Lining up a summer job or preparing to graduate? Before you head out, you’ll want to know what’s available to you from the big three research databases and beyond.
BLOOMBERG LAW
RETURNING STUDENTS’ SUMMER USE: You may use your HLS Bloomberg Law account for any purpose, including research for employers.
NEW GRADUATES: You may continue to use your HLS Bloomberg Law account for six months after graduation.
If you haven’t already signed up for a Bloomberg Law account and would like to do so, go to www.bloomberglaw.com/activate (use your Harvard email. No activation code is necessary). If you have any questions, contact the Bloomberg Law 24/7 Help Desk at 1-888-560-BLAW or [email protected]. You can also contact our representative, Brendan Greally.
LEXIS
RETURNING STUDENTS’ SUMMER USE: You have free unlimited use of your HLS Lexis Advance account during the summer, whether you’re clerking, interning, externing or at a firm. (Keep in mind that you may be required to use a different ID when researching for a client. Be sure to check with your employer.)
NEW GRADUATES: After graduation, you have automatic extended access to your HLS Lexis Advance account for six months, through December 31, 2019. If you participate in the Student Rewards program, be sure to use up your points by June 30 (starting July 5, there is a different program for graduates).
ASPIRE PROGRAM FOR GRADUATES ENGAGED IN NON-PROFIT WORK: The 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. If interested, you need to apply for this access.
If you have any questions, please contact our representative, Becky Ehrlichman.
WESTLAW
RETURNING STUDENTS’ SUMMER USE: You can use Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw and Practical Law, 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. You do not have to do anything to gain access to these tools over the summer. 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
NEW GRADUATES: You have access to Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw and Practical Law, for six months after graduation by registering for “Grad Elite” access here. “Grad Elite” access gives you 60-hours of usage on these products 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.
If you have any questions, please contact our representative, Mark Frongillo.
OTHER DATABASES
Continuing students have full access over the summer to most other library resources at Harvard simply by using your HUIDs and PINs. So if you need JSTOR, HeinOnline, Academic Search Premier or most other databases, you’re all set!
New alumni continue to have access to some databases, including HeinOnline’s Law Journal Library and the CQ Press Library, a great source for information and data on government and politics. Click through to our guide to Library Services for HLS Alumni for information about how to claim your Harvard Key and get access, plus learn about other resources for alumni and how to stay connected from afar.
QUESTIONS?
Feel free to contact us with any questions about summer access, alumni access, or any research-related questions over the summer and beyond. Our full contact details are available at Ask a Librarian.