Month: May 2026

Summer & Post-Graduate Access to Bloomberg, Lexis & Westlaw: What You Need to Know

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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 Nexis, 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!

 Logo of Lexis Nexis

Lexis

Returning Students

Lexis access continues through the summer with no restrictions on time or usage.

Graduates

Graduate Gift: The Graduate Portal has been updated to reflect the new Graduate Gift Program. Graduates must enroll using the new, program-specific Insider link to activate their Lexis+ AI access with their graduate ID. Once signed up, the process of adding Lexis+ with Protege to their IDs is a manual process that will be completed within two weeks of them filling out the form. LexisNexis Insider 

Aspire Program

The LexisNexis 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 Logo

           Westlaw

Returning Students

You can use Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw®, Practical Law, and CoCounsel over the summer for non-commercial research. You can turn to these resources to gain understanding and build confidence in your research skills, but you cannot use them 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
  • Externship sponsored by the school

You do not have to do anything to gain access to these tools over the summer. If you have any questions, please contact your Thomson Reuters Academic Account Manager.

Graduates

You can use Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw, CoCounsel 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

 

Bloomberg Law Logo

Bloomberg Law

Returning Students

Bloomberg access continues through the summer, this access is automatic (no registration required) and is unlimited and unrestricted.

Graduates 

2026 graduates have continuous access for six months following graduation, through November 30, 2026. 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 the  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. Need help with a summer research project?  Stop by, call or chat with us, or schedule an in-person or virtual research consultation!

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 2026!

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The UConn Law Library wants to extend our congratulations to UConn Law Class of 2026! 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.

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.!

 

Final Exam Hours, Final Words: Library Exam Hours & Parting Reflections

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In our recent post celebrating our graduating student employees, we highlighted the many ways they contribute the the law library and UConn Law. This time, we’re turning the spotlight over to them.

We asked each student to reflect on their experience working in the law library- what they learned, and what they’ll carry forward.  Here’s what they had to say.

 Matt Shor, UConn Law Class of ’26

Matt Shor, Research, Research Assistant Extraordinaire, UConn Law Class of 2026

Working in the knowledge mine has been one of the most unexpectedly rewarding experiences of my law school tenure! From the people who staff this excellent institution to the faculty requests for research help, I’ve learned so many unique aspects of the law that literally aren’t taught in classrooms. It’s been a pleasure and an honor. Thank you!

 Kayla Kelly, UConn Law Class of ’26

“This job was the best first decision I could ever make as a 1L. I still remember opening the incoming student newsletter and spotting the job posting for a Student Library Assistant starting in Summer 2023. I was probably the only person I knew excited to work 40+ hours a week on the library’s cold first floor all summer, shifting dusty book collections dating back to the 1900s. When you work front desk in the most populous building, you are the first impression that people have about the library (and arguably, the campus) and the first greeting they receive for the day. As a 1L, it was the biggest “cheat code” to making new friends since everyone’s scrambling to scan their assigned readings before their textbooks arrived and learning how to navigate institutional resources.

Kayla Kelly, Standout Law Library Assistant, UConn Law Class of 2026

Over time, the role became much more than a shift, it has become a space for connection and care. The front desk turned into a place where 1Ls could confide in me as I helped rewrite networking emails, where classmates shared outlines, where I connected two individuals and watched their friendship blossom, where we held impromptu discussions about current events, and even serve as a therapy corner for someone could pause and be heard while carrying something heavy. It also became a place where members of the broader Hartford community reminded me of the need for more attentive, compassionate attorneys in the world. To the library staff who watched me grow from a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed 21-year-old 1L into an almost 24-year-old (slightly bright-eyed) graduating 3L; to the past and present student staff I’ve have the pleasure to bother during their shifts and laughing with; to our colleagues across the library (IT, Student Services, Café staff, etc.)—THANK YOU! It’s been an immense privilege to grow within a community grounded in fellowship, support, and care. Thank you for keeping my heart warm all these years.”

 Austin Robertson, UConn Law Class of ’26

Austin Robertson, Library Assistant Rockstar, UConn Law Class of 2026

My experience working in the law library was one of the most meaningful parts of my time at UConn Law. I had the opportunity to learn from the incredible team behind the library while also engaging with the student body each day. I will always be grateful for that experience!”

Something I’ll take away from working in the law library is how important the library is to the student experience on campus. Working behind the scenes with the incredibly talented reference librarians and library staff showed me how much time and effort goes into creating such a wonderful learning space for the students. I will always remember how dedicated to the students the members of the library truly are.

 

Thank you Kayla, Austin and Matt!  We will miss you all!  Once part of the law library team, always part of it.