State Law Library

Alexis Fetzer Sharp, State Law Librarian
(804) 786-2075
[email protected]
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday | 8:15 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
(Excluding State and Federal holidays)

  • As an integral unit of the Virginia Supreme Court, the Virginia State Law Library seeks to provide the highest quality customer-oriented library service that will contribute to the mission of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Court of Appeals of Virginia and the legal community. This is accomplished through the identification and use of an increasingly broad range of available media and technology. The Virginia State Law Library is a reference collection serving the research needs of the justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia and their staff, the judges of the Virginia Court of Appeals and their staff, the office of the Governor, members of the General Assembly, judges of other courts, and practicing attorneys in good standing. (See, §42.1-64 Virginia Code Annotated.) The court, at its discretion, expanded the above user group to include paralegals working under the supervision of an attorney, and law students. While library staff members do respond to telephone, mail and e-mail requests received from all those who inquire, the library proper is not open to the general public.

  • Explore the rich history of Virginia's appellate courts through brief histories and the stories of the men and women who have served on the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Court of Appeals of Virginia.

  • Links to a wide variety of resources that offer access to Virginia and federal legal information, information about Virginia state and local government, Virginia law schools, national judicial organizations and more.

  • The Guide to Virginia Legal Information Resources (2023) includes a list of legal information resources covering topics as varied as incorporating a business, contesting a traffic ticket, researching health law, obtaining social security, renting a dwelling, buying a house, and writing a will. This list of resources does not constitute legal advice or answers to questions of law. The list identifies resources for public librarians seeking items for their legal collections and independent researchers seeking legal information. The hypertext links will send the reader to a website where the information is located or send the reader to content within WorldCat. WorldCat.org is a free online catalog which allows the reader to browse the collections of thousands of libraries, including Virginia's public libraries. By clicking on one of the links to a WorldCat record, the reader will see a list of libraries that include that legal resource in their collection. From there, one can either directly access online content that is openly available or click on a link for the library nearest them.

  • Librarians are available to assist with the location and use of library materials, both print and electronic. In response to questions received from members of the public, we are happy to direct you to sources of legal information or to your nearest local law library, to provide material for a school assignment, or refer you to state agencies providing information on a specific topic. It is unlawful for library staff to complete in-depth legal research for members of the public, provide legal advice and interpret information appearing in legal publications.

    If you have questions about your particular legal situation, consider seeking the advice of an attorney. Virginia Lawyer Referral Service will provide the name of an attorney who will meet with you for thirty minutes for a $35.00 fee. Their toll-free number is 1-800-552-7977.

    Information about free and low cost civil litigation information and services in Virginia is available at Virginia Legal Aid. Their Web site includes an eligibility calculator to assist an individual in determining eligibility for legal assistance based on residency and income.

  • The State Law Library offers an extensive collection of primary and secondary sources with a comprehensive focus on Virginia law. Virginia specific resources include all superseded volumes and annual pocket parts of the Virginia Code, state reporters, CLE publications distributed by the Virginia Law Foundation, and Virginia legal treatises. Beyond Virginia law related material, the library provides access to primary law for the United States and all fifty states, a variety of legal periodicals, and legal treatises including many historic English common law titles. The collection complements the general legal collections held by private law firms in the Richmond area, the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Law Library, and the William Taylor Muse Law Library at the University of Richmond.  

    Since 2003, the law library has housed Supreme Court of Virginia Archives, preserving papers, photographs, and other materials related to the court and its history. Highlights include oral history interviews of retired judges and justices available on the library’s Appellate Court History website, records of Virginia’s judicial policy making bodies and various departments within the court, and recordings of court events.  

    Selection and retention of materials in the law library is made pursuant to a written collection development policy. This policy ensures responsible management of the library's fiscal resources and reflects the legal research needs of the library's primary customer group, the Virginia appellate judiciary.