Location: 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Judicial Center, Bldg 10B, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Contact Information: (757) 385-4419 Phone
(757) 385-8742 Fax
Programs & EventsParking
The Wahab Public Law Library is located within the Virginia Beach Judicial Center. You may find on-street parking on James Madison Blvd and Courthouse Drive. In addition, there is a parking area behind the Police Department at the corner of Courthouse Drive and James Madison Blvd.
Building Access & Security
Everyone entering the Judicial Center will be screened by security and must pass through a metal detector. Cell phones (all types of communication devices), cameras, laptops, and all types of recorders are not allowed in the building. All items brought into the Judicial Center are subject to search.
About the Law Library
The Wahab Public Law Library is named for the late Circuit Court Judge, the Honorable Robert S. Wahab, Jr., and was officially dedicated in 1979. The Law Library has been a part of the Virginia Beach Public Library since 1971 and opened at its current location in June 1993.
Our mission is to provide free access to current legal and law-related information for research and the practice of law, and well-trained professional staff to provide quality customer service to the general public, government agency employees, the judiciary, and members of the legal profession.
Funding for the Wahab Public Law Library is authorized by Code of Virginia §42.1-70 which permits assessments for a public law library as part of costs in civil actions filed in the Circuit and General District Courts. Donations in support of our continuing operations are gladly accepted and are tax deductible.
Library Resources
The Wahab Public Law Library print collection contains over 12,500 items, including a strong collection of Virginia specific legal materials, caselaw, Virginia and national form books, Virginia and federal jury instructions, legal encyclopedias, law journals, restatements, and continuing legal education materials.
Electronic Legal Research
The following electronic legal resources are available for legal research in the Computer Lab:
Geronimo’s Casefinder Web – Virginia and federal primary materials.
Westlaw and WestlawNext Patron Access – All state and federal statutes and cases, including many unpublished cases, federal regulations in Code of Federal Regulations and Federal Register, KeyCite and a variety of other resources.
LexisNexis Patron Access - All state and federal statutes and cases, access to Shepards, some Virginia-specific secondary materials including Virginia Forms.
Brochures and Research Guides
The Wahab Public Law Library staff has assembled an extensive collection of brochures on a wide range of topics, including titles published by various government agencies as well as resource guides created by the staff. Selected research guides are available through this web site.
Services at the Law Library
The Law Library staff is available to provide tours or introductory training on the print and electronic resources for groups on a scheduled basis. Individuals may request a tour of the library or introductory training on our print and electronic resources at any time.
We provide five public access computers with Internet access, Microsoft Office, and legal research software. Printing and copying are available for .20 per page, payable by cash, check, or debit/credit card ($1 minimum).
A typewriter is available for public use at no charge as is a microform reader printer. Customers who wish to save their work should supply their own storage devices or they may purchase 1 GB flash drives for $7. Headphones are available for $1. If all computers are in use and people are waiting, customers will be limited to thirty-minute sessions.