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Cornell Library at Vermont Law & Graduate School

Vermont Legal Research for Non-lawyers

Step 4

Locate the documents that were cited in the discussions. Some places to look include:

  • Free websites, such as: Google Scholar, HathiTrust, Digital Public Library of America

  • Library books: check with your local public library to see if they have or can borrow a copy through inter-library loan, or search the Vermont Law School library catalog.

  • Town Clerk's offices. In Vermont, every Town Clerk's office is required to keep a set of the current Vermont laws: Vermont Statutes Annotated (VSA). Town Clerks also have public records such as births, deaths, sales of real estate, and property tax records.

  • Subscription databases. For members of the public, access to legal research databases is available via video reference appointment with a librarian. If you are not a member of the Vermont Law School faculty or student community, contact the Community Legal Information Center to make an appointment: clic@vermontlaw.edu

  • At the entity that created the document (their archive, library, or public website). For example, the Internal Revenue Service, Environmental Protection Agency, or Vermont Legislature.

  • State archives and collections, such as the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, or the Vermont Historical Society

 

After acquiring a copy of each document, you will have to read it and decide if it is relevant to your situation. At this point, you might also decide that you want to consult with an attorney.

If you would like legal assistance, take a look at the Vermont Civil Legal Resources by County guide, which lists some free and low-cost options for legal assistance to Vermonters. If you need help finding a lawyer for a specific area of law, contact the Vermont Bar Association for a referral.

If you are going to complete the legal task by yourself or represent yourself in court, proceed to Step 5.

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