors may browse the web, use our research guides and access legal databases including Westlaw Campus. Printing is available for a nominal fee. Please see Rule 20 on our policies page for information about these computers. 

Scanners: The Law Libraries have multiple scanners where members of the public may email or save documents on external drives at no cost. Printing incurs a small fee.