H3 sideBar Title

sidebar content link

Research Assistant Resources

This guide is designed to give both practical and research advice for Research Assistants. Anytime you have questions about any aspect of legal research or using the Library, feel free to contact the Reference Desk, in person (we're in the Reading Room), by phone at 202-662-9140, or online.

Library Orientation

The Library will be holding two RA orientation training sessions.  In the orientation, RAs will learn about library services and policies and will gain an introduction to our databases and to best research practices.

The sessions will be:

• Thursday May 28, 2009 from 11 am to noon; and
• Thursday, June 4, 2009 from 4-5 pm.

Both sessions will be held in EB Williams Room 420.

Please RSVP to Thanh Nguyen (nguyent2@law.georgetown.edu) with which session you plan to attend.

The Library also encourages RAs to make individual appointments with Faculty Services to discuss resources and strategies relevant to their specific summer projects and assignments.  Please email Thanh (nguyent2@law.georgetown.edu) if you would like to set up an appointment.

Getting Set Up

Research Assistants need to do the following to get started:

• Printing. RAs are issued a special card for printing. See Cathy Strain in the Faculty Support Office, McDonough Room 477, 202-662-9285, strainc@law.georgetown.edu.
• Photocopying. RAs must get their GoCards programmed to use a print override. Go first to the Student Accounts Office, McDonough Room 581, 202-662-9057, for an Authorization for Photocopying for RAs form. Next, take the form to the GoCard Office to have your GoCard programmed. McDonough Room 133, 202-662-9915. You may use your GoCard and the override code to make photocopies at any of the Georgetown libraries, including Lauinger, the main campus library.
• Checking out Books. RAs must complete the Faculty Research Assistant Authorization Form available at the Williams Circulation Desk, or online. Have your professor sign the form, and return it to the Circulation Desk.
• Carrels. RAs may request a carrel at the Circulation Desk.
• Lauinger Library (main campus).

  Research Assistants may borrow books from Lauinger Library in their professor's name.

  • Complete both the registration form and the proxy privileges form available at the Williams Reference Desk
  • Have the faculty member sign both forms.
  • Present the forms at the Circulation Desk at Lauinger to activate RA borrowing privileges.

Summer Use of Lexis and Westlaw

Access to Lexis and Westlaw is restricted over the summer.

Lexis

In the past, Lexis has offered to extended summer access to continuing students who register their IDs by a specific deadline for the following reasons:

• Summer School;
• School-Related Research Assignment;
• Moot Court Research;
• Law Review or Journal Research;
• Working as a Professor's Research Assistant;
• Non-Profit Externship;
• Unpaid Internship/Externship

You can register for an extension, which allows you full access through the end of the summer. Click here for the LexisNexis Summer Access Program. If you take no action, your account will be limited to Career information as of June 1st.

Westlaw

Westlaw passwords will remain active over the summer for up to two hours of research each month. Students can extend access to full access over the summer if they have a valid educational need under one of the following provisions:

• taking summer classes;
• law review member;
• moot court member;
• faculty research assistant; and
• unpaid non-profit public interest internship/externship or pro bono work required for graduation.

In addition, Westlaw is granting extended access for graduating students studying for the bar.

To register for these programs :

• Academic, Non-Profit & Internship use (you will be required to sign in to access the form)
• Bar Prep Access, sign on and click the banner ad on the right promoting the graduate survey and password extension program. Complete the survey and extend your password. 

On Westlaw, Live Help will be suspended for law school passwords on June 1 to resume service on August 1. Questions can be directed to our Westlaw rep, Denise Stewart, at Denise.Stewart@ThomsonReuters.com .

Sources and Research

Tips and Guides

• Before You Start Your Research...
• Checklist of Basic Sources
• Using GULLiver (the Online Catalog)
• Finding Journal Articles
• Guide to Legal Journals
• Comparing Lexis and Westlaw
• Looseleaf Services
• Federal Legislative History Research Guide
• Federal Administrative Law Research Guide
• Notes from Foreign & International RA Training, 2002

Research Help

Online Tutorials

In conjunction with the Legal Research and Writing Faculty, the Williams Reference Staff developed a number of online legal research tutorials to teach you the important research skills you'll need to succeed in school and in practice. Try our Treaties Research Tutorial to learn more about researching treaties.

Treatise Finder

When you are looking for a treatise on a specific topic, such as Torts Law or Employment Law, start with our Treatise Finder for a listing of the preeminent treatises, as well as nutshells and other helpful sources

In Depth Research

Need a more comprehensive guide to a specific research topic or technique? Visit our In Depth Research page for links to guides international and foreign law topics, as well as guides on U.S. federal and state topics. Some of our most popular international guides include From GATT to WTO, Human Rights Law, International Trade Law and Introduction to International Law.

Remote Access to Services

Wherever you work during the summer, you can still use our services:

• electronic databases
• reference help

Study Resources

Coming to study at the library? Check out this information on past exams, course reserves, library hours, and floor maps.

About the Library

Just need to find out something about the library? Read about Williams and Wolff or see our policies, services, forms, collection and staff pages.

Page last saved on 06/15/2009