Miami-Dade County Law Library

Miami-Dade County

Law Library

Home

Please note, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the law library is closed to the public until further notice. However, we are still providing limited services. For additional information, all inquiries must be submitted via email to: refdesk@mdcll.org.

Library Catalog

Search here: Miami-Dade County Law Library's catalog.

For the most current information, please contact us at: refdesk@mdcll.org or (305) 349-7548.

Reference Assistance

The reference staff is available to help you locate resources to address your legal questions and to provide legal information such as:

Facts about the law.
Statutes or rules, but not explain what they mean.
Limited instruction on legal research techniques.
Definitions of legal words or phrases.
Cases, but not interpret cases.

The staff cannot provide legal advice such as:

Recommending a specific legal form.
Explaining how to complete a form.
Offering an opinion on how a patron’s legal problem should be handled.
Interpreting the law or a legal document.
Writing a brief, a will, or drafting a legal document.

Telephone inquiries are limited to those concerning the contents of the library collection. The staff cannot recommend attorneys.

Research Databases

Access is available to the following databases from the library's public computers. Print charges of $0.25 per page apply.

Westlaw; access to state and federal primary law materials, KeyCite citation research service

LexisNexis; access to state and federal primary law materials, secondary materials, Shepard's Citations

Florida Law Weekly & Florida Law Weekly Supplement

Computer Access and Printing

The library provides computer terminals dedicated to word processing functions. Use charges of $5.00 per 30 minute sessions apply. Prints are $0.25 per page and are retrieved at the front desk.

Wi-Fi Access and Internet

Free wireless access to the internet is available throughout the library for patrons use with their own devices. Access to the internet on library computers is available for a reasonable fee.

Copy Facilities

Self-serve copiers are available; copies are $0.25 per page.

Pursuant to federal copyright law, it's understood that library material being copied will be used for research purposes only.

Circulation

Library materials do not circulate; however, materials located at the front desk may be checked out for use in the library only. A valid Florida Driver’s License or Florida Identification Card must be provided in order to use these materials.

For Legal Professionals

CLE Course Materials

The library maintains continuing legal education course materials for credit from The Florida Bar. Checking out CLEs is a privilege and not a right. All lawyers must be a member in good standing with The Florida Bar in order to check out CLEs unless suspension is due to failure to comply with CLE requirements. The materials are available to check out on a first come, first served basis. The loan period is seven days; otherwise, late fees shall apply. Contact the library for an updated list and for additional information regarding the policies and procedures.

The following fees apply:

Effective January 1, 2017, deposits shall be $100, cash only.

$25.00, $50.00 or $100.00 per title

$20.00, $45.00 or $95.00 per title (members)

Effective August 1, 2018, once the 7th day expires, there is a $4.00 per day late fee per title; once the 14th day expires, there is an $8.00 per day late fee per title; once the 21st day expires, there is a $12.00 per day late fee per title.

Weekends are included when counting late days.

Late fees will automatically be deducted from the deposit.

Conference Room Rentals

The library has rooms available for rent for $25.00 per hour. Please note rental hours are from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. If necessary, we will put forth our best efforts to accommodate library members and sponsors.

Please send all requests for room rentals to refdesk@mdcll.org and put “CONFERENCE ROOM RENTAL REQUEST” in the subject line and include the date, time, and duration of the proposed rental.

For the Public

Access to Justice

This service is an important step in the

library's mission of providing access to justice.

Lawyer in the Library Wednesdays

A volunteer lawyer provides free legal guidance on a wide variety of Civil issues from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Wednesday. This service is available on a first come, first served basis.

NOTE: The lawyer is not considered to be one’s personal attorney. No attorney-client relationship is being created with this free service. The lawyer is there to provide general guidance only.