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Library Services Fall 2024

Reference Librarians

Whatever you’re doing this summer, you’ll likely need to perform some legal research, and the library has you covered.

Reference librarians will be available Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by email, and we’ll do our best to respond promptly to emails sent outside those times. We can also schedule phone or Zoom calls for more extensive research questions.

Research Assistant Training

The library held its annual summer research assistant training via Zoom on Thursday, June 8 at 6:00.

A recording of the training is available below.

The training covered how students can best use Pence and University library resources and how to access resources beyond our collections, including revised interlibrary loan procedures. We’ll also introduce them to specialized databases, non-legal research, and answer any specific research questions they have. We encourage all research assistants to attend.

The library will hold a second training later in the summer to provide a primer on foreign/international law research for those working with faculty planning foreign or international law research projects. That date has not yet been set; we’ll let you know once it is.

This is a great opportunity for students to meet many of the reference librarians and become more comfortable using the library for their research. 

Research Guides

We also have an extensive collection of research guides on a variety of subjects: https://wcl.american.libguides.com/. If you need a primer or refresher on a topic, our research guides are a great place to start.

Lexis, Westlaw & Bloomberg Law Access

Lexis+

Summer: Students will automatically have free unlimited use of their law school Lexis+ ID this summer. This includes workplace-related research, although students should check with their employer. Many firms prefer summer associates use a firm-issued Lexis ID. No registration is required for summer access; students sign in as usual.

All Graduates: Graduates automatically have Lexis+ access for 6 months. Continue to use your law school username and password while you prepare for the bar exam and employment. No registration is required. Graduates can sign into Lexis+ as usual. You will have access to the same legal and news content enjoyed in law school, excluding public records.

ASPIRE Program for Graduates Engaged in Non-Profit Work: The ASPIRE program provides 12 months of free access to federal and state cases, codes, regulations, law reviews, Shepard's® Citation Service and Matthew Bender® treatises to graduates who are engaged in verifiable 501(c)(3) public interest work.

Westlaw Edge

Summer: Students can use Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw Edge and Practical Law, over the summer for non-commercial research. You cannot use them in situations where you are billing a client. Examples of permissible uses for your academic password include the following:

  • Summer course work
  • Research assistant assignments
  • Law review or journal research
  • Moot court research
  • Clinical work
  • Externships

 

Students do not have to do anything to gain access to these tools over the summer.

Graduates: Students have access to Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw Edge and Practical Law, for eighteen months after graduation. Your “Grad Elite” access gives you 60-hours of usage on these products per month to gain understanding and build confidence in your research skills. While you cannot use it in situations where you are billing a client, Thomson Reuters encourages you to use these tools to build your knowledge of the law and prepare for your bar exam. Extend access by logging into: http://www.lawschool.tr.com or clicking on this link: https://lawschool.westlaw.com/authentication/gradelite.

Bloomberg Law

Summer: Students may use Bloomberg Law in any capacity they choose during summer (academic, work, research).

Graduates: Spring graduates have access to Bloomberg Law for 6 months after graduation. There are no out of plan or search limitations.