Greetings and best wishes for a successful summer experience. This guide is intended to help students with basic legal research skills and to serve as a handy guide to finding more detailed information. If you have a reference question, please contact one of our Reference Librarians by phone at (312) 915-7205 or by email at LoyolaLawReference@luc.edu. To set up an in-person meeting, please email LoyolaLawReference@luc.edu.
In addition to the information contained in this Guide, the Law Library also has a number of research guides devoted to specific legal subjects and practice areas. Don't forget to look at those as well.
If you are looking for a research guide on a subject that the Law Library does not have, use Google's advanced search to locate guides from other libraries. Run a search with the key words for your subject and "research guide" as an exact phrase. Then restrict the search to the domain .edu.
This April 30, 2024 article from Law.com provides tips for students on how to "impress your employer and distinguish yourself from other job candidates by being familiar with the basics of GenAI technology, how it can empower legal professionals and potential hazards to watch out for."
In a White Paper published in November, 2016, LexisNexis surveyed 330 summer associates across the country about the legal research and writing skills needed to succeed. Read the results here.
Includes links to key Loyola resources, Cook County resources, Illinois and federal government Web sites, and links to major legal portals.
Loyola Links
Chicago/ Cook County Links
Illinois Links
U.S. Links
General Legal Portals
This page contains links to and information about helpful resources and key contacts that you may need while you are away from school over the summer. Specifically, this page includes:
Law Library Summer Hours
For current Law Library hours, see the monthly calendars.
For more information, you also can contact the following for assistance:
Circulation Desk: (312) 915-6986
Reference Desk: (312) 915-7205
loyolalawreference@luc.edu
Bloomberg Law Access
There are no academic restrictions on your Loyola-issued Bloomberg Law account. Graduating students will continue to have full access to the platform for six months following their graduation. Continuing students can use their academic accounts during their summer employment/activities for ANY purpose. If you have any questions, please contact Colin Caleb (ccaleb@bloombergindustry.com).
Lexis+ Access
Summer Access: Lexis+ is available to all law students once classes end for the summer months of May, June, July and August. LexisNexis believes a student's participation in a summer associate, internship or clerkship program is a valuable part of your legal education. For that reason, during this period the permissible uses of their LexisNexis law school educational ID are expanded to include use at any law firm, government agency, court or other legal position, internship, externship or clerkship.
Extended Access to Lexis+: Spring 2025 graduates have access to Lexis+ via their law school IDs through December 31, 2025. This access can be used for any purpose. Spring graduates have access to most of the same content and features available during law school, excluding public records, Lexis+ AI®, Law 360, and Practical Guidance. On July 10, 2025, the spring graduates' view of the Law School Home Page will automatically switch to the graduate view. This new view provides helpful information for their careers and job search.
Aspire Program: The ASPIRE program is dedicated to graduates engaged in non-profit work. It provides 12 months of free access to federal and state cases, regulations, law reviews, Shepard's, and Matthew Bender treatises to graduates who are engaged in verifiable 501(c)(3) public interest work. For more details, visit https://www.lexisnexis.com/grad-access/ or email Donna Ford (donna.ford@lexisnexis.com) with specific questions.
If you have any general questions, please contact Scott Bernstein (scott.bernstein@lexisnexis.com).
Westlaw Access
Non-Graduating Students (Summer Access): 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. Examples of permissible uses for your academic password include the following:
You do not have to do anything to gain access to these tools over the summer.
Graduating Students: You have access to Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw and Practical Law, for six months after graduation by registering for "Grad Elite". "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.
YOU MUST OPT IN TO GRAD ELITE Access:
1. Go to https://lawschool.thomsonreuters.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.
If you have any questions, please contact Elan Kleis (Elan.Kleis@ThomsonReuters.com).
Law Libraries
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Loyola University Chicago Law Library |
DePaul University Law Library |
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Northwestern Univ. Law Library |
IIT-Chicago Kent Law Library |
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UIC Law Louis L. Biro Law Library |
Univ. Chicago Law Library |
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Harold Washington Public Library |
Cook County Law Library |
Key Research Contacts
Loyola University Chicago Law Library Reference Desk: (312) 915-7205
Circuit Court of Cook County Information: (312) 603-4259
Illinois Legislative Reference Bureau: (217) 782-6625
Bloomberg Law Help Line: (888) 560-2529
Lexis Help Line: 1-800-45-LEXIS (1-800-455-3947)
Westlaw Help Line: 1-800-REF-ATTY (1-800-733-2889)
