Student Toolkit

Opening Arguments: A Warm Welcome to Our 1Ls!

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From Orientation to Graduation: We’ve Got Your Back!

The start of your 1L year is an exciting, challenging, and transformative time—and the law library is here to be your partner every step of the way. Whether you’re mastering your first case briefing, untangling the mysteries of the Bluebook, or just looking for a quiet spot to read, the library is more than just a place for books. It’s your hub for research, study, collaboration, and, yes, a bit of well-deserved downtime.

What You’ll Find Here:

Expert Research Support: Our reference librarians can guide you through legal databases, legislative histories, and specialized research tools that will save you time and frustration.

Study Spaces for Every Style: From silent zones for deep focus to group rooms for collaborative projects, you can choose the environment that works best for you.

Technology and Tools: Need a scanner, charging station, or printer? We’ve got you covered.

Workshops and Tutorials: Learn essential legal research skills, explore advanced search strategies, and get tips on effective outlining and exam prep.

Pro tip: Stop by early in the semester—even if you don’t have a burning research question yet. Building familiarity with the library now will pay off when assignments and deadlines start to pile up.

Finally, we wanted to feature the Student Toolkit  which provides information on all aspects of the law library, from study aids, research help, course reserves and study rooms, check out this research guide to get started.

Image of landing page of research guide named Student Toolkit.
Landing page of Student Toolkit research guide

We’re thrilled to welcome you into our law school community and can’t wait to see how your journey unfolds. Here’s to a year of curiosity, resilience, and maybe just a little too much coffee.

 

Labor Day: More Than Just a Long Weekend

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UConn Law Library will be closed Monday, September 2, in honor of Labor Day. Although considered the “unofficial” end of summer and celebrated with cookouts, parades and athletic events, Labor Day’s purpose is to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers.

Labor Day  was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday on June 28, 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed a bill, S. 730, establishing Labor Day as a national holiday.

The earliest known celebration of Labor Day is recognized as September 5, 1882 when a parade, followed by a picnic, was sponsored by the Central Labor Union in New York City. Many workers risked their jobs to participate in this parade.

 

Photo from 1882 showing first Labor Day Parade
Illustration of the first American Labor parade held in New York City on September 5, 1882 as it appeared in the September 16, 1882 issue of Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper.

 

Did you know that many Federal holidays fall on a Monday because of the 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act? This act enabled federal and state employees to enjoy more three day weekends.

For more information on the history of Labor Day, check out this collection of blog posts about Labor Day at the Library of Congress Blog.  and this article, What Is Labor Day? A History of the Workers’ Holiday by the New York Times.

As we enjoy the holiday, let’s remember the dedication and struggles of those who came before us and continue to strive for a fair and equitable workplace for all. See you all on September 3, when the library reopens.

Get Ready for 1L Year!

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It’s August and 1L year at UConn Law is about to start!

For many of you, the law library will be considered a key part of your law school experience.  The adjoining cafe, classrooms, study rooms, IT, admissions, and of course research materials and librarians, are all housed in the library building!

There’s alot to absorb, so we figured we would start with the best resource to learn about the law library.

The Student Toolkit provides information on all aspects of the law library, from study aids, research help, course reserves and study rooms, check out this research guide to get started.

Image of landing page of research guide named Student Toolkit.
Landing page of Student Toolkit research guide

Our in-library display also features many great resources to start your 1L year, all come recommended from 2 and 3L’s who have been there, done that!

Book display featuring books about 1L year.
Book display at UConn Law Library

We look forward to greeting, and meeting you all!