How to Locate the Law: A Guide to Locating Nevada Law and Legal Resources

The LexisNexis Digital Library has a lot of legal books that you can read on your tablet, computer, or phone. You can use it if you have a Supreme Court of Nevada library card. The library has both e-books and printed books with important legal information. There are also free legal dictionaries like Wex and Nolo’s that explain legal words in simple language. If you need help finding a lawyer, services like the State Bar of Nevada’s Lawyer Referral can connect you with the right attorney.

The Supreme Court of Nevada's LexisNexis Digital Library is restricted to Nevada residents or attorneys licensed in Nevada.

The LexisNexis Digital Library (LNDL) is a collection of legal e-books that you may check out and read on your tablet, computer's web browser, or through an online app (both iOS and Android apps are available). The Nevada Supreme Court's LNDL subscription includes hundreds of legal treatises and primary law sources (e.g., statutes and court rules). To access this collection, you need a Supreme Court of Nevada Law Library card - your username is your library bar code and your password is your phone number or the password used to create your library card.

Additionally, all LexisNexis Digital Library (LNDL) titles are in the Supreme Court of Nevada Law Library Catalog. All titles are in the LNDL collection and many have print copies available at the law library. 

Wex

Wex is a free online dictionary and encyclopedia about legal terms. It’s made and edited by legal experts and is hosted by the Legal Information Institute (LII) at Cornell Law School. 

Nolo’s Free Dictionary of Law Terms and Legal Definitions

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary helps you understand legal words by giving simple definitions that are easy to read.

The People’s Law Dictionary

The People’s Law Dictionary explains legal words in a way that’s easy to understand. It provides simple definitions, real-life examples, pronunciation tips, and related terms.

The Law Dictionary

TheLawDictionary.org has Black’s Law Dictionary, 2nd edition, which is free to use. It includes over 15,000 legal terms. The most current edition is the 12th edition (2024) and can be found in print or online via Westlaw at the Supreme Court of Nevada Law Library.

American Jurisprudence 2d (Am. Jur, 2d)

This resource lists over 400 legal topics in alphabetical order. Many law libraries have a complete copy of Am. Jur. 2d in their Reference Collections. It’s also available online on Lexis and Westlaw and at the Supreme Court of Nevada Law Library.

Corpus Juris Secundum (C.J.S.)

C.J.S. is a national legal encyclopedia that covers legal topics from A to Z. It summarizes general rules of law and provides detailed explanations. You can find C.J.S. in many law libraries and online on Westlaw, including at the Supreme Court of Nevada Law Library.

Nevada Courtroom Terminology

This resource includes terms used in Nevada courts, including family law, juvenile court, and record keeping. It also includes Latin and other foreign-language terms.

Common Legal Terms

Educational resource (English and Spanish) of commonly used legal terms in the judicial system created by the Iowa Judicial Branch.

State Bar of Nevada: Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRS)

The Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRS) is a free public service of the State Bar of Nevada. LRS have staff trained to select qualified and experienced attorneys for referrals. Attorneys are pre-screened and must meet pre-set qualifications in terms of cases handled and years of experience. LRS will provide you with the name of an attorney who practices in the area of law related to your problem so that you can set up a consultation. 

When you call LRS, you will be asked what area of the state you are calling from and the nature of your legal problem. Any information you provide will be held in the strictest confidence. The LRS staff are not lawyers and therefore cannot give you legal advice, but will help you find the right resource for your situation.

Martindale-Hubbell

Find attorneys, practice areas, schools, and articles using the Martindale-Hubbell database of legal professionals. You can also browse attorneys and law firms, view by specific practice areas, and browse by location. 

This is a list of articles from the State Bar of Nevada (Nevada Lawyer) and the Clark County Bar Association (Communique) to help you find more resources. Pro tip: Look at the sources the authors cite!

General

• Comm'r Erin Lee Truman & Comm'r Jay Young, Keeping Civil Discovery Civil, Nev. Law., May 2023, at 12.
• Eric D. Walther, Abandonment Issues: Avoiding a Common Mistake That Will Result in Your Post-Trial Appeal Being Dismissed, Nev. Law., Mar. 2022, at 8.
• Steven Silva, Don't Get Jammed Up, Preserve Those Issues, Nev. Law., Mar. 2022, at 12.
• Hon. Lidia S. Stiglich & Kathryn Combs, Appealing Appeals: Persuasive Appellate Case Building and Best Practices, Nev. Law., June 2021, at 8.
• Paul Larsen, Challenging an Agency Rule or Regulation: Where Do You Start?, Communique, Apr. 7, 2023, https://clarkcountybar.org/challenging-an-agency-rule-or-regulation-where-do-you-start/.
• Stephanie McDonald, E-Everything & Self-Represented Litigants, Communique, Apr. 19, 2024, https://clarkcountybar.org/e-everything-self-represented-litigants//

Criminal Law

• Erica Berrett & Jessica Perlick, Post-Conviction Primer: What Happens After Verdict, Nev. Law., Sept. 2020, at 22.
• Gerri Hardcastle & Allison Herr, Challenges to Inmate Sentencing Calculations: Common Pitfalls in Time Calculation Habeas Petitions, Nev. Law., Sept. 2020, at 24.
• Nick Michaud, Pleading the Fifth – the Right Against Self-Incrimination for Criminal and Civil Practitioners, Communique, Mar. 5, 2024, https://clarkcountybar.org/pleading-the-fifth-the-right-against-self-incrimination-for-criminal-and-civil-practitioners/.
• Morgan Shah, Sealing Nevada Criminal Records, Communique, Mar. 5, 2024, https://clarkcountybar.org/sealing-nevada-criminal-records/.

Professional Negligence

• Shannon Wise, What is Medical Malpractice?, Nev. Law., July 2024, at 8.
• Alia A. Najjar, Murky Waters: Revisiting Statute of Limitations in Professional Negligence Actions in Nevada, Nev. Law., July 2024, at 19.
• Emily D. Anderson, Medical Malpractice or Ordinary Negligence: Why the Distinction is Crucial, Nev. Law., Jan. 2020, at 30.
• Alia A. Najjar, Five Things To Know About Professional Negligence/Medical Malpractice Actions In Nevada, Communique, Jan. 5, 2024, https://clarkcountybar.org/five-things-to-know-about-professional-negligence-medical-malpractice-actions-in-nevada/.

Probate and Estate Law

• Clayton R. Leonard, Updating Out-of-State Estate Plans in Nevada, Nev. Law., Jan. 2024, at 17.
• Michaelle D. Rafferty, Decanting & Fiduciary Risk: Just Because You Can, Does Not Mean You Should, Nev. Law., Nov. 2022, at 8.
• Edmund Gorman, Where There's a (Pour-Over) Will, There's a Way: Nevada's New Approach to Avoiding Probate with Revocable Trusts, Nev. Law., Nov. 2022, at 14.
• Alexander G. Leveque, Parentage and Probate: Which Court Has Jurisdiction to Determine Heirship in Trust Proceedings?, Nev. Law., Nov. 2022, at 18.
• Brian Steadman, Five Things to Know about Trusts, Communique, Jan. 5, 2024, https://clarkcountybar.org/five-things-to-know-about-trusts/.

Employment Law

• Matthew Durham & Chad Olsen, Avoiding Legal Landmines When Hiring and Firing, Nev. Law., July 2022, at 8.
• Matthew Cecil, Tyson Horrocks & Dora Lane, Obligations and Risks When Conducting Layoffs, Nev. Law., July 2022, at 17.
• Homero A. Gonzalez, Navigating Nevada's Workers' Compensation System, Nev. Law., July 2020, at 16.
• Scott Abbott & Kaitlin Paxton, Committed to Diversity: Using Hiring Preferences Cautiously, Nev. Law., July 2022, at 21.
• Mark Ricciardi & Brian Bradford, Time to Lawyer Up? When to Consult with Labor/Employment Counsel, Nev. Law., Mar. 2020, at 21.

Other Courts

• C.J. Jerry Wiese, Specialty Courts: A Catalyst for Positive Change, Nev. Law., Mar. 2024, at 8.
• Senior Judge Deborah E. Schumacher, Treatment Courts: A Road to Recovery, Nev. Law., Mar. 2024, at 12.
• Steven Silva, Nevada's Secret Appellate Court, Nev. Law., June 2021, at 13.

Miscellaneous 

• Morgan F. Shah, Developments in Landlord-Tenant Law, Communique, Aug. 4, 2023, https://clarkcountybar.org/developments-in-landlord-tenant-law/.
• Krisanne S. Cunningham, A Summary of Common Tax-Favorable Types of Incentive Equity: Corporations and Partnerships/LLCs, Nev. Law., Dec. 2021, at 8.
• Phil Aurbach, How Deeds of Trust Work, Nev. Law., Dec. 2021, 11.
• Gregory H. King, Protecting Yourself From Your Insurance Company's Reimbursement Demand, Nev. Law., Nov. 2021, at 8. 
• C.J. Cynthia Cruz, Navigating Traffic Cases, Communique, Feb. 29, 2024, https://clarkcountybar.org/navigating-traffic-cases/.
• Amanda Stevens & Whitney Short, Health Care Power of Attorneys and Living Wills, Communique, Sept. 26, 2024, https://clarkcountybar.org/health-care-power-of-attorneys-and-living-wills/.
• Josh Hicks, Litigating the Constitutional Right to File an Initiative Petition, Nev. Law., Oct. 2024, at 20.

See also Family Law Nevada Expert Guidance