Legal Resources

The legal collection, located behind the Adult Services Desk on the second floor, is a collection of materials pulled together in one location to meet your legal needs. Materials included in this collection are the city codes for Bloomington and Normal, tax handbooks, West's Encyclopedia of American Law, and the Illinois Compiled Statutes, among others.

Legal Help in the Community

McLean County Law Library and Legal Self Help Center:

Located on the 6th floor of the McLean County Law and Justice Center in room 665, the Law Library is open from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Though staff cannot offer you legal advice or represent you in court, they will be on hand to help you navigate the process as scheduling allows. For questions regarding hours and availability of resources, call 309-888-4801.

Illinois JusticeCorps Program

Volunteer program which places law student volunteers in the McLean County Law and Justice Center and law library to help those without lawyers navigate the judicial system*. They can provide legal assistance with:

• Navigating the courthouse and Illinois Legal Aid
• Explaining the court process
• Finding and filling out appropriate forms
• Reviewing forms for completeness
• How to find a lawyer
• Explaining where to file court papers
• Give legal information
• Answering general questions

*Volunteers are not attorneys and cannot give you legal advice or represent you in court.

Legal Self-Help Websites

• Illinois Legal Aid
  Provides Illinois residents with free information on their legal rights and responsibilities, quick referrals to free and low cost legal aid offices, interactive forms, and self-help instructions for common legal problems. Information is available in English or Spanish.
• McLean County Circuit Clerk
  Provides access to McLean County Specific forms for common legal needs, such as divorce, name change, and guardianship.
• SIU School of Law Self Help Legal Center
  Online legal clinic that offers the assistance of third year law students working under faculty and attorney supervision at Southern Illinois University School of Law. The website contains packets of information and forms on Illinois legal issues like divorce, child custody, and contractual agreements.
• NOLO
  Offers practical legal advice, access to state statutes, latest legal updates, and general forms.

Assistance from a lawyer

• Mclean County Bar Association
  The McLean County Bar Association's lawyer directory.
• Illinois Lawyer Finder
  The Illinois State Bar Association's lawyer directory.
• Prairie State Legal Services
  A not-for-profit civil law firm that provides free legal service to low-income or senior community members who qualify. Can provide limited service in family and consumer law but does not handle criminal, malpractice or personal injury law. Can be contacted for more information at (800) 874-2536.

Information on State Law

• Illinois Government - Judiciary
  Basic judiciary information for the State of Illinois.
• Illinois General Assembly
  Web site for the Illinois General Assembly, containing Illinois Compiled Statutes, Public Acts, and status of legislation.

Information on Federal Law

• USA.gov
  Access to federal regulations, U.S. laws, and bills in Congress.
• Legal Information Institute
  Provides open access to state-by-state legal information, legal dictionaries, and opinions of the Supreme Court since 1990, plus historical and landmark cases.
• Supreme Court of the United States
  Official Web site of the United States Supreme Court.