Events
 Court Accounting Workshops in 2025
The Contra Costa County Public Law Library is offering a series of free Court Accounting Workshops throughout the year via Zoom to provide hands-on training and assistance with court-required accounting reports and conservatorship accounting. Workshop attendees MUST sign-up in advance. Sign-ups end two (2) days before the scheduled class. Please call the Contra Costa County Public Law Library at (925) 655-4627 to sign-up and obtain additional information or email: reference.questionsCCCPLLIB@gmail.com. See the flyer for more details.
Flyer available here
 Save the Date: on July 29, 2025, we will have an MCLE program on the CARE Act Court in Alameda County.
Read more about the Alameda County Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act Court here.
 Toolbox Tuesday: Do you need to find a definition?
We often get requests for the definition of a word or phrase. Depending on your needs, there are a variety of sources available to help you find a definition, and you can find them all in the library. Let us show you where they are.
[Read more]
Alameda County Superior Court Press Release: Jury Duty Pilot Program Suspended Indefinitely
In a press release published on June 5, 2025, the Superior Court of Alameda County announced that the enhanced juror per diem rates created under Assembly Bill No. 1981 (AB-1981) have been paused for the foreseeable future.
AB-1981, enacted in 2022, established a two-year pilot program through the Judicial Council of California in seven county superior courts, including Alameda. Its goal was to study whether increasing juror compensation would improve juror diversity and participation.
[Read more]
Alameda County Law Library Immigration Resources webpage
 The Alameda County Law Library provides access to a wide range of resources to support those navigating immigration issues. From self-help guides and legal databases to reliable print materials and referrals to trusted community organizations, we’re here to help you find accurate and up-to-date information. We can help you access resources on topics like visa applications, citizenship, asylum, and more—including reference help in multiple languages through our Language Line interpreter services.
We've collected many of our resources on our new Immigration Resources webpage. See the webpage for some of the materials we have available, or reach out to our law librarians for assistance.
Alameda County Superior Court Press Release: Fake Text Messages from the Court Seeking Money for Traffic Citations
In a press release published on May 29, 2025, the Superior Court of Alameda County issued a warning about a new scam involving fraudulent text messages that claim to be from the Court seeking payment for unpaid traffic citations. These messages are not legitimate and are designed to deceive recipients into providing personal or financial information.
[Read more]
 The National Consumer Law Center has published a blog post with 10 tips to find answers to consumer law questions and make the most of the NCLC Digital Library.
Law Library cardholders can request the NCLC Digital Library login and password from library staff for remote use or can use it on our public research computers in the library.
The NCLC Digital Library provides access to the complete text of all 21 National Consumer Law Center treatises on consumer law topics including: debt collection and debtor rights, foreclosures and mortgage lending, student loans, truth in lending, unfair and deceptive acts and practices, credit reporting, credit discrimination, consumer warranty law, and repossessions, among other consumer protection issues. The Digital Library also provides access to HUD Housing Programs: Tenants’ Rights (The Green Book).
 New 2025 limited Civil Appeals Fillable Form Briefs
Effective January 1, 2025, Rule 8.883(b)(4) of the California Rules of Court now permits the use of optional Judicial Council approved template form briefs in limited civil cases. Prior to this, briefs in limited civil cases had to be written following legal formatting requirements.
Read more on our Advance Sheet blog post
View the slideshow on our Instragram post
Criminal Pretrial Services Center Available at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse
In a press release published on April 14, 2025, the Superior Court of Alameda County announced the opening of the Pretrial Services Center (also referred to as the Pretrial Resource Center) as a “one-stop shop” designed to help criminal defendants comply with court-ordered conditions of pretrial release from jail, such as attending required classes and appearing for scheduled hearings.
Criminal defendants can access these services without an appointment on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the office of pretrial services located in Department 1A on the second floor of the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse. You can find additional information on court locations and hours in Alameda County here: https://www.alameda.courts.ca.gov/general-information/locations-contact-information. Defendants may also call the center at 510-891-6100.
[Read more]
Support Federal Funding for Libraries
Libraries are an indispensable resource, connecting people to justice, education, and opportunity every day.
Here’s how you can help:
- Learn how Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) & Executive Orders impact your library
- Sign EveryLibrary’s (the advocacy group for libraries) petition: https://buff.ly/zBzUVGx
- Take action with ALA’s #FundLibraries campaign
- Use guidance from the California State Library to find your Congressmember: house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Send them this message:
"Dear Representative XXXXX:
Grants to support local libraries that California receives from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services have a big impact on [NAME OF YOUR COMMUNITY]. Please don’t vote to end the good things that come from this small financial investment.
Federal funds have helped make community-centric programs and projects possible throughout [CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT X]. Studies show libraries create a solid financial return on taxpayers’ dollars, generating between $3 to $6 in direct and indirect benefits for every dollar invested.
One innovative program – Zip Books – uses the online marketplace to get books to Californians in rural areas faster and helps libraries have more copies of the books people want to read – at lesser cost. Federal funds are used by the state to administer the program.
Libraries connect families, seniors and veterans to essential services. During emergencies, libraries serve as heating and cooling centers, and community meeting places where residents gather to receive critical information on disaster relief efforts. Libraries provide free Wi-Fi, charging stations, and internet access not just during and after storms and wildfires but every day.
Libraries also help create stronger readers and better English speakers. Stronger readers do better academically and professionally.
Losing federal funding, which totals $15 million for California, means these important services aren’t going to be provided -- particularly in rural areas.
Please continue to support your local public libraries."
See our Instagram post here
 How to Find Court Forms
The Alameda County Law Library has created a new slideshow/guide. Filling in the blanks—literally! From complaints to judgments and everything in between, swipe through to learn all about court forms. Download the slideshow here or view on Instagram.
 New Alameda Law Library Merchandise
🚨 This is not a drill! Fresh Alameda County Law Library swag just dropped! Rep your local law library — a vital resource connecting people to legal information — all while looking fire. Tap this link to shop and support!
Live Chat Now Available for the Superior Court of Alameda County Family Law Clerk’s Office
On March 10, 2025, the Superior Court of Alameda County published a press release announcing the availability of a live chat function as another avenue people may utilize to access information from family law court staff. The live chat widget can be found on the Family Law Court landing page.
[Read more]
New Titles and Editions Added in February and March
The law library added the following new titles and editions in February and March:
California Antitrust & Unfair Competition Law (LexisNexis, 2012-2024)
California Courts Directory and Fee Schedule (California Court Association, Inc., 1983- )
California Practice Guide: Civil Procedure Before Trial: Statutes of Limitations (The Rutter Group, 2007- )
California Practice Guide: Employment Litigation (The Rutter Group, 2001- )
California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenants' and Landlords' Rights and Responsibilities (California Department of Real Estate, 2025)
Debt Collection Practice in California (Continuing Education of the Bar - California, 1999- )
HUD Housing Programs: Tenants' Rights (National Housing Law Project, 2025)
Judicial Council of California, Civil Jury Instructions: CACI (Thomson Reuters 2003- )
See the list in our library catalog
 An Introduction to Property Deeds & Property Titles -- Legal Access Alameda Video Now Available Online
Legal Access Alameda has made available online a video entitled An Introduction to Property Deeds & Property Titles. The video is designed to help people understand the legal terms and definitions related to real property ownership, the importance of having a clear title—particularly when disaster strikes and FEMA aid is sought, and the different ways to take title and their tax implications.
You can watch the video here
Law Help Interactive: Online Software for Alameda County Residents Who Want Help Filling Out Certain Forms
Law Help Interactive is a free website that can help you fill out legal forms generated from answers you provide to interview style questions.
You can find a list of issues that Law Help Interactive covers on the Superior Court of California County of Alameda Law Help Interactive webpage. Generally, the tool helps with forms for various issues related to:
- Divorce/Legal Separation/Nullity
- Restraining Orders
- Name Change
- Parentage
- Eviction – Unlawful Detainer
- Guardianship Petition
[Read more]
Self-Study MCLE Credit for MCLE Videos on the Alameda County Law Library YouTube Channel Now Available
You can now watch videos of some of our past MCLE events for California Self Study MCLE credit. We have put links to the MCLE written materials in the description fields of the MCLE videos on the Alameda County Law Library YouTube Channel's Self-Study MCLE playlist. You can watch the videos, download and read the written materials, and keep a record of your self-study activities on a California State Bar MCLE Personal Log, which can be downloaded from: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/forms/mcle/MCLE-Personal-Log_ADA.pdf
Note that self-study credit can be received only from videos that were prepared in the preceding five years (see MCLE Rules – Attorneys (effective October 1, 2023), Rules of the State Bar, Title 2, Div. 4, Rule 2.83 Self-study at: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/rules/Rules_Title2_Div4-MCLE.pdf)
Videos
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