The Pocket Part: UConn Law Library Blog
Graduate/Summer Access to Westlaw, Lexis + and Bloomberg
Summer is upon us! Whether you are preparing for a summer internship or post-graduate plans, there are online resources available to you. Here’s what you need to know about access to Bloomberg Law, Lexis, Westlaw and library databases. Need a dose of research help? Research & Instruction librarians are available throughout the summer to assist with job or internship questions!
Westlaw
Returning Students
You may use your Westlaw account through the summer for noncommercial research, such as law school activities, research assistant assignments, work for a nonprofit, or in an unpaid internship.
Graduates
You can use Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw and Practical Law, for 6-months after graduation. Your “Grad Elite” access gives you 60-hours of usage 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.
YOU MUST OPT IN TO GRAD ELITE Access:
1) Go to www.lawschool.tr.com; Log in; Use the drop-down menu by your name to go to Grad Elite Status
2) Or Click on this link: https://lawschool.westlaw.com/authentication/gradelite
Lexis
Returning Students
Lexis access continues through the summer with no restrictions on time or usage.
Graduates
After graduation, you will have access to Lexis until December 31, 2024 with no registration required, or restrictions. Use the same Lexis account log on credentials you used in law school. If you are working for a nonprofit organization, you may be able to extend your access even longer through the ASPIRE Program.
Bloomberg Law
Returning Students
Bloomberg access continues through the summer, this access is automatic (no registration required) and is unlimited and unrestricted.
Graduates
2024 graduates have continuous access for six months following graduation, through November 30, 2024. This access is automatic (no registration required) and is unlimited and unrestricted (if students register for Bloomberg Law access before graduation). For any questions on using Bloomberg Law, students and graduates continue to have free access to our 24/7 Help Desk at (888) 560-2529 or help@bloomberglaw.com.
Other Library Databases
Returning Students
Returning students have full access to all of our databases, such as Hein and Proquest throughout the summer.
Graduates
Alumni are always welcome to use the library and seek research help from the reference librarians. If you stay in the area as you begin your legal careers, remember that the majority of our electronic resources can be accessed by any patron from within the library, including Westlaw. We look forward to see you back in the library!
Congrats to our Grads! UConn Law Class of 2024!
The UConn Law Library wants to extend our congratulations to UConn Law Class of 2024! Remember although you will be transitioning from the role of student to alumni, please remember that the law library wants to help you continue your path to that of lawyer.
- Studying for the Bar? Check out our summer library hours so you can maximize your study time.
- Still making employment decisions? Use the tools in our Career Resources Research Guide to research potential employers and the right fit!
- Research question? Don’t forget, you can always chat, call or email a law librarian a reference question throughout your entire legal career!
We are always happy to help you find resources and many of our databases are available for in-library use – that means you will have to come back and visit!
Congratulations and we wish you the best of luck on the bar exam and your legal practice.!
Managing Final Exam Stress
The first week of May is also the start of law school finals. The Law Library, along with Student Affairs and the Mental Health Counseling team, would like to remind our law students, faculty, and staff about the importance of supporting their mental health and encourage everyone to practice wellness and self-care. The Student Wellness Research Guide contains helpful online resources and books available at the law library related to the topics of stress-relief, wellness, and mindfulness with a particular focus on law school and/or the legal profession.
Well-Being Week in Law is May-6-10 and aligns with Mental Health Awareness Month. Well-Being Week in Law (WWIL) is organized annually by the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL) during Mental Health Awareness Month. Its aim is to raise awareness about mental health and encourage action and innovation across the profession all year-round to improve well-being. Check out the website for information about how to register, participate and win prizes (free)!
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by exam stress, remember that the law library is there to help you every step of the way. UConn law library has a team of knowledgeable reference librarians ready to assist students with their research needs. Whether struggling to find relevant materials for a paper or need guidance on navigating complex legal databases, reference librarians are there to help, reach out to us! We are passionate about connecting students with the resources they need to succeed!
Best of luck on finals!!
Thank You Graduating Library Student Employees!
As this semester concludes, we want to pay tribute to our graduating library student employees! They have been instrumental in keeping the library services running! Our students staff the desk on weekends, nights, and during finals. They assist students with course reserves, printing, scanning and library computers and are a terrific source of information about the library and law school. In the words of Anne Rajotte, Associate Director of Research, Instruction, and Scholarship:
Student workers are vital to the library. They help us stay open on nights and weekends, assist at the main desk, and do a lot behind the scenes too. We are going to miss our graduating students and all of the great work they’ve done
To all of our graduating 3L’s, thank you! We wish you all the best and hope you stay in touch as you embark upon your legal careers! We will miss you all!
Earth Day 2024
Earth Day was first observed on April 22, 1970. Originally a grassroots demonstration, this day is now celebrated worldwide.
Senator Gaylord Nelson promoted Earth Day, calling upon students to fight for environmental causes and oppose environmental degradation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formed later that year and legislation was passed to increase recycling and conservation efforts.
For ideas on what you can do to protect the environment check out the Earth Day page at the EPA. Check out the Earth Day toolkit as well. In the meantime, enjoy the weather and UConn Law School campus!
National Library Week: Ready, Set, Library & The Game of Life
National Library Week (April 7-13, 2024) is a celebration of libraries and library workers. The theme for this year’s library week is “Ready, Set, Library” which “illustrates the idea that in our always-online world, libraries give us a green light to something truly special: a place to connect with others, learn new skills, and focus on what matters most…. no matter where you find yourself on the roadmap through life’s journey—preparing for a new career, launching a business, or raising a family—the library provides an inclusive and supportive community where everyone belongs.”
The same is true for our law library, no matter where you find yourself on your legal journey, the UConn Law Library has resources to assist as well as provide an inclusive and supportive community. Much like the iconic board game of life, the journey is an adventure filled with discovery, knowledge, and endless opportunities for growth.
Ready: Legal Research Help
The law library is here to offer everyone legal research assistance. Every member of the Connecticut community, alumni, law students, students of all ages, are encouraged to ask us reference questions. If you are experienced or new to legal research, or someone in between, contact us via phone (860-570-5200), email (refdesk.lawlib@uconn.edu) or visit us in person and we will help you.
If we are not available, our Research Guides are a great place to consult and provide information on many topics including on Connecticut Law, Free Online Legal Research and a Student Toolkit.
Set: Navigating the Legal Landscape
As we set foot in the library, amidst the shelves lined with books, online resources, and digital archives, we have the power to expand our horizons, deepen our understanding, and transform in profound ways. Even though you will face unexpected twists and turns, we can assist you overcome those obstacles with specialized resources and knowledge.
For all researchers we have specialized legal databases. These include HeinOnline, which has many resources including bar journals, complications of state laws, and government documents as well as Westlaw, which is a comprehensive full-text legal database that includes primary and secondary legal materials, legal news, and law related documents. We will help you find the right resource for your question.
Library: The Heartbeat of Community
Much like the game of life, the practice of law is an ever-evolving adventure, filled with twists and turns, challenges and triumphs. Our library serves as a hub of community engagement and information exchange. Like gathering around the game of life board with friends and family, we come together in the library to connect and exchange ideas.
Join us this week in celebration of Library Week. Check out our Game of Life Book display for the variety of resources available to you at any stage of your journey! Play the game, ‘UConn Law Library: How Do we Help You?’ and come to the main desk to collect your prize!
April Fools’ Day! When Media Mischief Means Litigation!
Next Monday is April 1st, a.k.a. April Fool’s Day! If you are thinking about pulling a prank or see something suspicious in a media outlet, remember what starts out as a practical joke sometimes ends up with legal trouble.
In Connecticut, a joke went too far when April Fools’ Day story published by a local newspaper parodying a commercial developer struck a nerve and led to a lawsuit. The case, Victoria Square, LLC v. Glastonbury, brought forth claims of defamation, invasion of privacy by false light and violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA). The Superior court held that the newspaper article discussing a planned development with a huge Wal-Mart, a Hooters facing a church and school, and a helicopter launching pad, was clearly a parody of the newspaper’s usual content and not defamatory.
Other media outlets such as radio stations should remember that broadcasters need to be careful with any practical jokes or pranks prepared especially for the day. The FCC’s rule against broadcast hoaxes, Section 73.1217, prevents stations from running any information about a “crime or catastrophe” on the air, if the broadcaster (1) knows the information to be false, (2) it is foreseeable that the broadcast of the material will cause substantial public harm and (3) substantial public harm is in fact caused.
Bottom line: think before you prank and if a story sounds too good to be true, take a deeper dive!
Online Exhibit! We March On: 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage
UConn Law Library is highlighting Women’s History month by showcasing resources focusing on women and the law.
We March On – Celebrating 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage Exhibit was designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of this achievement. The online exhibit features a historical narrative, recognizes the efforts of the suffrage movement in Connecticut, and showcases contributions to women’s equality by women at UConn School of Law.
Originally produced as six large banners, which were on display at the UConn Law Library, We March On was intended as a traveling exhibit. The online version was created during COVID so that more people could learn about these important individuals and events. Accompanied by stunning period photos and powerful quotes, it’s a riveting view of this movement.
The We March On research guide contains additional information about women at UConn Law, the Equal Rights Amendment and a multitude of resources dedicated to this subject.
Database Spotlight! Women and the Law (Peggy) from Hein
March is Women’s History Month and UConn Law Library is celebrating by highlighting some of its resources focusing on women and the law.
Women and the Law (Peggy), is a collection on HeinOnline that brings together more than 3,600 fully searchable books, biographies, and periodicals dedicated to the role of women in society and the law.
This collection provides a platform for users to research the progression of women’s roles and rights in society over the past 200 years. It also includes titles from Emory University Law School’s Feminism and Legal Theory Project which provide a platform to view the effect of law and culture on the female gender.
HeinOnline has created a LibGuide with more information on the collection.
And if you are wondering why the collection is also called Peggy, take a look at the collection’s homepage for the story!
How do I access Women and the Law (Peggy)?
- Go to the Library website
- Click on Databases A-Z under the Top Library Tools section on lower right
- Scroll down to HeinOnline Women and the Law (Peggy)
Women’s History Month Display at UConn Law Library
Women’s History Month has been recognized in the United States since President Reagan issued Presidential Proclamation 5619 on March 16, 1987, with all the succeeding presidents following suit on an annual basis. In 2024 President Biden’s Proclamation urged us to recognize “the long, storied history of great women helping to realize our Nation’s founding promise and highest aspirations.” Biden’s Proclamation also called upon Americans to celebrate International Women’s Day, celebrated within Women's History Month on March 8th every year.
The first International Women’s Day gathering was in 1911 and is now celebrated by more than one million individuals. Read more about the history here. Be sure to stop by the library to check out our print resources in honor of both Women’s History Month, and International Women’s Day. Also check out UConn Law Library's own research guide, We March On, which features an online exhibit highlighting the women's suffrage movement, UConn Law women and Connecticut's role in the movement.