Neither SIU Law Library Staff nor SIU Law Students can provide non-attorney patrons with legal advice, or any other information relating specific facts in your life to the current law. This would constitute the practice of law and is prohibited under 705 Ill. Comp. Stat. 205/1.
For all library patrons who are not current College of Law students, faculty, emeritus faculty, faculty associates, or staff, the following general provisions apply:
The law library staff will:
- Assist patrons in locating print or online resources
- Instruct patrons as to how to use these resources
The law library staff will not:
- Do legal research on behalf of patrons;
- advise any patron as to what the text of a law, regulation or legal opinion means, or what the law is on any issue;
- advise any patron on legal procedures, court rules, or jurisdictions;
- recommend the use of any particular legal form for any particular purpose, or assist in filling out legal forms;
- review any document drafted by a patron or by any other person;
- read textual material (including, but not limited to, definitions, laws, cases, or rules) over the phone;
- provide advice or instruction concerning the creation and/or formatting of legal citations;
- recommend any particular attorney or law firm; or
- perform any other action that could be construed as providing legal advice.
You can also use our guide to find legal advice or to perform legal research yourself.
