Legal Resources

Free legal assistance to low-income people for their civil legal problems. Their legal information website, www.lsnjlaw.org, provides self-help resources on a number of legal topics.

Program of the Catholic Diocese of Camden. Concentrates on immigration law, family law, general civil law, and protecting survivors of domestic violence. Does not handle divorce.

Staff will interview you over the phone to determine the nature of your legal need. You can ask for an attorney who accepts sliding scale or reduced fee clients. There is no fee for calling the referral service. You will be given information for an attorney who practices in your area of need. A fee of not more than $30 may be charged for the first half-hour consultation with this attorney. The attorney will discuss with you any legal issues that you may have and additional fees if you retain them for additional work.

The Office of the Public Defender in New Jersey is tasked with providing attorneys for those people who cannot afford them when charged with a crime.

In the Judiciary, the ombudsman is a neutral staff person who answers questions, addresses concerns from the public and is responsible for enhancing customer service in the courts. Although the ombudsman is unable to provide legal advice, the ombudsman can help guide court users through the system with as much ease as possible. Their goal is to provide information in an attempt to prevent misunderstandings before they occur.

From paying your traffic ticket online to finding foreclosure prevention assistance to understanding the structure of the courts, this is the gateway to all court information in New Jersey. The Self-Help Center area of this site will provide general information on representing yourself in court, contact numbers, brochures and forms.

Getting a divorce in New Jersey can be complicated. We can help you get started with the following resources. Please keep in mind that library staff are not permitted to offer legal advice or tell you which divorce forms you are required to file.

Divorce in New Jersey: A Self-Help Guide published by the Legal Services of New Jersey, an organization that provides free legal assistance and information to individuals with low income. This guide has instructions and legal forms for divorce. You can access and print the forms from the library's website, using your library card to log on. Access the forms directly here. You may also copy the forms from print copies at a branch.

For professional legal help, contact the Legal Services of New Jersey. They are available Monday-Friday, 8am-5:30pm. 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529), www.lsnj.org.

You can also find helpful information from the Self Help Resource Center on the New Jersey Courts website, www.judiciary.state.nj.us.

New Jersey Statutes Annotated (NJSA)
The current laws of the State of New Jersey. Full updated print set is available at the Voorhees Vogelson branch. The Laws can also be viewed online through the New Jersey Legislature site. The NJ Legislature is also the place to find past and present bills for both the state House and Senate.

New Jersey Rules of Court
These are the rules governing the courts of New Jersey. The current year's rules are available in print at the Voorhees Vogelson branch. They can also be found online through the New Jersey Legislature site.

New Jersey Lawyers Diary
This valuable print resource, updated annually, contains federal and state court addresses, legal filing fees and fines, legislative office information, as well as a directory of NJ judges and NJ attorneys.