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Legal

Our Purpose

The purpose of the Legal Research Section of Fulton County Courts Justice Resource Center (JRC) is to provide equal access to legal information and research to self-represented litigants, the judiciary, attorneys, paralegals, and the general public.

 

The JRC Legal Research Section consists of print material and online legal research databases such as Westlaw and the EBSCO Legal Information Reference Center. These resources cover Georgia and Federal law, case law, local ordinances, regulations, and popular subject treatises.

As a self-help center, the JRC is strongly oriented towards providing quality customer service and assistance in locating appropriate materials and resources. It is however important to note that the JRC team does not provide advice or interpretation about specific legal situations, which might constitute the unauthorized practice of law as noted in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated §15-19-51.

Legal Research Center Resources and Services

Print Resources

Justice Resource Center print holdings consist of a basic collection of legal materials, with emphasis on Georgia materials and practice-oriented titles. JRC staff members are available to help patrons locate and use specific materials, suggest possible sources, provide bibliographic instructions, and help define research questions. Staff may not perform any services that might constitute the unauthorized practice of law (e.g., interpreting statutes, cases, or regulations or advising customers about specific legal problems.)

Photocopy & Printing Services

The JRC provides self-service copiers for public use at nominal fees, as indicated below:

  •  Single page black and white copies are fifteen cents
  •  Color copies are fifty cents per page
  •  Copier coin boxes take one and five dollar bills, coins, and debit cards
  •  Letter and legal size paper sizes are available.

Computer printing from public access computers is available at a nominal fee as below:-

  •  Single-page copies are fifteen cents each
  •  Both letter and legal size paper are available

Disability Assistance

If you need assistance with copying due to a disability, the JRC staff can provide copying assistance.

Adaptive Services and Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities - including modifications to policies, programs, appropriate aids, and services for effective communication - are available upon request. Assistive devices and software to accommodate individuals with disabilities are available for use at the JRC. Please contact the JRC staff in advance if you require accommodations. Click here for more information on Disability Affairs and Accommodations or call 404.612.7305

Public Computer Accommodations

The JRC has public computers which are wheelchair accessible for those who require ADA computer assistance / accommodations. For wheelchair accommodations, please contact the Sheriff's office in advance at 404.612.5152.

There are also designated computers with software applications to accommodate those who have vision related disabilities.

Digital/Electronic Information and Services

The JRC offers 18 workstations for computer assisted legal research access, legal document preparation, and viewing of legal informational videos on the internet.

In addition The JRC provides monthly training classes for Westlaw, where classes are taught by a Thomson Reuters lawyer. Westlaw is an online legal research service that provides support to complete research tasks. More information on Westlaw is below under the section Online Legal Research Access.

The JRC also provides word processing software for the preparation of legal forms and documents. However, the JRC staff does not provide assistance with word processing software management and document preparation.

Digital/Electronic Information Resources

  • Westlaw
  • EBSCO Legal Information Reference Center
  • HeinsOnline
  • Suggested Pattern Jury Instructions, Civil and Criminal
  • GALILEO – Georgia Virtual Library
  • Miscellaneous legal books and resources

Online Legal Research Access

Westlaw

In partnership with Thomson Reuters, Fulton County Courts Justice Resource Center patrons who need to conduct legal research are eligible for free remote access to Westlaw Edge. Patrons are allowed to sign up for a free 7 day trial of Westlaw Edge.

Click here for instructions on how to access the Westlaw Edge free 7 day trial. If you have trouble accessing the above link, please call Thomson Reuters at 1-800-937-8529 for research assistance.

EBSCO Legal Information Reference Center Online Database

The EBSCO Legal Information Reference Center is an online database designed to assist the general public in legal matters of all kinds. The database includes exclusive full text for many top consumer legal reference books, as well as thousands of legal forms. A majority of the full text legal reference books are provided through Nolo, the nation’s oldest and most respected provider of legal information for consumers and small businesses.

During this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, the EBSCO Company is providing Fulton County Law Library patrons free access to the Legal Information Reference Center Database and the EBSCO Covid-19 Information Portal. If you have any questions about these databases please contact the Library for assistance -

Phone: 404-612-4544

Hours: Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Click below for your Complimentary Access to the EBSCO databases:

EBSCO Legal Information Reference Center

EBSCO COVID-19 Resources Information Portal

Information on Fulton County Court System

Information on Metro Atlanta Court Systems

Georgia Legal Information

Federal Legal Information

Federal Miscellaneous Information Links