Form Finder: Introduction/Search Tips

This guide provides an overview of the many sources of legal forms available to patrons at the Louis L. Biro Law Library at the UIC Law School.  If the Library has the title in print, the call number and location is provided.  Otherwise, the user will see links to the corresponding database.  Access to many of these databases will require a valid Lexis or Westlaw username and password.   

Not every source of forms is listed in this guide.  What follows are general tips for locating sources that go beyond the scope of this Guide.

1. Subject search:  one can locate  formbooks under a variety of subject headings in the Library catalog such as: civil procedure -- united states -- forms, instructions to juries -- illinois -- forms, estate planning -- illinois -- forms. 
2. Keyword search:  one can also execute a broader search for books containing forms by simply searching the subject as a keyword.  For example: “commercial law AND forms.”  A keyword search will also reveal titles of Lexis and Westlaw databases that contain forms.
3. Many of the topical books on Illinois law also include forms.  These books can be found in the catalog by author, title, or subject.
4. Westlaw and LexisNexis also have many form books.  Some of these are discussed in greater detail on following pages. If West or LexisNexis is listed as the publisher of any of the print sources below, they will also be accessible online.
5. One can search the library catalog directly for treatises with forms on a particular topic.  For example, one might search for keywords 'employ*' (emloyee, employment etc.) and 'forms.'
6. Many print source include CD-Roms with Word versions of forms on them.  Be sure to check the Library catalog or ask a reference librarian for such information.
7. Encyclopedic sets like Am. Jur. Pleading and Practice and Current Legal Forms are an excellent source for forms if more specific titles do not have the form you seek.

Need more help? Reference librarians are available to meet with students in one-on-one sessions (or in small groups) to discuss research strategies, recommend relevant resources or review specific topics of legal research. 

Contact law-library@uic.edu with the subject you're researching and when you would like to meet. A librarian will get back to you to set up an appointment. You can also schedule an appointment on the library homepage by clicking "Schedule an Online Research Appointment." We ask that you request your appointment at least 2 days in advance, but remember that you can always stop by the reference desk for immediate help with a quick research question.