United States: where to read the law
Cornell's Legal Information Institute is the best free entry point to US federal and state law and is well enough cross-referenced to work as a research tool rather than just a text repository. GovInfo is the government's own authenticated publisher, which matters when a citation has to be verifiable. CourtListener and its RECAP archive carry federal dockets and opinions that are otherwise behind PACER's per-page charges.
This is a directory, not a summary of the law. Nothing here tells you what a rule says - it tells you where the authoritative text lives so you can read it yourself. Links last checked .
The sources
- Cornell Legal Information InstituteResearch guideUS federal and state law, free and well cross-referenced. The reference standard.
- GovInfoPrimary lawThe official, authenticated publisher of federal legislative, executive and judicial documents.
- CourtListenerCourtsFree federal and state opinions plus the RECAP docket archive — material that otherwise sits behind PACER charges.
- Supreme Court of the United StatesCourtsOpinions, orders and the docket, direct from the court.