Virginia Legal Research
Access Icon Key
| These linked icons indicate your access to the resources discussed in this guide. | |
 |
Library Collection |
 |
Website |
 |
Subscription Database (Law School Only) |
 |
Subscription Database (University-wide) |
 |
Bloomberg Law (Password Required) |
 |
Lexis (Password Required) |
 |
Westlaw (Password Required) |
Law Librarian: Ken Rodriguez
Reference Sources
A Guide to Legal Research in VirginiaCall Number: KFV2475 .G85 2017 (Reference Desk, 1st Floor)Chapters include Constitutional Law; Statutory Law; Court and Case Law; Administrative Law; Local Law; Treatises, Manuals, and Form Books
State Legislative Sourcebook: A Resource Guide to Legislative Information in the Fifty StatesCall Number: JK2495 .S689 2021 (Reference Desk, 1st Floor)Virginia, pages 487-496- State Documents Bibliography: VirginiaCall Number: KFV2401 .K73 2010 (Reference Desk, 1st Floor)"This bibliography aims to provide a list of the primary sources of Virginia Law as well as select secondary sources that will help a legal researcher interested in Virginia Law. Because of Virginia's long and complicated legal history, selected publications of a historical nature are included in order to put current law in the proper context."
Legal Research Platforms: Virginia
- Lexis: VirginiaIncludes Virginia Constitution; Federal & State Cases; Statutes & Legislation; Administrative Codes & Regulations; Secondary Materials; and Forms
- Westlaw: VirginiaIncludes Virginia Constitution; Federal & State Cases; Statutes & Court Rules; Administrative Decisions & Guidance; Regulations; Secondary Sources; and Forms
- Bloomberg Law: VirginiaIncludes Virginia Constitution; Code of Virginia; Virginia Acts; Virginia Administrative Code; Virginia Rulemaking
Official Government Sites
- Judiciary Branch: Virginia's Judicial SystemThe judicial system is "comprised of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Court of Appeals of Virginia, circuit courts in thirty-one judicial circuits, general district and juvenile and domestic relations district courts in thirty-two districts, and magistrates in offices in thirty-two districts."
- Commonwealth of Virginia: GovernmentInformation about the Executive Branch; Legislative Branch; Judicial Branch; Laws & Policies; Voting & Elections; Transparency.
- Virginia Government Organizational Chart"The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office publishes the state government organizational chart, a resource . . . to identify the agencies that report to the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government."
- State Agencies Directory"There are over 100 state agencies and offices total, each with their own area of responsibility."
- Executive Branch: Office of the GovernorIncludes Executive Orders and Directives, Proclamations, and News Releases.
- Legislative Branch: General Assembly"The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, and an upper house, the Senate of Virginia."
- Virginia State Bar"Created in 1938 by the Virginia General Assembly as an administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia, unifying Virginia lawyers into a mandatory state bar." Includes Professional Regulation, Lawyer Resources, and Public Resources.
Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI)
CALI lessons are interactive tutorials written by law professors at CALI member schools. They can be used for studying specific legal topics.
Ask a Reference Librarian for the GW Law CALI code.