Law Student Summer Access to Legal Databases

This is a question that inevitably comes up around this time every year. A student asks, "can I use my Westlaw, Lexis, and/or Bloomberg account for my summer internship?"

The Harvard Law School Library Blog has put together a wonderful post about using the various legal databases during the summer. 

BLOOMBERG LAW

If your workplace has a Bloomberg Law account, you are expected to use that, but there are no restrictions on your Bloomberg accounts over the summer. Need an account? If you law school has a subscription, just sign up with your law school email address. 

LEXIS 

Your law school ID will let you access Lexis Advance all summer for:

• Academic, professional, and non-profit research (note: some employers may give you an ID to use for work purposes)
• All legal content and news you have as a law student
• Unlimited hours per week

You do not have to register for this access. Your law school ID will remain active all summer for the above purposes and you will continue earning points as well! Summer access begins on the date your classes end through the date your classes begin in the fall. Normal law school terms of service apply outside of these dates.

New graduates, your school Lexis IDs will automatically turn into graduate Lexis IDs on July 01, 2016. Graduates can use Lexis Advance to study for the bar, prepare for job interviews, and at their new position. They will have unlimited access to Lexis Advance until Dec 31, 2016.

WESTLAW

Current students may extend the access on their student Westlaw passwords for the summer if you are:

• working for a law review or journal
• working as a research assistant for a law professor
• doing moot court work
• taking summer law school classes, or completing papers or other academic projects for spring semester
• doing an unpaid private non-profit (non-government) intern/externship or pro bono work required for graduation

Law school student passwords may not be used for government offices or agencies, law firms, corporations or other purposes unrelated to law school academic work.

To extend your password for summer access, visit this Westlaw password extension page.

New law school graduates may extend their Westlaw subscription through November 30, 2016 by completing a short survey. This extension will begin on June 1, 2016 and will last through November 30, 2016. It will allow graduates a total of 60 hours of access during that six month period (6 months or 60 hours).