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  Business Information Center:
Legal Environment Resources


  FIU subscription database   This icon next to a linked source indicates a subscription database or other online resource.   You must be a current student or employee of F.I.U. to make use of this source of information.

  Unaffiliated web site   This icon next to a linked source indicates a free or partly free website unaffiliated with FIU.  Researchers should use these sites with caution; the producers are totally responsible for their content and charges.

  Library reference book   This icon next to a source indicates a book or other paper source.  Check the location indicator and call number.   [For most legal printed materials, please visit the Law Library on the 1st floor of the College of Law building.]


See also the Tax Research section of the BIC:  Accounting and Tax Resources page.
Page index:   - Broad, general sources - Indexes to legal reviews - Meta-sites - Directories & professional materials - Dictionaries & quick reference -
- U.S.:  - Laws, statutes, & regulations - Court cases - Tax research - Specialized fields - Business regulation - State laws & cases -
- International and non-U.S.:  - Laws, statutes, & regulations - Court cases -
- (Bottom of page) - Brief Business Glossary (popup window) -

Item Availability Notes
Return to the top of the page.Broad, general sources of legal information:
Library subscription database Westlaw Campus
via Wests
Dates vary Includes U.S. laws, regulations (administrative law), court cases, law reviews, and citation searching.  Also has some European Union materials.
Library subscription database Academic Universe (Lexis-Nexis)
via LexisNexis
Dates vary U.S. state and federal laws and cases plus law review journals

Library subscription database FILRD (Foreign & International Law Resources Database)
via HeinOnline
Varies Full text of international law research documents, including international yearbooks and periodicals, U.S. law digests, international tribunals/judicial decisions, and other significant works related to foreign and international law.
Library subscription database HeinOnline
via HeinOnline
Varies Includes several library collections, such as the Law Journal Library, the Federal Register Library, the Treaties and Agreements Library, the U.S. Supreme Court Library, and others. The Law Journal Library includes older issues of many journals.

Select SUBSCRIBERS, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ENTER link to use database.

Unaffiliated web site Catalaw.
  via catalaw.com
Check date on URL page.   A catalog of major, non-authoritative, free legal sources on the web, worldwide.  (E.g., free sources, such as the U.S. Supreme Court, and subscription services, such as West's, are not included in Catalaw's list of resources; law school sites, which may include some authoritative sources, make up the majority of Catalaw's sources.)      [caaiba] 
Unaffiliated web site FindLaw (primarily U.S.)
and Resources by Jurisdiction (International)
  via FindLaw.com
Check date on URL page.   A commercial site with great amounts of legal data, understanding the law,small business legal concerns, legal forms, and laws of various countries.  Available in several languages.  The FindLaw site also has listings of lawyers in a number of U.S. cities.      [caaiba] 
Unaffiliated web site Hieramos Gamos
  via HG.Org
Check date on URL page.   A commercial site with great amounts of legal data organized by directories, including U.S., International by country, several international organizations, and a "Legal Business Center," for business law..      [caaiba] 
Unaffiliated web site Legal Information Institute
  via Cornell University's Law School
Check date on URL page.   A legal website with much information concerning law, cases, and courts, as well as an introduction to basic legal citation and a daily legal definition.      [caaiba] 
Return to the top of the page.Indexes to Law Reviews:
Library subscription database Westlaw Campus
  via Wests
Dates vary   Covers U.S. laws, regulations (administrative law), court cases, law reviews, and citation searching.  Also has some European Union materials.      [caaiba] 
Please read the agreement and select button GO to enter WestLaw Campus.
Library subscription database Academic Universe (Lexis-Nexis)
  via LexisNexis
Dates vary   U.S. state and federal laws and cases plus U.S. and Canadian law review journals.      [caaiba] 

Library subscription database Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals
  via RLG/Eureka
1985-date   Indexes 450+ international legal journals and other publications.      [caaiba] 
Library subscription database Legal Periodicals Full Text
  via WilsonWeb
1981-present   Indexes 850+ legal journals and other publications, some from 1981.  Full text of nearly 200 periodicals, as far back as 1995.      [caaiba] 
Library subscription database LegalTrac
  via GaleNet
1981-date   Indexes major law reviews, law journals, specialty law and bar association journals, and legal newspapers for most legal subjects.      [caaiba] 
Return to the top of the page.U.S. Laws, Statutes, & Regulations:
Library subscription database Westlaw Campus
  via Wests
Dates vary   Covers U.S. laws, regulations (administrative law), court cases, law reviews, and citation searching.  Also has some European Union materials.      [caaiba] 
Please read the agreement and select button GO to enter WestLaw Campus.
Library subscription database Academic Universe (Lexis-Nexis)
  via LexisNexis
Dates vary   U.S. state and federal laws and cases plus U.S. and Canadian law review journals.      [caaiba] 
Library subscription database State Capital
  via Lexis/Nexis
Current   Database of state government information including bills and laws, constitutions, legislative issues, and more.      [caaiba] 
Library subscription database Congressional
  via Lexis/Nexis
Current   Database of U.S. congressional information, including papers, bills, and biographies.      [caaiba] 
Website link U.S. Statutes at Large
  via Library of Congress
1789-1875   "The United States Statutes at Large, commonly referred to as the Statutes at Large, is the official source for the laws and resolutions passed by Congress.  Publication began in 1845 by the private firm of Little, Brown and Company under authority granted by a joint resolution of Congress.  In 1874, Congress transferred the authority to publish the Statutes at Large to the Government Printing Office, which has been responsible for producing the set since that time."  Site includes links to the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, and amendments to the Constitution, among other items.      [caaiba] 
Website link U.S. Code Search
  via U.S. House of Representatives
Check date on URL page   A complex search engine of the current United State Code, the statutory law of the federal government of the United States of America.  This site is provided by the House of Representatives, the lower house of the U.S. Congress.  Additional information is available through the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, including downloading sections of the code.  (Remember, this code is HUGE.  However, Title 26 is the tax code.)      [caaiba] 
Website link Code of Federal Regulations (search engine)
  via GPO Access
Updated quarterly   "The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.  It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation."  Any regulations produced by federal agencies will be included in this body of law, from tax regulations to technical specifications.  Users can search most current version or older versions of CFR.      [caaiba] 
Website link U.S. Department of Justice
via DoJ
Check date on URL page   "To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans."      [caaiba] 
Return to the top of the page.U. S. Courts & Cases:
Library subscription database Westlaw Campus
  via Wests
Dates vary   Covers U.S. laws, regulations (administrative law), court cases, law reviews, and citation searching.  Also has some European Union materials.      [caaiba] 
Please read the agreement and select button GO to enter WestLaw Campus.
Library subscription database Academic Universe (Lexis-Nexis)
  via LexisNexis
Dates vary   U.S. state and federal laws and cases plus U.S. and Canadian law review journals.      [caaiba] 
Return to the top of the page.U. S. Supreme Court:
Website link Supreme Court of the United States
  via U.S. Supreme Court
Check date on URL page   The website of the highest court in the United States of America.  "The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and such number of Associate Justices as may be fixed by Congress.  The number of Associate Justices is currently fixed at eight (28 U. S. C. §1)."      [caaiba] 
Website link Cornell's Legal Information Institute's Supreme Court Decisions
  via Cornell Law School
Check date on URL page   "The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US judicial system.  Decisions since 1990 are made available under the auspices of Project Hermes.  Decisions prior to 1990 are available from a variety of on-Net sources, in a variety of formats.  The LII collection of historic decisions of the US Supreme Court contains over 300 of the court's most important decisions through the whole period of its existence."      [caaiba] 
Website link Jurist: The Supreme Court
  via Jurist Legal Intelligence, University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Check date on URL page   Produced by the School of Law, University of Pittsburgh, as part of their Jurist Legal News and Research site.      [caaiba] 
Website link On the Docket, U.S. Supreme Court News.
  via Jack Doppelt
Check date on URL page   Affiliated with Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, this site provides news, decisions, and other information concerning current and past cases of the U.S. Supreme Court.      [caaiba] 
Website link Supreme Court Historical Society
  via the Supreme Court Historical Society
Check date on URL page   "The Society, a private non-profit organization, is dedicated to the collection and preservation of the history of the Supreme Court of the United States.  Incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1974, it was founded by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, who served as its first honorary chairman."      [caaiba] 
Return to the top of the page.U. S. Federal Courts:
Website link History of the Federal Judiciary
via Federal Judicial Center
Check date on URL page Includes biographies of all federal judges since 1789, histories of the various courts, and landmark legislation.  
Return to the top of the page.U. S. Tax Research:         (For a more complete listing of tax-related materials and links, use the BIC Accounting and Tax  page.
Library subscription database OmniTax
via CCH
Current Indexes tax regulations and cases, both federal and state, plus has newsletter and IRS materials.
Library subscription database RIA Checkpoint
via RIA Thomson
Current   Indexes tax regulations and cases.  MAJOR CHANGES FOR 2007:  In January, 2007, this database is IP mapped (like most of our databases) and is therefore accessible from off-campus (via the Proxy) as well as from anywhere oncampus.  Our basic subscription is the "Academic Advantage Core Library" program, which includes the journals Journal of Taxation, Corporate Taxation, and Practical Tax Strategies.  In addition to the 1 treatise available through our old subscription we have added 6 additional online treatises, including 4 WG&L publications.. 
Library reference book Tax Fraud and EvasionOffenses, Trials, Civil Penalties.
via WG&L
Green Library REF KF6334.C6
Current  
Library reference book International Tax Treaties of All Nations.
via Oceana
Green Library REF KF4473.A1I56
1975  
Library reference book International Tax Treaties of All NationsSeries B.
via Oceana
Green Library REF KF4473.A1I57
1978-1997  
Library reference book Tax Treaties.
via CCH
Green Library REF KF4473.A1I57
Current as of 12/2004; See CCH's OmniTax, above, for current tax treaties.  
Return to the top of the page.Specialized Fields of Legal Research:
    Business Regulation :: Civil Liberties
Library subscription database Health & Human Resources
via CCH Internet Research Network
Current Laws, regulations, industry news, cases, and other information on health care and human resource management.
Library reference book Banking Law Journal Digest
via A.S. Pratt & Sons
Current A looseleaf service covering current laws and cases related to banking laws.
Library reference book Federal Civil Rights Acts, 3rd ed.
via West
Current A looseleaf service regularly updated, this treatise covers the laws and cases related to federal civil rights acts.
Library reference book Real Estate Law Digest
via West
Green Library REF KF
Current  
Library reference book SEC Accounting Rules
via CCH
Green Library BUS
Current A looseleaf service regularly updated to reflect changes in rules and administrative decisions regarding the SEC's accounting rules.
Library reference book Searches & Seizures, Arrests and Confessions, 2nd ed.0.
via West
Green Library REF KF9625.R53
Current  
Website link Native American Rights Fund (NARF) Web Site
via NARF
Check date on URL page  
Website link The Consumer Law Page
Check date on URL page "Personal injury attorneys san francisco and san jose specialized in car and truck accident, wrongful death, toxic chemicals and more."  
Website link SeniorLaw: Resources
via SeniorLaw
Check date on URL page  
Website link State Unemployment Laws
via doleta
Check date on URL page   The Dept. of Labor, Employment and Training Administration's site for comparing the unemployment laws of various states. 
Return to the top of the page.Civil Liberties:
Website link American Civil Liberties Union
via ACLU
Check date on URL page  
Website link Liberty Counsel
via Liberty Counsel
Check date on URL page  
Return to the top of the page.Business Regulation:
Library subscription database BNA Environment Library
via UP-ERC
2000-2002

Major federal and state environmental, chemical, and hazardous laws and regulations.

Available only at the University Park Library's Electronic Resource Center.

Website link Lex Mercatoria
via Lex Mercatoria
Check date on URL page A broad coverage of international business law, with numerous specifics. Includes special files on Islamic and PRC commercial law.  
Website link The Regulation Home Page
via NARF
Check date on URL page "A comprehensive source of regulatory studies, statistics, & information."  
Website link UCC:  Uniform Commercial Code
via Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
Check date on URL page   Within the Legal Information Institute's site, this provides access to the Uniform Commercial Code, as proposed by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. 
Library reference book Collier Bankruptcy Manual
via Lexis/Nexis/Matthew Bender
Current A looseleaf service regularly updated to reflect changes in laws and cases concerning bankruptcy.
Library reference book Corbin on Contracts, Rev. ed.
via West
Current A multivolume, annually updated treatise on state and federal laws related to contracts.
Library reference bookl Doing Business in States Other than the State of Incoporation
Green Library REF KF1367.C654 no.84
Green Library REF KF1367.C654 no.85
via BNA
Sept., 2006   Two volumes, no. 84 covers Alabama through Michigan, no. 85 covers Minnesota through Wyoming.  This 2-volume work "discusses the process of qualifying to do business in a state, the penalties that could be imposed for failing to qualify, and the process for withdrawing from qualification if a corporation ceases to do business in a particular state."  Each volume includes a complete list of authors with address and email and a bibliography.   
Library reference book Federal Control of BusinessAntitrust Laws
via West
Green Library REF KF
Current Updated annually, this is a thorough examination of the laws and cases dealing with fair business practices.
Library reference book SEC Accounting Rules
via CCH
Current A looseleaf service regularly updated to reflect changes in rules and administrative decisions regarding the SEC's accounting rules.
Library reference book Uniform Laws AnnotatedUniform Commercial Code
via West
Green Library REF KF879. A45U5
Current The model laws for commerce.
Return to the top of the page.State Laws, Legislatures, Courts, & Cases:
Library subscription database Westlaw Campus
via Wests
Dates vary Covers U.S. laws, regulations (administrative law), court cases, law reviews, and citation searching.  Also has some European Union materials.
Website link State Case Law
Check date on URL page  
Website link STATE SERVERS ON THE NET
Check date on URL page  
Website link State Unemployment Laws
via doleta
Check date on URL page  
Return to the top of the page.Florida Laws, Legislatures, Courts, & Cases:
Website link Florida Attorney General's Office Check date on URL page  
Website link Florida Department of Insurance
via DOI
Check date on URL page Use their "site search". Especially look at their Professional Liability Closed Claims page.  
Website link Florida State Courts Check date on URL page  
Website link Florida Law Online Check date on URL page  
Website link Archive of the Decisions of the Florida Supreme Court
via School of Law, University of Florida
Check date on URL page  
Return to the top of the page.International Laws, Statutes, & Regulations:
Library subscription database Westlaw Campus
via Wests
Dates vary Covers U.S. laws, regulations (administrative law), court cases, law reviews, and citation searching.  Also has some European Union materials.
Library subscription database Academic Universe (Lexis-Nexis)
via LexisNexis
Dates vary   U.S. state and federal laws and cases plus law review journals

Library subscription database Global Legal Information Network (GLIN)
via Library of Congress
Current Index of laws, regulations, and other complementary legal sources from member nations.
Library subscription database World Law Index
via RLG/Eureka
1976-1997

Describes the laws and regulations of Spanish- and Portugese-speaking countries.

Continued by Global Legal Information Network

Library reference book The Code of Canon Law.
via Paulist Pr.
Green Library REF KBG.C62
1985  
Library reference book Constitutions of the Countries of the World.
via Oceana
Green Library REF K3157.E5B5
Current A loose-leaf collection of current national constitutions, in English.  Sometimes the constitutions are also in the original language.  
Library reference book International Building Code.
via Intl. Code Council
Green Library REF K3538.A15I5
2003 A suggested model for national building codes.  
Library reference book International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings.
via Intl. Code Council
Green Library REF K3550.A15I5
2000 A suggested model for national building codes.  
Website link ACJNet: Statutes and Regulation
via ACJNet
Check date on URL page Canadian statutes and regulations.  
Website link Lex Mercatoria
via Lex Mercatoria
Check date on URL page A broad coverage of international business law, with numerous specifics. Includes special files on Islamic and PRC commercial law.  
Return to the top of the page.International Court Cases:
Library subscription database Academic Universe (Lexis-Nexis)
via LexisNexis
Dates vary   U.S. state and federal laws and cases plus law review journals

Return to the top of the page.Law Meta Websites:
Website link FIU Law Library & Information Technology: Web Research Links
via FIU College of Law Law Library
Check date on URL page A well-organized collection of links to various law-related websites.  
Return to the top of the page.Directories & Professional Materials:
Library reference book The American BenchJudges of the Nation.
via Foster-Long
Green Library REF KF8700.A19A45
2003/2005 A directory by court of judges, both federal and state, with their biographies.  
Library reference book Barron's Guide to Law Schools.
via Barrons
Green Library DESK KF266.B3
Current "Up-to-date profiles of more than 180 ABA-approved schools."  
Library reference book Chambers USAAmerica's Leading Lawyers for Business.
via Chambers
Green Library REF KF190.C43
2004  
Library reference book Chambers GlobalThe World's Leading Lawyers for Business.
via Chambers
Green Library REF K68.c4
2004/2005  
Library reference book Directory of South Florida Attorneys.
via Daily Business Review
Green Library REF KFF525.a1d58
Current A directory of attorneys in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, Florida.  
Library reference book Federal Regulatory Directory.
via CQ
Green Library REF KF5406.A15F4
Current A guide to the regulatory agencies, what they do, who to contact, and related non-governmental organizations.  
Library reference book The Florida Bar JournalDirectory Issue.
via Fl. Bar Journal
Green Library REF KFF5.F56
2002 A guide to lawyers and the legal environment within Florida.  
Library reference book Want's Federal-State Court Directory.
via WANT Publishing
Green Library DESK KF8700.F42
Current A thorough guide to the court system of the United States, with a brief guide to Canadian courts.  Each of the pages for U.S. states include a graphic representation of how cases move through the court system.  Includes a directory of regional and special bar associations, a guide to litigation, a history of U.S. Supreme Court justices (birth date, appointment, President appointing, etc.) 
Website link American Bar Association Home Page
via ABA
Check date on URL page The professional association of lawyers in the U.S. 
Website link Martindale-Hubbell:  Find Lawyers & Firms
via Martindale.com/LexisNexis
Check date on URL page The best-known directory of lawyers in the U.S.      [caajad] 
Return to the top of the page.Dictionaries & Quick Reference:
Library subscription web resource Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment
(or, via Sage e-Reference if you are off campus.)
2002   "Our goal in developing this encyclopedia is to survey the entire field of criminal justice.  We believe this is a valuable and appropriate goal because other reference works focus only on specific parts of the field—law and justice, criminology, forensics, crimes, criminals, and so on.  With such a broad topic, this specialization makes good sense, but there is also a need for a general reference work like this one to serve the needs of all libraries—including ones that do not require specialized reference works—and the needs of general readers who want access to broad information that is up-to-date and trustworthy."        [caaiac] 
Library subscription database Encyclopedia of the American Constitution
(or, via Gale Virtual Reference Library if you are off campus.)
2000   "This six-volume edition of the 1987 Dartmouth Medal-winner includes all of the material from the original four-volume set and 1992 Supplement, as well as updated original articles and new articles covering concepts and court cases since 1992.  Appendices include a case index and primary documents."        [caaiac] 
Library subscription web resource Encyclopedia of White-Collar & Corporate Crime
(or, via Sage e-Reference if you are off campus.)
2004   "For the purposes of this encyclopedia, whitecollar crime can be defined as:
    Any behavior that occurs in a corporate and/or individual occupational context; and, that is committed for personal and/or corporate gain; and/or, violates the trust associated with that individual’s and/or corporation’s position and/or status; and that is a violation of any criminal law, civil law, administrative law, rule, ruling, norm, or regulation condemning the behavior."        [caaiac] 
Library subscription database West's Encyclopedia of American Law
(or, via Gale Virtual Reference Library if you are off campus.)
2005   "Provides current information on more than 5,000 legal topics.  Includes completely revised articles covering important issues, biographies, definitions of legal terms and more.  Covers such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, and physician-assisted suicide."        [caaiac] 
Library reference book Bieber's Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations, 3rd ed..
via Hein
Green Library DESK KF246.B46
1988 The "reference guide for attorneys, legal secretaries, paralegals and law students" giving the full name for the abbreviations used in legal citations.  
Library reference book Bieber's Dictionary of Legal Citations, 3rd ed..
via Hein
Green Library DESK KF246.B45
1988 The "reference guide for attorneys, legal secretaries, paralegals and law students" giving the proper citation form for each legal publication.  
Library reference book Bilingual Dictionary of Legal TermsEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English, 3rd ed.
via McGraw-Hill
Green Library REF K52.S6R36
2002 A true dictionary, the English words are defined in Spanish and the Spanish words are defined in English.  In addition, after the Spanish to English section, is an appendix containing a number of English-language legal forms.  
Library reference book Black's Law Dictionary, 7th ed.
via West
Green Library DESK KF156.B53
1999 The most famous dictionary of English and American law.  Appendices include legal maxims, the U.S. Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a time chart of the U.S. Supreme Court, Federal Circuits map, British regnal years, and a list of works cited.  
Library reference book Diccionario de Derecho Canonico.
via Universidad Pontificia Comillas
Green Library REF KBG.D53
1989 A dictionary of Canon law in Spanish.  
Library reference book Encyclopedia of Islamic LawA Compendium of the Major Schools.
via Kazi Publications
Green Library REF KBL.B35
1996 An encyclopedic coverage of Shari'ah, in the variations according to the 5 major schools.  
Library reference book Encyclopedia of the American Constitution.
via Macmillan
Green Library REF KF4548.E53
1986 This 4-volume encyclopedia has articles on topics, laws, and persons related to the U.S. Constitution and the development of its interpretation.  Appendices include the constitution, the Articles of Confederation, other documents related to the Constitution's creation, a chronology, and important events in its development.  
Library reference book Law & Commercial Dictionary in Five LanuagesEnglish to German, Spanish, French, Italian.
via West's
Green Library REF K54.W47
1985 In two volumes, Mainly English terms, with a few from the other included languages, all defined in English, with similar terms in each of the other four languages.  The appendix includes legal abbreviations for each of the languages, air distances between major cities, countries and capitals, an international telephone code directory, and conversions for weights and measures.  
Library reference book The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics and the Law.
via Stockton Press
Green Library REF K487.E3N49
1998 More encyclopedic than dicitonary-like, these 3 volumes define the terms of law and economics.  
Library reference book Oxford Dictionary of Law, new ed.
via Oxford University Pr.
Green Library REF KD313.C66
1997 A dictionary of legal terms within the laws of England.  
Library reference book West's Encyclopedia of American Law.
via West
Green Library REF KF154.W47
1998 An encyclopedic dictionary of legal concerns in the United States.  Vol. 12 has a dictionary of legal terms, table of cases cited, and indexes by name and subject.  
Website link Cornell Law School - Legal Research Encyclopedia
via Cornell Law School
Check date on URL page An encyclopedia about law, not a "legal encyclopedia" such as AmJur or CJS.  

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This page created and maintained by Steve Morris,
Business & Legal Research Specialist,
Reference & Instructional Services Dept.
Steven and Dorothea Green Library
Florida International University
Miami, Florida 33199

 
BIC: Legal Envrionment Resources
URL:  www.fiu.edu/~morriss/bic/busctrlegal.html

Content & Links Last Updated :  
    March 19, 2009

 

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