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Wisconsin Legal Information Sources Guide : Legislation

This guide compiles information about sources of authoritative legal information for Wisconsin attorneys, emphasizing reliable sources of free and low-cost information.

Subject Guide

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Emma Babler
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Sources

 

Access

Source

Contents

Coverage

Additional Information

Fastcase

http://www.wisbar.org/fastcase

Federal & State Codes

Current

Find by citation, keyword search or browse

Wisconsin State Legislature

http://docs.legis.wi.gov/archive

Legislative notification service
http://notify.legis.state.wi.us/

Wisconsin Bills, Session Laws, Statutes, etc.

Statutes 1969→
Acts 1957→
Bills 1995→

Find by citation, keyword search or browse

Google Books

http://tinyurl.com/crr37u

 

Wisconsin Acts

Selected early editions

Browse or search within books

American Law Sources On-line (ALSO!)

http://www.lawsource.com/also/

Federal & State Bills, Session Laws & Statutes

Current

Contains links to resources from other providers

govinfo

https://www.govinfo.gov​ 

U.S. Code
Statutes at Large

1994→
1951→ 2011

Very reliable

Congress.gov

http://congress.gov

Federal Bills, Session Laws, Cong. Record, etc.

Varies (earliest from 93rd Congress, 1973→)

Very reliable

with card

Hein Online

Available in library  - and-

From anywhere with WSLL library card to firms with less than 25 attorneys

Federal Session Laws & Statutes

 

U.S. Code 1925→
Statutes at Large 1789→

For a WSLL library card, contact 1-800-322-9755 or wsll.ref@
wicourts.gov

Shepards Public Access Service

Available in library

Federal & State Session Laws & Statutes

Current & some prior

Retrieve by citation only

Westlaw Public/Patron Access

Available in library

Federal & State Session Laws & Statutes

Current & some prior

Find by citation or keyword search

Loislaw

Available in library -or-

http://www.loislaw.com

Federal & State Session Laws & Statutes

(MPL = WI only)

Current

Coverage good, fairly economical

-or-
Free to Law Students

VersusLaw

http://www.versuslaw.com

Law student program
http://www.versuslaw.com/lawschool/lawschoolinfo.aspx

U.S. Code

Current

Browse or keyword / popular name search US Code

LexisNexis

http://www.lexisnexis.com

Choose package for your needs

Varies

Coverage & cost varies by package

Westlaw

http://legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com

Choose package for your needs

Varies

Coverage & cost varies by package

Access Types

Free to WisBar Members

Free for Everyone

Free to Wisconsinites

By Paid Subscription - Low Priced

By Paid Subscription - Mid Priced

By Paid Subscription - High Priced

 

 Free at Dane County Law Library

Free at Marquette University Law Library

Free at Milwaukee County Law Library

Free at Milwaukee Public Library

Free at University of Wisconsin Law Library

Free at Wisconsin State Law Library