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Summer Associates

This page connects you to some resources to help you with research questions that may arise during your summer employment. 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.

 

Summer Use of Lexis and Westlaw

Access to Lexis and Westlaw is restricted over the summer unless you are eligible for an extension. Please see the details set forth below regarding eligibility as well as the steps you must take to ensure proper extension of your access.

Lexis

Lexis will extend summer access to continuing or graduating students who register their IDs by a specific deadline for a valid academic purpose, which includes:

• Class Preparation and Assignments if Enrolled in Summer Classes;
• Research Associated with Moot Court or a Law Journal/Law Review;
• Research Associated with Pursuing a Grant or Scholarship;
• Service as a Research Assistant to a Professor;
• Research as Part of an Unpaid Internship, Externship, Clinic Position or Clerkship for School Credit; and
• Research as Part of Bar Review.

You can register for an extension, which allows you full access through the end of the summer, by clicking here for the LexisNexis Summer Access Program.

In addition, Lexis recently established its Associates Serving Public Interest Research (ASPIRE) program. Through this program, Lexis will extend access to all graduating law students in the following groups who are serving in the public interest:

• Deferred fall associates pursuing public interest work during their deferral periods;
• 2009 graduates who elect to pursue public interest work while searching for law firm employment; and
• 2009 graduates who are pursuing public interest work as a continuing profession.

The maximum period for such an extension is through September, 2010. For more information on eligibility requirements as well as how to apply, see: www.lexisnexis.com/aspire.

Westlaw

Westlaw will extend summer access to continuing or graduating students who register their IDs by a specific deadline if they have a valid educational need, which includes:

• Summer Law School Classes;
• Law Review or Law Journal Work;
• Project for a Professor;
• Moot Court;
• Unpaid, Non-Profit Public Interest Internship/Externship or Pro Bono Work Required for Graduation; and
• Preparation for the July Bar Exam.

You can register for an extension of access privileges through the summer months by clicking here to extend your Westlaw password.

In addition, rumor has it that Westlaw has a program in the works that is similar to Lexis' ASPIRE program outlined above. We will update this page with more specific details once that information is released.

 

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 youll need to succeed in school and in practice.

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.

Research Guides

If you need a more comprehensive guide to a specific research topic or technique, search or browse our extensive research guides on U.S. federal and state topics, as well as international and foreign law topics.

 

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 08/18/2009