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Resources
75+ Legal Resources for Business, Compliance, and Legal Professionals
No matter if you are struggling to navigate legal challenges or trying to avoid potential legal issues within your business, this list of worksheets, articles and business law courses may help you manage the legal side of your business.
Resources for Working Professionals
May 17, 2021-10 MIN READ
Articles, Guides, Checklists and More to Help You Manage the Legal Side of Business
Legal knowledge and access to helpful legal resources benefit everyone, from business owners and HR professionals to healthcare administrators and paralegals.
This guide brings together reputable legal resources across the full field of law, with special attention to resources useful for professionals who work in law but may not plan to become attorneys. It includes government sources, court resources, legal research tools, professional associations, compliance resources, legal aid directories, career data, and education resources.
Free legal information is not the same as legal advice. If you need guidance about a specific legal issue, consider speaking with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.
If you’re interested in advancing your legal knowledge and are considering a master’s in legal studies degree, explore our guides:
Legal Strategy for Business
Learn about key legal areas that are essential to leaders in order to successfully grow a business while effectively managing and mitigating risk.
Jump ahead to any section:
- General Business Law Resources
- Business Documents, Contracts and Transactions
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Commercial Dispute Resolution
- Business Law Training and Education
General Legal Information and Legal Help Resources
1. American Bar Association Public Resources
The American Bar Association’s public resources page is a useful starting point for legal information, legal education resources, and public-facing ABA programs. It can help readers understand broad legal topics and find other ABA resources.
2. ABA Find Legal Help
The ABA’s Find Legal Help tool points to lawyer referral services, legal aid, pro bono programs, and other public legal resources. This is especially useful when a reader needs more than general information.
3. ABA Free Legal Answers
ABA Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice clinic for qualifying people with civil legal questions. Volunteer attorneys provide basic information and advice through participating state programs.
4. Legal Services Corporation
The Legal Services Corporation directs readers to LSC-funded legal aid organizations. It is a strong starting point for people who need civil legal help but cannot afford a lawyer.
5. LawHelp.org
LawHelp.org provides free legal rights resources, court forms, self-help tools and referrals to nonprofit legal aid organizations in every state and territory.
6. USA.gov Legal Aid
USA.gov’s legal aid guide explains how to find affordable legal help, legal aid organizations and law school pro bono programs.
7. State Court Self-Help Centers
Many state courts provide self-help centers, court forms and procedural guides for people handling common legal issues. Start with your state court website or a court self-help directory. Court self-help resources are especially useful for understanding filing procedures, court forms and basic process questions.
8. National Center for State Courts
The National Center for State Courts provides research, reports, data and practical resources about state courts and court administration. Its court data resources are useful for readers interested in court systems, access to justice, court operations or public policy.
Legal Research and Primary Law Resources
9. Congress.gov
Congress.gov is the official website for U.S. federal legislative information. It provides access to bills, resolutions, congressional activity, committee information and legislative history materials.
10. U.S. Code
The United States Code is the official codification of general and permanent federal laws. It is prepared by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives.
11. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations provides a continuously updated version of federal regulations. It is useful for compliance professionals who need to review current regulatory text.
12. Federal Register
The Federal Register publishes proposed rules, final rules, notices, presidential documents and agency actions. It is useful for tracking regulatory changes before they are codified in the CFR.
13. GovInfo
GovInfo provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the federal government, including the Code of Federal Regulations, Congressional Record, U.S. Reports and other legal and policy documents.
14. U.S. Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States website provides opinions, orders, oral argument calendars, briefs and case-related information.
15. PACER
Public Access to Court Electronic Records provides electronic access to U.S. federal court records. PACER can be useful for legal professionals, journalists, researchers and others who need access to federal case filings.
16. CourtListener
CourtListener is a free legal research platform from the Free Law Project. It includes court opinions, oral argument audio, dockets and RECAP materials.
17. Cornell Legal Information Institute
The Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School provides free access to federal and state legal materials, including the U.S. Code, Supreme Court opinions, the Constitution and legal topic explanations.
18. Justia Law
Justia Law offers free access to U.S. case law, codes, regulations, legal articles and lawyer directories.
19. FindLaw
FindLaw provides legal information for consumers, small businesses and legal researchers, along with lawyer directories and legal topic guides.
20. Nolo
Nolo publishes plain-language legal articles, books, forms and self-help resources for consumers and small businesses.
Business, Contracts and Corporate Law Resources
21. U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration offers guidance on starting, managing and growing a business. Its legal and compliance resources can help business owners understand permits, licenses, taxes, business structures and employer responsibilities.
22. FTC Business Guidance
The Federal Trade Commission’s business guidance offers compliance resources on advertising, privacy, data security, credit, consumer protection and FTC rules.
23. FTC Small Business Resources
The FTC’s small business resources provide plain-language legal guidance for small businesses on scams, cybersecurity, customer data, consumer reviews and regulatory compliance.
24. IRS Business Tax Resources
The IRS small business and self-employed tax center provides tax information for businesses, independent contractors and self-employed workers.
25. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Small Business Resources
The SEC’s small business resources can help entrepreneurs and business professionals understand capital raising, investor protection and securities law basics.
26. Duke Law Transactional Law Resources
Duke Law’s transactional law resources provide research tools for corporate transactions, contracts, securities, mergers and acquisitions and transactional practice.
27. Harvard Law School Library Mergers and Acquisitions Research Guide
The Harvard Law School Library M&A guide helps users find resources related to mergers, acquisitions, deal documents, securities filings and corporate transactions.
28. Practical Law by Thomson Reuters
Practical Law provides practice notes, templates, checklists and legal know-how resources. It is a subscription service, but it is widely used by law firms and in-house legal departments.
29. Lexis Practical Guidance
Lexis Practical Guidance offers legal guidance, checklists, forms and practice tools for attorneys and legal professionals.
30. Bloomberg Law
Bloomberg Law provides legal research, business intelligence, regulatory tracking and practical legal tools for law firms, in-house counsel and legal professionals.
Employment, HR and Workplace Law Resources
31. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Employer Resources
The EEOC employer resources explain federal laws that prohibit workplace discrimination and retaliation. They include guidance on coverage, charge handling, recordkeeping and workplace rights.
32. EEOC Small Business Resource Center
The EEOC Small Business Resource Center gives small business owners plain-language guidance on federal employment discrimination laws.
33. U.S. Department of Labor Compliance Assistance
The Department of Labor compliance assistance portal provides resources on wages, hours, leave, worker protections and other employment issues.
34. OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides workplace safety standards, enforcement information, training resources and compliance assistance.
35. SHRM Employment Law Resources
The Society for Human Resource Management provides HR templates, compliance resources, employment law updates and workplace policy guidance. Some resources may require membership.
36. National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board provides information on union rights, collective bargaining, unfair labor practices and workplace organizing rights under the National Labor Relations Act.
Compliance, Risk and Regulatory Resources
37. Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics
The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics provides compliance training, conferences, publications, certification information and professional development resources.
38. Health Care Compliance Association
The Health Care Compliance Association focuses on healthcare compliance education, certification, conferences and professional resources.
39. Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners provides fraud examination resources, training, research and certification information.
40. ACAMS
ACAMS provides training, certification and resources for anti-money laundering, financial crime prevention and sanctions compliance professionals.
41. FINRA Rules and Guidance
FINRA provides rules, guidance, regulatory notices and investor protection resources for the securities industry.
42. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides consumer finance rules, enforcement updates, supervision materials and consumer complaint resources.
43. Office of Foreign Assets Control
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions programs.
Privacy, Cybersecurity and Technology Law Resources
44. NIST Cybersecurity and Privacy
The National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity and privacy resources include standards, frameworks, guidance and best practices used by government agencies and private organizations.
45. CISA Resources and Tools
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency offers free cybersecurity tools, alerts, training, exercises and risk management resources.
46. FTC Data Security Guidance
The FTC’s data security guidance helps businesses understand privacy, security and consumer data protection responsibilities.
47. HHS HIPAA for Professionals
HHS HIPAA for Professionals provides information on HIPAA privacy, security, breach notification and enforcement.
48. CMS HIPAA Administrative Simplification
CMS HIPAA Administrative Simplification explains HIPAA electronic transaction standards, code sets, identifiers and operating rules.
49. International Association of Privacy Professionals
The International Association of Privacy Professionals provides privacy training, certifications, research, news and professional resources.
50. Electronic Frontier Foundation
The Electronic Frontier Foundation provides legal and policy resources on digital rights, privacy, free expression, surveillance and technology law.
Intellectual Property Resources
51. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office provides information on patents, trademarks, intellectual property policy, application processes and public search tools.
52. USPTO Inventor and Entrepreneur Resources
The USPTO’s inventor and entrepreneur resources help independent inventors, entrepreneurs and small businesses understand patents, trademarks, scams and IP protection steps.
53. U.S. Copyright Office
The U.S. Copyright Office provides copyright registration information, public records, policy resources and copyright law materials.
54. World Intellectual Property Organization
The World Intellectual Property Organization provides international IP resources, treaty information, patent and trademark tools and educational materials.
Dispute Resolution and Mediation Resources
55. American Arbitration Association
The American Arbitration Association provides arbitration and mediation rules, case administration resources, clause drafting tools and dispute resolution information.
56. JAMS
JAMS offers arbitration, mediation and dispute resolution services, along with rules, clauses and ADR resources.
57. International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution
The International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution provides dispute resolution rules, protocols, model clauses and professional resources.
58. Mediate.com
Mediate.com publishes mediation articles, directories, training resources and dispute resolution insights.
59. Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School
The Program on Negotiation provides negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution articles, training resources and research.
Paralegal, Legal Support and Legal Operations Resources
60. NALA
NALA offers paralegal certification, continuing education, professional development and membership resources.
61. National Federation of Paralegal Associations
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations provides paralegal certification, advocacy, continuing education and professional resources.
62. NALS
NALS serves legal support professionals, including paralegals, legal assistants and legal secretaries, through education, certification and networking.
63. ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals
The ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals provides information on paralegal education, professional standards and ABA-approved paralegal education programs.
64. Corporate Legal Operations Consortium
CLOC is a professional community for legal operations professionals. It offers resources, education, events and community support for people who improve legal department operations.
65. Association of Legal Administrators
The Association of Legal Administrators provides education, events and resources for law firm and legal organization management professionals.
Legal Career and Labor Market Resources
66. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Legal Occupations
The Bureau of Labor Statistics legal occupations page provides job duties, pay, education requirements and employment outlook data for legal occupations. BLS data applies to occupations, not specifically to graduates of any one degree program.
67. BLS Lawyers
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, lawyers typically need a law degree and a state license, which usually requires passing a bar exam. The BLS reported a median annual wage of $151,160 for lawyers in May 2024 and projected 4% employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
68. BLS Paralegals and Legal Assistants
The BLS paralegals and legal assistants profile provides duties, education information, pay and employment outlook for paralegal and legal assistant roles. In May 2024, the BLS reported a median annual wage of $61,010 for paralegals and legal assistants.
69. BLS Compliance Officers
The BLS compliance officers profile explains that compliance officers help inform people about laws and regulations. This occupation can be relevant to legal studies students interested in regulation-heavy fields, but requirements vary by employer and industry.
70. O*NET Paralegals and Legal Assistants
O*NET’s paralegal and legal assistant profile describes common tasks, skills, work activities and knowledge areas for paralegals and legal assistants.
71. O*NET Compliance Officers
O*NET’s compliance officer profile describes compliance work activities, common skills, technology skills and knowledge areas.
72. CareerOneStop
CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and provides career profiles, training resources, salary data and job search tools.
Legal Education and MLS Research Resources
73. ABA-Approved Law Schools
The ABA list of approved law schools identifies law schools approved by the Council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. ABA approval applies to law schools and their J.D. programs, not to MLS degrees as standalone “ABA-approved” degrees.
74. ABA Post-J.D. and Non-J.D. Program Information
The ABA’s post-J.D. and non-J.D. program guidance explains that acquiescence in a degree other than the J.D. is not approval of the degree itself. Students comparing MLS, MSL or LL.M. programs should understand this distinction.
75. ABA Required Disclosures
ABA Required Disclosures provide standardized law school information, including admissions, employment and bar passage data for J.D. programs.
76. Law School Admission Council
The Law School Admission Council provides LSAT, law school application and J.D. admissions resources. It is most relevant for readers considering a J.D., not necessarily an MLS or MSL.
77. U.S. Department of Education College Navigator
College Navigator from the National Center for Education Statistics helps users research colleges and universities, including institutional accreditation, enrollment, tuition and program information.
78. Council for Higher Education Accreditation
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation provides information about recognized accrediting organizations and institutional accreditation.
Information last updated: June 2026.