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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.

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Legislation Information Sources

 

Access

Source

Contents

Coverage

Additional Information

Cartoon image of a gold legal scale. Sources in this category are free to WisBar members.

Fastcase

http://www.wisbar.org/fastcase

Federal & State Codes

Current

Find by citation, keyword search or browse

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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

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Google Books

http://tinyurl.com/crr37u

 

Wisconsin Acts

Selected early editions

Browse or search within books

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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

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govinfo

https://www.govinfo.gov​ 

U.S. Code
Statutes at Large

1994→
1951→ 2011

Very reliable

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Congress.gov

http://congress.gov

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

Varies (earliest from 93rd Congress, 1973→)

Very reliable

Light green letters spelling "DCLL" as in Dane County Law Library. Sources in this category are free at the Dane County Law Library.

Light purple letters spelling "MCLL" as in Milwaukee County Law Library. Sources in this category are free at the Milwaukee County Law Library.

Red letters spelling "UW Law" as in the University of Wisconsin Law School. Sources in this category are free at the University of Wisconsin Law Library.

Cartoon image of earth with little clouds surrounding it. Sources in this category are free for everyone. with Light blue letters spelling "WSLL" as in Wisconsin State Law Library. Sources in this category are free at the Wisconsin State Law Library. 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

Yellow letters spelling "MU Law," as in, Marquette University Law School. Sources in this category are free at Marquette University Law Library.

Shepards Public Access Service

Available in library

Federal & State Session Laws & Statutes

Current & some prior

Retrieve by citation only

Light blue letters spelling "WSLL" as in Wisconsin State Law Library. Sources in this category are free at the Wisconsin State Law Library.

Light green letters spelling "DCLL" as in Dane County Law Library. Sources in this category are free at the Dane County Law Library.

Light purple letters spelling "MCLL" as in Milwaukee County Law Library. Sources in this category are free at the Milwaukee County Law Library.

Westlaw Public/Patron Access

Available in library

Federal & State Session Laws & Statutes

Current & some prior

Find by citation or keyword search

Image of two black dollar signs. Sources in this category are available through a mid-priced paid subscription.

Loislaw

Available in library -or-

http://www.loislaw.com

Federal & State Session Laws & Statutes

(MPL = WI only)

Current

Coverage good, fairly economical

Image of a black dollar sign. Sources in this category are available through a low-priced paid subscription. -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

Image of three black dollar signs. Sources in this category are available through a high-priced paid subscription.

LexisNexis

http://www.lexisnexis.com

Choose package for your needs

Varies

Coverage & cost varies by package

Image of three black dollar signs. Sources in this category are available through a high-priced paid subscription.

Westlaw

http://legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com

Choose package for your needs

Varies

Coverage & cost varies by package

Access Types

Cartoon image of a gold legal scale. Sources in this category are free to WisBar members. :  free to WisBar members

Cartoon image of earth with little clouds surrounding it. Sources in this category are free for everyone. :  free to Everyone

Dark green image of the outline of the state of Wisconsin. Sources in this category are free to Wisconsinites.  :  free to Wisconsinites

Image of a black dollar sign. Sources in this category are available through a low-priced paid subscription.:  by Paid Subscription (Low Priced)

Image of two black dollar signs. Sources in this category are available through a mid-priced paid subscription. :  by Paid Subscription (Mid Priced)

Image of three black dollar signs. Sources in this category are available through a high-priced paid subscription.:  by Paid Subscription (High Priced)

Light green letters spelling "DCLL" as in Dane County Law Library. Sources in this category are free at the Dane County Law Library. :  Free at Dane County Law Library

Yellow letters spelling "MU Law," as in, Marquette University Law School. Sources in this category are free at Marquette University Law Library. :  Free at Marquette University Law Library

Light purple letters spelling "MCLL" as in Milwaukee County Law Library. Sources in this category are free at the Milwaukee County Law Library. :  Free at Dane County Law Library

Dark blue letters spelling “MPL” as in Milwaukee Public Library. Sources in this category are free at the Milwaukee Public Library. :  Free at Milwaukee Public Library

Red letters spelling "UW Law" as in the University of Wisconsin Law School. Sources in this category are free at the University of Wisconsin Law Library. :  Free at University of Wisconsin Law Library

Light blue letters spelling "WSLL" as in Wisconsin State Law Library. Sources in this category are free at the Wisconsin State Law Library.:  Free at Wisconsin State Law Library

 

Subjects: Law