FindLaw External
FindLaw offers a database of case law from the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal, as well as several state supreme courts. FindLaw's content includes:
- U.S. Supreme Court Opinions – 1791 to the present
- U.S. Federal Appellate Court Opinions – 1995 to the present (may be expanded, based on the circuit)
- U.S. State Supreme, Appellate and Trial Court Opinions – 1997 to the present (may differ, based on the jurisdiction)
First, click on the “Advanced Search External” link found under the “Search for a Case” tab on the left-hand side of the page. Use the drop-down menus to select a court, legal topic, and/or industry. You may also search by date, docket number, and party name. FindLaw also offers a tab where you may perform a full-text search External. Continuing down the screen, you may also choose to browse by selecting a court, company, or legal topic. Once you arrive at a result in FindLaw, you will be brought to a screen showing a summary of the case. At the top, right-hand side of the page, you will be able to click “Read” to gain full-text access to the case.
