The Reference Desk, located on the first floor, is staffed by a team composed of professional reference librarians, a
circulation assistant, and an evening reference assistant.
The reference librarian CAN:
- tell you where items are located in the library
- help you figure out legal citations
- suggest specific titles or areas of the collection for your question
- show you how a set of books is organized and indexed
- show you how to use the web catalog and various legal databases
- photocopy, fax, or e-mail you a specific citation for a fee
- refer you to another library if our library does not have what you need
- refer you to legal assistance organizations in the area
- give you the telephone numbers for bar associations' lawyer referral services and show you directories of attorneys and how to use the directories
While the reference staff makes every effort to help patrons use the law library's print and digital collection, the
unauthorized practice of law is prohibited by Business & Professions Code section 6125 and is an unlawful practice for
the purposes of section 17200.
The reference staff CANNOT:
- interpret or explain the meaning of the law, regulations, court cases, or any other documents
- give legal advice or state opinions on legal issues
- help you fill in a form
- select specific forms for you
- do legal research
- recommend a particular lawyer
- tell you who has a particular book checked out
- tell you whether a statute or case is still good law or has been overruled
Telephone Reference
The reference librarian CAN:
- search our catalog to see if the library has the book, loose-leaf service, or law review you want
- find telephone numbers, addresses, websites for bar associations, libraries, legal publishers, state, and federal government agencies, courts, and legislative bodies, and similar organizations
- suggest books, databases, and websites you might use
- photocopy, fax, or e-mail you a case, rule, statute, jury instruction, or definition with a specific citation for a fee
- refer you to legal assistance organizations in the area
- refer you to bar associations' lawyer referral services
The reference librarian CANNOT:
- conduct legal research for you
- interpret the law or give you legal advice
- help you fill out a form
- read cases, statutes, court rules, or definitions to you over the phone
- recommend a particular attorney
- return long distance calls
Document Delivery
The library operates a fee-based document delivery service. Library materials can be copied, then mailed, faxed, or e-mailed.
Call (510) 208-4832 for information. Library staff requires an exact citation and will not do legal research.
A handling charge of $10.00 applies to all orders.
Copying and mailing of hardcopy materials (paper) is $1.00 per page plus postage; microfiche materials are $1.25 per page plus postage.
Hardcopy materials can be faxed at $1.00 per page, microfiche at a $1.25 per page.
E-mailed material is $15.00 a citation. Not all material can be e-mailed.
For out-of-state requests, add $0.50 per page. Mailing and UPS charges are additional. The rush transmittal fee for requests needed within one hour is $25.00.
