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Users are responsible for understanding and interpreting the materials. While library staff will help you navigate the resources, they cannot give legal advice or opinions.
Additional resources: 40 internet computers; printer (.10); free, unrestricted wifi access; photocopier; scanner (to email or USB); fee-based fax machine.
Print Resources
Resources are housed in the Reference Department at the Main library.
- Wisconsin Statutes
- Callaghan’s Wisconsin Reports –Current 5 years
- United States Code – 2006 edition
- United States Statutes at Large – most current; older editions are in closed stacks.
- United States Reports – latest five volumes; older editions are in closed stacks.
- Wisconsin Administrative Code
- Nolo Books –Consumer-oriented titles to check out.
- State of Wisconsin CLE books:
- Contract Law in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Guide to Citation
- Wisconsin Civil Litigation Codebook
- New Wisconsin Family Code and related Statutes
- Wisconsin Real Estate and Real Property Codebook
- Wisconsin Pleading and Practice
Where to find materials the library does not own:
- Wisconsin Statutes Annotated - Available in print at Western Technical College & UW-L Murphy Library. It is also available online.
- Wisconsin Jury Instructions: Civil, Criminal and Children’s - Civil and Criminal Jury Instructions in paper at Western Technical College. Select jury instructions can be ordered through the Wisconsin State Law Library. Wisconsin jury instructions are commercially published and not available online for free.
- LEXIS/NEXIS - Available for students at Western Technical College and UW-L Murphy Library.
The library no longer has a subscription to WestLaw.
External Resources
Local Online Resources
- City of La Crosse Municipal Code—Rules and regulations for residents of the City of La Crosse.
- La Crosse County Code of Ordinances—Rules and regulations for the County of La Crosse.
- La Crosse County Clerk of Courts—Offers La Crosse County residents information regarding circuit court rules and information, court officials, jury service, small claims, and traffic citations.
Wisconsin Online Resources
- Wisconsin Bar Association FAQ—Maintained by the Wisconsin State Bar Association, and its mission is to educate citizens about the Wisconsin legal system. Find a lawyer, ask a legal question, and find informational pamphlets on specific legal topics.
- Wisconsin Statutes
- Wisconsin Adminstrative Code
- Wisconsin State Law Library—The Wisconsin Law Library has resources on statutory, administrative, and case law for federal, state and tribal jurisdictions.
Federal Online Resources
Judicial Branch:
- U.S. Supreme Court—Current court opinions and details on how the court works. Past court opinions in Findlaw. Findlaw contains opinions from 1893 to current.
- Federal Courts Opinions—The Cornell University Law School maintains an opinion directory to the U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts, and the U.S. Courts of Special Jurisdiction.
Legislative Branch
- Thomas--Find bills, resolutions, public laws, House/Senate roll call votes, activity in Congress, the Congressional Record, committee reports, and treaties.
- United States Code—General and permanent laws of the United States divided by subject matter.
Executive Branch
- Code of Federal Regulations—Codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government.
- Federal Register—Official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.
- Executive Orders—Official documents through which the President of the United States manages the operations of the federal government.
Legal Forms
- Wisconsin Real Estate Forms—Forms for "Residential Offer to Purchase," "Counter-Offer," "Amendment to offer to Purchase," etc.
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Forms—Standard, statewide forms are for all Wisconsin circuit courts for civil, criminal, family, guardianship, probate and small claims cases.
- Wisconsin Do it Yourself Divorce/Legal Separation Filing
- Wisconsin State Law Library—Legal & Government Forms -The Wisconsin State Law library provides a one-stop resource for locating legal forms in the State of Wisconsin.
Public Records
- National Sex Offender Public Registry - U.S. Department of Justice site for public information regarding the presence or location of offenders, who, in the most cases, have been convicted of a sexually-violent offenses.
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access - Access to public records of the circuit courts of Wisconsin.
Legal Action of Wisconsin, (608) 785-2809. Legal Action of Wisconsin handles only civil law for low-income people. For example:
- Family Law - Divorces, custody & placement disputes
- Consumer Law - Bankruptcy, collections, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Housing Law - Eviction, denial or termination of public housing benefits, security deposits, foreclosures
- Public Benefits - Unemployment insurance, disability benefits & supplement security income (SSI) , W-2, food stamps, Kinship Care, Medicaid, Badger Care and Energy Assistance.
Wisconsin State Law Library, 800.322.9755
Law Information Center – located on the second floor of the La Crosse County Courthouse; free guidance from volunteer attorneys, retirees and paralegal students for La Crosse County residents who want to represent themselves in court; call
(608) 785-5886 for information and hours. Sponsored by the La Crosse Bar Association.
Family Law Information Center, La Crosse County Courthouse, 333 Vine St., First Floor, 608.785.5886. Volunteer attorneys are available every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:45 am to 1 pm; every other Monday from 11:45 am-1 pm. For questions about court forms, family court procedures, and make referrals to community resources.
Free Legal Advice Clinics: Free legal advice for low-income people will be provided by attorneys from 6 to 7:30 pm on the third Wednesday of each month, at First Baptist Church, 1209 Main St. Sponsored by the La Crosse County Bar Association.