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Litigation and Appeals

Guides to litigation and appeals from OpenLaw: what a lawyer costs, whether you need one, the questions to ask before you hire, how the law works in your state, and how to find a lawyer or attorney near you. Every guide is written to answer one question and shows its sources.

An open statute book next to a laptop and notepad on a wooden table in a public law library.

October 14, 2026Opening Law: How to Find and Read the Law Yourself for FreeYes, you can open and read the law yourself for free. Statutes, court rules and court opinions are public under the "open law" principle. Start with your state legislature's code, your court's self-help forms and free federal tools, then get a lawyer when deadlines, money or your freedom are at stake.