Library Services
Use of the Library
Library Cards and Borrowing Privileges
- General Public: Public patrons do not have borrowing privileges.
- Attorneys: Gonzaga Law alumni, members of the local bar association, and local judges have borrowing privileges. To obtain a library card present your bar card at the circulation desk and fill out an application. Cards are free for GU law alumni and $25.00 per year for all others.
Photocopying and Computers
- Photocopiers are available for public use. Computers in the library's labs are for the use of Gonzaga students only. Computers are not available to the public for e-mail or general internet surfing.
Hours
Directions & Parking
Legal Research
Public patrons are welcome to use legal materials during all hours the library is open; however, research assistance is available only during reference hours. Please check library hours if you think you will need assistance with legal materials. And please remember that the library staff cannot give legal advice.
- Chester - Law Library's online catalog is available to everyone.
- Internet Links - A collection of links to U.S. federal, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Alaska primary legal sources, including laws, regulations, and cases; links to selected legal indexing sites, international law Web sites, and general legal sites.
- People's Law Dictionary - Search the dictionary by word, phrase or legal term.
- WEX - A collaboratively-edited legal dictionary and encyclopedia with a strictly American perspective from the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School. Contributors are vetted before being allowed to post. Intended for law novices, including law students and lawyers entering new areas of law.
- Legal Research Guides - A collection of more than twenty guides developed by Chastek Librarians to assist library users when conducting legal research; includes links to other research guide sources.
- Shepard's - Citator service from LexisNexis. Access Shepard's through a workstation located in Chastek Library. Results can be printed or emailed.
- Other Legal Databases - Due to licensing agreements, some of the library's subscription databases are not available to attorneys and the public, and some can only be accessed from inside the library. To view a list of subscription databases available to attorneys and the public from computers inside the library click here. Documents or materials retrieved from computers inside the library can be printed or e-mailed.
- LexisNexis Academic - Sub-set of the full LexisNexis database. Limited public availability on computers in the library. U.S. federal & state case law, statutes, and regulations; Shepard's Citations, and full-text coverage of over 6,000 titles in news, business, medical, and legal publications.
Free or Low-Cost Legal Services & Information
Internet Sites
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Washington Law Help - Self-help legal material on a wide range of civil law matters, including aging and elder law, civil rights, consumer theft, domestic violence, employment, family law, government benefits, health, housing, Native American issues, victims' rights, and youth. The site also identifies legal service providers and provides sample forms for use in many circumstances.
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lawforWA - Links to free legal and government information in Washington State.
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The Pro Se Handbook - Valuable information to help you represent yourself in court. Produced by the King County Bar Association, this guide is especially aimed at representing yourself in King County Superior Court. However, much of the information is applicable to civil cases filed in any Superior court in Washington State.
Legal Assistance in the Spokane Area
Columbia Legal Services - civil cases only (http://www.columbialegal.org/)
East Region (Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille,
Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman Counties)
1704 West Broadway
324-2789
1-800-231-9527
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Northwest Justice Project (http://www.nwjustice.org/)
1702 W. Broadway
324-9128
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CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education Advice and Referral) - civil cases only
http://www.nwjustice.org/about_njp/clear.html)
888-201-1014
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Volunteer Lawyers' Program/Spokane County Bar Association (http://www.spokanebar.org/vlp/menu.html)
324-0144
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