Eckstein Law Library offers students the research expertise of reference librarians with advanced degrees in library and information studies. Three reference librarians have J.D. degrees and teach first-year legal research and advanced legal research courses.
The Reference staff provides assistance in planning research strategies and using the resources in the law library. Reference librarians can answer questions about online databases, MARQCAT (the University’s online catalog), and traditional print sources. Reference librarians are available for individual research consultations and can recommend ways to begin a new research project, approach a legal research problem, or find a study aid.
The Reference Desk is located on the first floor of the Law Library near the Circulation Desk. You may ask reference questions in person during staffed hours, over the telephone (414-288-3837), or via e-mail by using the Reference Desk Services page, which is found in the Reference & Research Services menu on the Law Library Home Page. Please note that e-mailed questions will be answered as soon as possible after receipt during regular reference hours. Research consultations with a librarian also are available.
Librarians are knowledgeable about available resources and skilled at accessing information. The reference librarians can provide legal reference, but cannot provide legal advice.
With regard to facilitating access to legal information, our role is to recommend resources and services and to teach effective legal research techniques. Our role is not to conduct legal research for patrons, to interpret their research or apply the law to their particular facts, or to recommend a particular procedure or course of action.
Patrons must conduct their own research, apply it to their own situation, reach their own conclusion, and determine their own legal course of action.
The chart below distinguishes legal reference from legal advice.
| Legal Reference | Legal Advice |
| Asking only information necessary to help a patron access relevant legal information while remaining neutral about the patron’s legal problem | Providing an opinion or advice on the application of a particular law or legal course of action |
| Directing a patron to a book or legal dictionary to find the meaning of a legal term | Explaining what a legal term means |
| Teaching a patron how to use legal materials and how to conduct effective legal research | Conducting legal research for a patron |
| Showing a patron how to use indexes and how to conduct keyword searches to locate laws and cases and form books | Telling a patron which laws and cases apply, and which forms to use and how to complete them |
| Helping a patron find books on procedures for a particular court (showing them how to find what to do) | Telling a patron which steps to take, what to file, and in what order (telling them what to do) |
Reference librarians
are available to assist you
In Person: 1st Floor Reference Desk
Phone: 414-288-3837
Email: via web form
Hours: Library Service Hours