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CALR Access for Ole Miss Law Students, Faculty, and Staff

UM-LL: CALR- Computer Assisted Legal Research

LEXIS-NEXIS and Westlaw

LoisLaw

Who is Entitled to LEXIS-NEXIS and Westlaw

LEXIS-NEXIS and Westlaw are two major commercial legal research services. The Ole Miss Law Library subscribes to these services under contracts that restrict full access to the following users:

  • University of Mississippi law students
  • University of Mississippi law faculty and staff
  • University of Mississippi law librarians
  • University of Mississippi Judicial College
  • Mississippi Law Research Institute

Restrictions on the Use of LEXIS-NEXIS and Westlaw

Students may only use Westlaw and LEXIS-NEXIS for academic purposes; that is, for research related to coursework. Students may not use their academic IDs or passwords for work projects for their full-time or part-time jobs (including part-time work during the academic quarters), or for summer clerkships. Students may not use Westlaw for externships, but LEXIS-NEXIS does permit use of student IDs during unpaid externships for which the student receives law school credit.

The Westlaw contract signed by each law student as a condition of being issued a password outlines one possible penalty for violating the restrictions in the use of the academic password: "West reserves the right to collect from User all Westlaw Charges incurred through use of the Law Student Password for purposes other than Educational Purposes at the then-current commercial Westlaw rates."

Where to Access LEXIS-NEXIS and Westlaw

Law students are encouraged to develop and improve their skills in searching Westlaw and LEXIS-NEXIS. Expertise in these services is a marketable skill! These CALR services are available at the Law Library computer labs and off-campus by accessing LEXIS-NEXIS http://lawschool.lexis.com and Westlaw http://lawschool.westlaw.com via the Internet.

Representatives from both companies visit the law school several times each semester to assist users. In addition, Westlaw and LEXIS-NEXIS employ law student representatives to assist users. The student reps' schedules are posted in the 3rd floor computer lab. Stop by during scheduled office hours for one-on-one training. If you have questions about a particular search or about choosing appropriate databases or files, ask the librarian on duty at the Reference Desk, use the telephone hotlines located in the 3rd floor lab, or call the service's toll free number. (Lexis: 1-800-45-LEXIS; Westlaw: 1-800-WESTLAW.)

Summer Use of LEXIS-NEXIS and Westlaw

During the summer months, when most law students are clerking in the "real world," your access to LEXIS-NEXIS and Westlaw is restricted to the career databases and files. However, both services do extend full access for certain categories of students:

  • those taking law classes or working on a project approved by your professor for class credit during the summer quarter
  • those working for a law professor for the summer
  • members of the moot court honor board
  • or members of a law journal staff working on that publication.

If you meet any of these criteria, you should be sure to extend your LEXIS-NEXIS ID before the spring quarter ends so your full access will not be interrupted. The quickest and easiest way to extend is to complete the form on the law school section of the LEXIS-NEXIS website. Westlaw automatically extends passwords for students to use for the activities listed above, however use is limited to two hours per month. After using the two hours, more access time may be obtained by calling 1-800-WESTLAW. Remember, neither Westlaw nor LEXIS-NEXIS may be used in a summer clerkship.

Obtaining a LEXIS-NEXIS ID and a Westlaw Password

First Year Law Students

Westlaw passwords and LEXIS-NEXIS IDs are distributed to Ole Miss law students early in the fall semester of their first year.

Transfer Law Students

Students who transfer to the University of Mississippi School of Law should come to the Reference Desk on the third floor.

Access by Law School Visiting Professors or Visiting Scholars

Visiting Professors or Visiting Scholars at the Law School are entitled to a Westlaw password and a LEXIS-NEXIS ID. If you need one, please contact Stacey Rowland. Her office is Room 324A in the Law Library. Please call her at (662) 915-6912, or send her an email message at salane@olemiss.edu. Leave your name, email address, if any, and the ending date of your appointment at the Law School. She can send you the password and ID by email if you have an email account. Otherwise, they will be delivered to your law school mail box.

Access to LEXIS-NEXIS by Non-Law Ole Miss Students, Faculty, and Staff

The University of Mississippi Libraries have a contract with LEXIS-NEXIS for educational access to its Web product, LEXIS-NEXIS Academic UNIVerse for non-law students, faculty, and staff. If using an Ole Miss computer, this product may be accessed at http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe; if not you will need a user name and password. Use is limited to UM students who are enrolled in degree programs, active faculty, and staff. If using an Ole Miss computer, this product may be accessed at http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe; if not you will need a user name and password which may be obtained from the reference staff at J.D. Williams Library. Non-law Ole Miss students, faculty, and staff who want more information about LEXIS-NEXIS Academic UNIVerse should contact the reference staff at J.D. Williams Library.

Access to LoisLaw by Ole Miss Law Students, Faculty, and Staff

LoisLaw, http://www.loislawschool.com, provides no-cost subscriptions for law school students and faculty. To subscribe, register using UM's special access code, which you can obtain from a librarian. Use of LoisLaw is not limited to school; students may use it for work, and access continues for six months after graduation. Coverage varies from state to state; coverage of Mississippi law is quite good. The LoisLaw library for Mississippi includes case law from 1924-present, commmittee rules, the Mississippi Code, and current general laws. While Mississippi administrative regulations are not included, LoisLaw does provide them for most other states.

For more information about LoisLaw, please stop by the Reference Desk.

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