The Library is more than its collection.
Members have access to a knowledgeable staff and an evolving selection of online resources.
The Social Law Library: Empowering Solo Attorneys with Equal Access to Resources
The Social Law Library is a vital resource for solo practitioners, helping to level the playing field between solo attorneys and their counterparts in large law firms. Its mission is grounded in providing access to high-quality legal resources, tools, and services that might otherwise be out of reach for solo practitioners who don’t have the same extensive infrastructure as larger firms.
One of the most significant challenges solo attorneys face is the expense and accessibility of comprehensive legal research tools. Large firms can afford to invest in extensive legal databases, proprietary tools, and specialized libraries.
The Social Law Library democratizes access by offering these resources to solo attorneys for a fraction of the cost.
Through its extensive collections, including a collection of 500,000 print volumes and digital legal materials, the library ensures that solo practitioners can stay competitive. Whether they need the latest case law, legal treatises, or access to specific journals, the Library provides all this and more. Solo attorneys are able to conduct thorough research, ensuring they deliver well-informed counsel to their clients, just like their colleagues in large firms.
Case Research
The Library offers access to powerful case research databases, including remote access to Fastcase and onsite access to Westlaw. This is in addition to the Library’s 40+ self-produced databases available to members (some require an additional annual subscription fee). The Library’s substantive and administrative databases contain a wealth of case law, administrative decisions and primary law not available anywhere else online.
Practical Guides
Do you need a form or an example of a motion?
If you need guidance on where to find these samples, the Reference team is available to members at no additional cost and are happy to provide assistance.
If you know what treatise or resource contains the sample you need, our online catalog is a great place to start searching to see if we have what you need.
Treatises
The Library has been collecting treatises for almost all of its 200+ year history.
Do you need the latest book on a current topic? The Library has it.
Do you need to know how the treatise looked in the 1950s? The Library has that as well.
The Reference team is a great place to start if you are looking for advice on what you need. If it is after hours, check our catalog and see if it is in a database or available as an eBook.
Website Design & Hosting
Websites are essential for solo practitioners because they establish credibility, attract new clients, and provide a central hub for communicating services and expertise. A well-designed site can set a solo attorney apart in a competitive market. The Library’s Boston-based website design team understands the unique needs of legal professionals and offers tailored, affordable solutions that combine professional design with practical functionality - helping solo practitioners build a strong online presence without the hassle.
Continuing Education and Professional Development
The Library facilitates professional growth by offering educational programs, workshops, and seminars. These events allow solo attorneys to keep up with changes in the law, refine their legal skills, and network with other professionals. Continuing legal education (CLE) programs, available through the library, help ensure that solo practitioners stay up-to-date with the evolving legal landscape.
The Library
The Social Law Library offers a quiet, professional environment with spacious work areas and private carrels designed for focused legal work. Whether you're drafting documents, conducting in-depth research, or need a space to sit before going to Court, the Library provides a comfortable and well-equipped space that supports productivity and concentration—all in the heart of Boston’s legal community.
Research Assistance
Included in all of our memberships is access to the Library’s unmatched Reference team.
Are you looking for an unpublished decision? Need a form? Unsure of where the best place to start your research? The Reference Attorneys are here to help.
Are you looking to learn more about complex searching on commercial databases? Or using the Library’s databases to do the research you need? The Reference Attorneys are here to help.
Are you looking for historic regulations? Or the most current Emergency Regulations? The Reference Attorneys are here to help.
Services
Judicial Assignments
Updated Monthly
Sitting schedule for judges in Massachusetts courts.
Services
Slip Opinions
Updated Daily
Massachusetts Appeals Court and Supreme Judicial Court Opinions.
Services
Legislative Alerts
Subscribe to the Senate and House Journal email list and receive notification when the Journals are updated.
Awards & Recognition
Social Law is winner of three first place awards in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Reading Rankings survey.
Best Legal Research
Best CLE
Best Web Design
Best Legal Research
Best CLE
Best Web Design