The NJ State Library’s (NJSL) Law Library has a comprehensive collection of New Jersey and federal legal materials offering extensive reference assistance to government employees.
For guidance on finding legal resources, contact the Law Library through our Ask a Librarian resource. Reference assistance cannot be provided in a way that requires librarians to interpret any law and/or facts offered by a patron or provide legal advice.
NJ Legislative Histories
A legislative history is a compilation of the documents which express the purpose or intent behind the passage of a particular law. The Law Library compiles histories on all New Jersey laws which are general and permanent. Appropriations, temporary and executed, and repealer acts are excluded.
Many legislative histories are digitized and available in our Legislative Histories archive. Digitization is ongoing; contact us for legislative histories not yet available online.
NJ Judiciary
Compiles key resources on New Jersey’s judicial branch, including comprehensive information on court structure and administration, alongside published court opinions. Together, these materials illuminate both how the courts operate and the legal reasoning underlying New Jersey’s judicial decisions.
NJ Legislature
Curated foundational New Jersey legislative resources, from early session laws, codified statutes, and the Legislative Manual, to official journals and minutes of legislative proceedings. It further highlights historical compilations and a dedicated collection of legislative documents (1848–1921), offering rich insights into the lawmaking and institutional history of the state.
- New Jersey Chapter/Session Laws
- New Jersey Statutes
- Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey
- Journal and Minutes of the Legislature
- Historical Compilations of New Jersey Law
- Legislative Documents Collection
NJ Executive and Administrative Law
This section gathers essential New Jersey executive and administrative law resources, including central administrative law materials, the official New Jersey Register, and Attorney General opinions. It also encompasses documents related to executive branch operations and school law decisions, offering a comprehensive view of regulatory and administrative legal frameworks in the state.
- New Jersey Administrative Law
- New Jersey Register
- Attorney General Opinions
- Executive Orders
- School Law Decisions
NJ Constitutions and Colonial Law
Foundational legal sources from New Jersey’s earliest governance and constitutional history, including its various constitutions, colonial ordinances, and original charters and treaties. Together, these documents trace the legal underpinnings and institutional development of the state from its colonial origins to modern constitutional frameworks.
Other Types of Law
Access to municipal and county-level legal frameworks through directories of local ordinances, as well as a specialized guide to federal judicial and government documents. Together, these resources connect New Jersey’s local governance codes with broader federal legal materials, enriching the scope of legal research.
Legal Research Tools and Reference Materials
Indispensable resources for legal researchers, including curated legal guides and an A‑Z directory of legal topics, as well as tools such as attorney directories, downloadable legal forms, and access to legal periodicals. Also encompasses historic treatises that enrich understanding of foundational principles and legal evolution.
- Law Library Research Guide
- NJSL Legal Databases and eBooks
- Attorney Search
- Legal Forms
- Legal Periodicals
- Historic New Jersey Legal Treatises
- Historic New Jersey Law Journal Issues
Do You Still Have Questions?
Have a question? Need help with research or finding reliable information? The Research Library Ask a Librarian page is here to assist you.
Whether you’re exploring state resources, diving into historical archives, or simply looking for guidance on your next research project, our team of expert librarians is ready to help.