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Library Information Reference Services News & Events Other Content |
Frequently Asked QuestionsUpdated: 12/6/07
Yes, we certainly are. In addition to serving the needs of San Diego's legal community, we are also here to assist residents of San Diego County who are representing themselves. To get this message across, we added "public" to our name in 1997. Since that time, we've been known as the San Diego County Public Law Library.
No. If our librarians gave you a legal opinion, they would be breaking the law. Only a licensed attorney who has contracted with you to be your legal representative or is allowed by statute, e.g., assistant public defender, small claims advisor, family law facilitator, can give you legal advice. Although we have several licensed attorneys on our staff, the State Bar of California's Rules of Professional Conduct do not allow an attorney to become a legal representative to a client when that attorney met the client while working in another occupation, i.e., as a reference librarian. Similar strictures are also found in the American Association of Law Libraries Code of Ethics, to which the Law Library subscribes. Furthermore, the Law Library does not maintain any legal malpractice insurance and is obligated to maintain a neutral position to all litigants, including those who may become your legal adversaries.
Unfortunately, that is incorrect. If anyone from our staff told you how to complete the forms (or even exactly what forms you need), they'd be guilty of the unauthorized practice of law. However, some of our materials, particularly the self-help type, do illustrate how to fill out forms in some types of cases, such as divorce petitions, car accidents, simple bankruptcies, etc. We have sample forms for many of the most common types of cases.
You can use any of our books anywhere within the library. You are also welcome to photocopy as much as you need within the Copyright Fair Use Act provisions. However, many of our books do not circulate to anyone. To borrow those that do, you need to become a library member. San Diego County residents who are attorneys and have been practicing for more than 2 years pay $45/year, while non-attorneys and attorneys who have been practicing for less than 2 years pay $10/year. In addition, a $50 deposit is required of all members. If you close your account, any remaining funds will be refunded to you. For more information about Library Membership, see our borrower rules, which can be viewed online using Acrobat® Reader® software. Call our Circulation Department at (619) 531-3900 for more information.
No. You can become a member at any of our locations.
No. Your membership can be used at all locations.
Yes. Simply phone the Main Law Library or any of its branches during normal business hours.
California cases are available online for free at http://courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/continue.htm.
In addition, the library has LEXIS and Westlaw at all four locations available
on public access terminals at no charge. All four locations provide free access
to the Internet for legal research purposes only.
The East County and South Bay branches are open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and closed for lunch from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Our North County Branch is open 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. The downtown Main Law Library is open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.and Saturday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. No one is admitted fifteen minutes prior to closing. (Visit our Hours & Locations page for detailed information.)
Yes. The downtown Main Law Library is open until 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. (Visit our Hours & Locations page for detailed information.) Unfortunately, our branches don't have evening or weekend hours. No one is admitted fifteen minutes prior to closing.
In addition to the Main Law Library located at 1105 Front Street @ C Street, we have branches in the South Bay, East County and North County. South Bay: 500 Third Ave., Chula Vista (619) 691-4929 East County: 250 E. Main St., El Cajon (619) 441-4451 North County: 325 S. Melrose Dr., Suite 300 (760) 940-4386
Yes, you can. The downtown trolley line passes right next to the Main Law Library building. The closest stop is the Civic Center stop. The Main Law Library is just a few blocks from the downtown transit center, served by the trolley and busses. The South Bay Branch is also accessible by bus and trolley; the nearest trolley stop is the the "H" Street stop. The East County and Vista locations are accessible by bus; call the location you are interested in visiting for directions.
Self-service photocopy machines are available at all locations.
There are at least two computers and one typewriter available in each location.
The San Diego County Public Law Library provides free wireless access at the Main Library, East County and South Bay branches to users who have their own wireless devices. Wireless access at the North County branch should be available to users by December 14, 2007. See our Wireless Information page for important information.
Each branch has at least one conference room; some have several. The cost depends to reserve a room on how you wish to use the it. For example, if you wish to view a video tape that belongs to the Law Library, there is no charge. However, if you wish to hold a meeting, you may be charged. Call the branch you wish to use for more specific information.
Yes. Each location receives a supply of tax forms for distribution free of charge to patrons. Once the supply is exhausted, no more are available. However, all locations also have reproducible tax forms that you may photocopy and use. These reproducible forms are available for most any given tax year that you may need, including the current year.
Library tours are given by appointment. Contact the branch you wish to tour. In addition, the Library offers a number of classes on legal research techniques and on court procedures. Click here to see what we offer.
The Law Library's book and computer budget, personnel budget, and operating budget are supported by the Law Library Trust Fund, which derives income primarily from a portion of civil court filing fees and from funds that the library generates itself. The Law Library's Board of Trustees administers that fund. The building, building maintenance, custodial service, and telecommunications are provided by the County of San Diego from its General Fund, which is supported by tax dollars. Unfortunately, the Library has seen its annual budget slowly consumed by inflation and loss of filing fees due to fee waivers from the court. Since 1992, the Library’s income has remained flat while the consumer price index has risen 22% and cost of law books has risen 60% and continues to rise. The Library’s supporters urge the community to write to local representatives in order to let them know the importance of the Law Library and its services. A complete listing of representatives, along with their addresses, can be obtained by calling the Reference Desk at (619) 685-6552 or by logging onto www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html.
We gratefully accept donations. They can be made either to the Library's affiliated foundation, the Law Library Justice Foundation (which we especially advise for large donations), or to the Library directly. Either way, such donations are tax deductible. We also appreciate letters of appreciation, which we can use to support requests for funding increases. Please address all such correspondence to Robert Riger, Director of Libraries, San Diego County Public Law Library, 1105 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92101-3904.
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