Skip to Main Content

North Carolina Legal Research: Home

About This Guide

Law takes many forms.

The North Carolina Constitution provides a broad framework for the operation of state government. Session laws enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly are codified in the General Statutes. Court decisions offer interpretations of the law. Rules established by state agencies as authorized by the legislature have the force of law. On the local level, county or city ordinances also regulate citizens’ actions.

This guide lists the major sources one can use to conduct basic legal research on the state, county, and local level.

Learning Outcomes

Users of this research guide will be able to:

  • Locate and request North Carolina legal resources for the state, county. and city levels.
  • Locate and use online legal resources.
  • Know who to contact for help with library research.

Exterior shot of the Pitt County Courthouse, dated November 1954.

For more images like this, visit the Joyner Library Digital Collections database or The Daily Reflector Image Collection.