About Law Library Guest Support

The Library is happy to assist attorneys and self-represented individuals both in person and online! We encourage you to contact us before you visit, we may be able to assist you online and save you the trip. 

Contact the Reference Desk. Assistance is available online by chat or request portal, or by phone at (505) 277-0935.

Schedule a Research Consultation. Consultations are especially helpful for those who seek focused or in-depth assistance. Check the available time slots and schedule a consultation.

Consult a Research Guide. Our research guides pull together the essential primary and secondary sources needed for legal research. Some even provide advice, checklists, or step-by-step instructions. The following are some of our most popular guides:

• Community Legal Resources
• Free Legal Research Databases
• New Mexico Law FAQ
• New Mexico Legal Research Guide

Library personnel can answer questions about how to do legal research and help guests locate appropriate research resources. They cannot perform research for guests or provide legal advice.

• "How do I find this case, and are there others similar to it?"
• "Where can I find the New Mexico statutes on the Internet?"
• "Where would I begin researching about zoning?"
• "Where do I find the forms for my divorce?"
• "How do I use this website?"
• "What does this legal abbreviation mean?"

• "What is the statute of limitations for an automobile accident?"
• "What does this case mean?"
• "Which court do I go to if I want to sue my boss?"
• "Which form do I use, and how do I fill it out?"

• Researching the law, determining how the law applies to a particular situation, advising library guests, and helping them decide what actions they should take are examples of practicing law. Librarians are not licensed to practice law.
• Legal research is complicated. “Simple” questions can have different answers depending on the facts. When individuals perform their own research, they can choose which cross-references to follow and determine which factors may affect the outcome in their situation.
• The relationship between attorneys and clients is protected by attorney-client privilege, disciplinary rules, and malpractice standards. The attorney and client have the opportunity to meet multiple times to ensure that the attorney has all the information needed to provide complete advice and services. Librarians do not have the same relationship with their patrons. This is an important distinction, because inaccurate information or legal advice can strip people of their legal rights.
• Legal research is time-intensive. The Law Library does not have sufficient staff to accept research requests.