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About Us

JCPLL is a non-profit organization supported solely by private donations and fees allocated under Kentucky Revised Statutes 172.180 and 453.060.

JCPLL serves a diverse set of patrons including; attorneys from Legal Aid, the public defenders' office, county and commonwealth's attorneys, sole practitioners and other attorneys from firms large and small; professionals from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure, Kentucky Board of Nursing and the Fair Housing Council; students from Sullivan University, Daymar College and other area schools; as well as members of the general public who are representing themselves in court or just in need of general legal information.

The Law Library collection contains approximately 50,000 volumes of state and federal published opinions; city and county ordinances; state and federal statutes; legal periodicals and law reviews; treatises, form books and miscellaneous reference materials such as Fletcher's on Corporations, Couch on Insurance, Collier's on Bankruptcy, Social Security Law and Practice, etc. Please call JCPLL if you have any questions regarding the collection. (502) 574-5943.

JCPLL is available to all as a reference facility and is located in an accessible location in downtown Louisville within walking distance of the Hall of Justice, Judicial Center, the Federal Courthouse, Louisville Metro Department of Corrections, many local law firms and sole practitioners as well as downtown Louisville landmarks.

JCPLL is a non-profit corporation serving on average 60-85 people a day, proving that JCPLL is an integral part of the community it serves. Suggestions for additional services are collected by the staff and evaluated by a board of trustees. The trustees oversee the library's spending in order to help keep the law library from being a burden on local and state budgets.

JCPLL has had many struggles in the past, however with the tireless efforts of the Board of Trustees, past and present, and the continued support of the community, we have survived. We are very much aware of the financial struggles felt by all at this time. However we sincerely hope that we will be able to continue on course, thus allowing us to add to the history of providing services to the community that has made us what we are today - free to the public.

Throughout the years there have been many times when money was tight for JCPLL. Conservative spending and creative fundraising ideas have helped supplement revenue to keep the library open to the public.

Here are some examples:

  •  When one of the library's computers "died" in 1999 a "Y2K bug" fund was started in the hopes of acquiring funds for the purchase of a new machine. * "Please Donate" mint display begs for just a little change, because "your pocket change will breathe life into the library."
  •  Starting in 1984 JCPLL begins to collect yearly membership dues from local attorneys who wish to utilize extra services of the library (i.e. checkout privileges and free Westlaw and Lexis use). Membership funds are used specifically for subscriptions.
  •  A photocopy account program was started to allow attorney's and firms to be billed for copies made at the library. A service fee is collected for this convenience. * Duplicator Sales partners with the library by donating a copier and paying for its maintenance and supplies. The library receives 30% of the profits from copies. Copies are 20 cents per page - ten cents of this goes directly into the technology fund.
  •  Applications for grants have been submitted to the Louisville Bar Foundation and the Kentucky IOLTA Fund as well as many others.
  •  An annual luncheon and silent auction is held in December. Proceeds from the luncheon are donated to different charitable organizations each year: past recipients have been Wayside Christian Mission, The Healing Place, American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen Foundation.