Blog Post  Notes from the Library: Law Libraries of Plymouth County (May 2025)

Resources spotlight: Massachusetts Law About...

Did you know that the Trial Court Law Librarians maintain over 190 web pages on legal topics? Our collection of Massachusetts Law about pages is a great place to start your research on a topic. The pages link to relevant state and federal laws, regulations, cases, websites, and books connected to the topics. Pages are thoughtfully organized and will save you the hassle of digging through a multitude of google searches to find the most relevant materials. Whether you are looking for information on all areas of employment law or DNA evidence, we have a page for you!

Community events

Cinema of Law Movie Night
When: June 21^st, Doors at 7PM, movie starts at 7:30PM
Location: ENSO Art Gallery, 86 Centre St., Brockton, MA

Have an event idea? Want to present at a movie night or community talk? Reach out to Jazz or Emily to get the conversation started.

What's new at the Brockton & Plymouth law libraries?

A monthly round-up of the newest titles and updates available at the Brockton and Plymouth law libraries!  

See a title of interest that’s not available at your local law library? No problem! Any book from any of our 15 locations can be delivered to the law library nearest to you for pickup and drop off.

Massachusetts

• Trying Sex Offense Cases in Massachusetts, 2025, MCLE
• Massachusetts School Law Sourcebook and Citator, 2025, MCLE
• Massachusetts Real Estate Law Sourcebook and Citator, 2025, MCLE
• Massachusetts Appellate Division Decisions, 2024, Lawyer’s Weekly
• Massachusetts Guide to Evidence, 2024, Flashner Institute
• Massachusetts Probate Law Sourcebook and Citator, 2025, MCLE
• Legal Tactics: Tenants’ Rights in Massachusetts Private Housing, 9^th ed., Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
• Crocker’s Notes on Common Forms, 2025, MCLE
• A Practical Guide to Massachusetts Limited Liability Companies, 2025, MCLE

General/Federal

New at both locations

Black’s Law Dictionary, 12^th ed., Thomson Reuters

New in Plymouth

• Boston University Law Review VOL. 104 NO. 7
• Owen and Davis on Product Liability, 2025 Updates, Thomson Reuters
• Dobbs and the Law of Torts, 2025 Updates, Thomson Reuters
• Admiralty and Maritime Law, 2024-2025 Updates, Thomson Reuters
• Cohen's Handbook of Federal Indian Law, 2024, LexisNexis
• Police Misconduct Law and Litigation, 2024-2025, Thomson Reuters
• Modern Constitutional Law, 2025 Updates, Thomson Reuters

New in Brockton

• A Short and Happy Guide to Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers, 2025, West Academic
• Military Family Law, 2025, LexisNexis
• Community Property in a Nutshell, 5^th ed., West Academic
• Children and the Law in a Nutshell, 8^th ed., West Academic
• Human Rights in a Nutshell, 6^th ed., West Academic
• Music Law in a Nutshell, 2025, West Academic
• Health Care Law and Ethics in a Nutshell, 5^th ed., West Academic
• American Indian Law in a Nutshell, 8^th ed., West Academic
• Depositions in a Nutshell, 3^rd ed., West Academic
• Constitutional Analysis in a Nutshell, 4^th ed., West Academic
• Administrative Law and Process in a Nutshell, 7^th ed., West Academic
• Entertainment Law in a Nutshell, 6^th ed., West Academic
• Federal Law of Employment Discrimination in a Nutshell, 10^th ed., West Academic
• Constitutional Law in a Nutshell, 11^th ed., West Academic
• Legal Research in a Nutshell, 15^th ed., West Academic
• The First Trial (Where Do I Sit? What Do I Say?) in a Nutshell, 4^th ed., West Academic
• Criminal Procedure: Constitutional Limitations in a Nutshell, 10^th ed., West Academic
• Ocean and Coastal Management Law in a Nutshell, 6^th ed., West Academic
• Estates, Future Interests and Powers of Appointment in a Nutshell, 7^th ed., West Academic
• Environmental Law in a Nutshell, 11^th ed., West Academic
• Public Health Law in a Nutshell, 5^th ed., West Academic
• Federal Rules of Evidence in a Nutshell, 12^th ed., West Academic

What we do

There are 15 Trial Court Law Libraries located across Massachusetts to serve the legal research needs of the courts, attorneys, and the general public.

The Trial Court Law Libraries are free and open to everyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Massachusetts. We are committed to providing legal reference services and legal research assistance to all.

Library cards are free! Our card will work at all 15 law library locations and provides access to materials in the libraries as well as to some databases from your home or office.

We provide the following services to the public:

• Help locating legal resources
• Provide online assistance via email, chat and document delivery
• Instruction in the use of print and digital resources
• Verify legal citations
• Locate and obtain resources in other law libraries through inter-library loan service
• Deliver documents, such as cases, by email and mail
• Locate legal forms
• Referrals and contact information for community resources, legal assistance programs, and social service agencies

Virtual services

Can’t make it into the law library? We can bring the law library to you! We are happy to help you with all of your legal information needs directly from your home or office. Ask us a reference question over the phone or send us an email and we can send you relevant case law and book chapters electronically. If you have a legal citation, we can send you the document with the Lexis Shepard’s Report or West Law’s KeyCite.

How to contact the Trial Court Law Libraries

• Call or email your local law library
• Chat with a law librarian
• Statewide email reference and document delivery
• Text a law librarian at 866-885-6277 (866-885-MASS)
• Zoom with a law librarian

In-person services

Patrons who visit the Trial Court Law Libraries in person have access to the full range of services we offer. In the libraries, patrons can browse and borrow from each location’s full print collection, as well as request and pick up/drop off print materials borrowed from any of the Trial Court Law Libraries across the state. Every location also has patron computers with free access to Westlaw, Lexis, VitalLaw, HeinOnline, and multiple databases provided by Social Law Library. Free public wi-fi and printer/copier/scanner access are also available. Last but not least, every location is staffed by knowledgeable law librarians who can assist you with finding resources that meet your needs.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

About the authors

Emily Morin-Martel is the Head Law Librarian of the Plymouth Law Library. Questions or requests can be sent to: plymouthlawlibrary@jud.state.ma.us.

Jasmine ("Jazz") Bonanca is the Head Law Librarian of the Brockton Law Library. Questions or requests can be sent to: brocktonlawlibrary@jud.state.ma.us.