Legal databases
Get free public access to databases, both inside the library and remotely.
Available at the library
Bloomberg Law
Expert analysis, timely legal news, and more. Access at the library's Bloomberg Law terminal (Public Access Computer #5).
CEB OnLAW
California-specific practice guides, forms, continuing education resources, and more. Access on library computers.
Fastcase
Primary legal research including case law, court rules, statutes, and more. Access from anywhere.
Log-in info: Enter User Name = SFLawLibrary & Password = fastcase
Click here for in-library access.
HeinOnline
Full text of journals, statutes and regulations, legislative history, and more. Access on library computers.
Lexis Plus
All federal and state case law, including unreported cases, statutes, forms, and more. Includes a state survey tool, national database of briefs and court documents, and more. Access on library computers.
LexisNexis Digital Library
Browse ebooks on a range of legal topics through the San Francisco Law Library. Access from anywhere.
Check out our How to Use the LexisNexis Digital Library guide.
Nolo Legal Information Source
Legal information for non-lawyers, with full-text publications and forms. Access from anywhere.
Trellis
Research state court trial materials for over 40 states, including dockets, pleadings and motions, jury verdicts, and judicial analytics. Locate examples of complaints and motions from state trial courts, including San Francisco Superior Court. Use the Motions & Issues Directory to learn about types of motions and civil procedure. Learn more about researching with Trellis. Access on library computers.
Watch a training tutorial on our YouTube channel.
FAQ about Trellis access via the SFLL.
Please be advised that Trellis discontinued remote access for public law libraries on December 1, 2024. SFLL will continue to provide Trellis inside the library on our 9 public access terminals.
Westlaw
Case law, citation analysis, briefs, jury verdicts, court dockets, and more. Access on library computers.
DissoMaster
Software program that calculates support orders for family law practitioners or courts. Available on public computers at the library. Look for it on the desktop.
Available remotely and at the library
Fastcase
Fastcase
Primary legal research including case law, court rules, law review articles, and more. Access from anywhere.
Log-in info: Enter User Name = SFLawLibrary & Password = fastcase
LexisNexis Digital Library
LexisNexis Digital Library
Browse ebooks on a range of legal topics through the San Francisco Law Library. Access from anywhere.
Check out our How to Use the LexisNexis Digital Library guide.
Nolo Legal Information Source
Nolo Legal Information Source
Legal information for non-lawyers, with full-text publications and forms. Access from anywhere.
Access these databases remotely and at the library.
Resource Spotlight: FORECITE
FORECITE annotates both sets of California criminal jury instructions, CALJIC and CALCRIM. FORECITE combs through case law with thoughtful and thorough commentary to help criminal law practitioners avoid the standard instructions’ notorious shortcomings. It identifies potential issues, including changes in the law that are not addressed by CALJIC and CALCRIM, areas of potential reversible error, required sua sponte instructions that were omitted, and instructs on how to preserve constitutional issues for review on appeal. FORECITE also covers lesser included offenses and is described as California’s only compendium of such offenses. FORECITE suggests replacement language and includes pre-drafted instructions and supportive points and authorities.
FORECITE is a tool provided by James Publishing, and is available in the library via Bloomberg Law on public access computer #5. The public access computers provide each patron with two hours of free legal research per day.
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Get free public access to databases at the San Francisco Law Library. Both inside the library and remotely.