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Summer Resources Guide: Database Use Over the Summer

Law librarians are available all summer long, 9 AM - 5 PM. Contact us at reference@law.villanova.edu for assistance. Please note that most other law school departments will be closed on Fridays throughout the summer.

Summer 2024 - Legal Research Mini Sessions

The Law Library will host a number of research mini sessions this summer! These mini sessions will take place at noon on Zoom and will last 15-20 minutes. 

  • Session 1: Thursday, June 27 - 50 State Surveys with Prof. Jason Happ

    • 50-State Surveys are compilations of statutes, regulations, or other sources of law from multiple jurisdictions on a particular topic.

    • Recording available here

  • Session 2: Thursday, July 11, 12pm – Expert Witness Research with Prof. Emma Kearney

  • Session 3: Wednesday, July 24, 12pm – Docket Research with Prof. Lori Corso

These sessions are provided for educational purposes only. Resources shown are available to Villanova Law students and may not be accessible to viewers who are not members of the Villanova Law School community. VLS students should check below on the use of VLS provided databases, such as Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg Law for summer work.

Prepare to Practice Training Session 2023 (Recording Available!)
The Law Library hosted a training session focused on lesser-known research resources that you may utilize over the summer. The session reviewed topics including: finding jury instructions, verdicts, forms, dockets, public records, and other tools often used outside of the academic experience. This training session will be useful whether you are going out to your first summer position or starting your permanent job. A recording of the training is available.

 

Prepare to Practice Training Session Recording (June 2023)

Research Assistance

Law librarians are available all summer: 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday - Friday and evenings andLaw librarylogo weekends by appointment.


Stop by or contact us at reference@law.villanova.edu or 610-519-7020 for assistance or to schedule a zoom meeting.

Please note that most other law school departments will be closed on Fridays between graduation and the start of the fall orientation. 

Westlaw, Lexis & Bloomberg Summer Use by Rising 2Ls & 3Ls

NOTE: Some employer policies require the use of firm accounts.

  • Bloomberg: Automatic, unlimited access for schoolwork, private study or employment during the summer
     
  • Lexis+: Unlimited, unrestricted (for work, fun, or school) access to Lexis+ all summer on your current Lexis ID
     
  • Westlaw: Westlaw and Practical Law may be used for non-commercial research but can’t be used in situations where you are billing a client. Examples of permissible uses for your academic password include the following: Summer coursework, Research assistant assignments, Law Review or Journal research, Moot Court research, Non-Profit work, Clinical work, unpaid Externship for course credit

Your employer may be using an older version of Westlaw that differs somewhat from the Westlaw Precision platform we use here in law school. See these guides for Summer Associates working with Westlaw Edge and Westlaw Classic for assistance.

Other Law Databases

All other law databases are accessible remotely over the summer without restriction. See the Law Databases page for a full list that includes: 

Falvey Databases

Falvey Library offers access to many different interdisciplinary resources covering medical, business, news resources, social science materials and many more. 

View their Subject Guides to locate resources by topic like:

Can also browse the A-Z list or find a resource by name by searching their catalog