Legal Reference Service FAQ

1.  How do I make a research request?

Attorneys may request assistance from the LRS by:

e-mail: lrs@nacua.org
voice: 202.833.8390
fax: 202.296.8379
letter: Legal Reference Service, NACUA, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 620 Washington, DC 20036

Please describe the research needed as specifically as possible.

2.   What resources does the LRS use in responding to research requests?

• NACUA conference/workshop outlines
• Journal and law review articles
• Sample documents
  Contracts, policies, briefs, cases, handbooks, bibliographies and other materials.
• The Internet’s legal sites
• NACUANET Listserv Archives
  We monitor NACUANET activity daily
• LRS Library
  We maintain a collection of books, treatises and monographs relating to various aspects of educational law and administration.
• Other Higher Education-related Organizations
  Regular contact with other higher education associations provides an additional source of information, further ensuring that LRS resources are up-to-date on issues that are important to institutions of higher education.

3.  How does the LRS carry out a research request?

In responding to research requests, the LRS staff will routinely check all the sources listed above. Depending on the amount of information located in LRS resources, the staff may also, when appropriate, contact other higher education associations, relevant federal agencies, or other NACUA members who have dealt with similar issues.

4.   How long does it take for the LRS to carry out a research request?

Response time varies, depending on the type of request made, however most are answered within one to two days.  It helps if you let us know your deadline or the timeframe that you’re working under so that we can prioritize the many requests we receive and meet your needs.

The LRS staff will do their best to give you an estimate of how long they expect to take in researching the particular inquiry. If a request is taking longer than expected, the staff member will contact you to give you an update of where they are in the research process.

5.   Is there a cost involved, and how do I receive the research results?

The benefits provided by the Legal Reference Service are available at no cost to NACUA members.  Most results are sent by e-mail or by fax.  Materials that are not available electronically or that are too lengthy to fax will be sent via regular mail or Federal Express with delivery billed to the member’s Federal Express account.