Exams wrapping up and warm weather on the horizon may turn your thoughts from legal theory to beach philosophy, but the Law Library is a four-season friend with resources for our patrons all summer long.
First, the Law Library is open throughout the summer. If you need space to study, you can't beat the natural light in the Habush, Habush & Rottier Reading Room or all the crannies you can cloister in on the 2nd and 1st floors. Our hours are a bit shorter during the intercession and over the summer, but you can find all the hours here. Our great reference librarians are available in-person, via phone, email, or chat from 9AM-6PM during the summer hours Monday to Friday. We look forward to helping you track down those hard-to-find resources or to help you navigate research questions from your summer employer.
Law students also have access to Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law over the summer. Even graduating law students retain access for six months following graduation. Lexis and Bloomberg Law access continues without registration, but Westlaw requires that graduates complete the Grad Elite program. To do so, graduates must either log in to www.lawschool.tr.com. Use the drop-down menu by your name to go to Grad Elite Status, or Click on this link: https://lawschool.westlaw.com/authentication/gradelite.
Students also retain access to University resources over the summer. If you are a returning student in the fall, all your NetID resources (HeinOnline, Proquest, JStor, many others) are available all summer. Graduating students have access to these same resources through likely at least August, or until campus removes their IDs from active status. Of course, you can always visit the Law Library (or the fantastic State Law Library located on MLK Boulevard, right near the Capital) to access these resources anytime in your legal career since all the NetID-based resources are available via hard-wired desktops or Wifi on campus.
If you’re studying for the Bar Exam, our study rooms offer a place to lock in and tune out without the distractions of the main library. We also have a collection of Bar Prep materials available at the Circulation Desk to supplement the excellent resources available through UW’s Bar Success program.
The Law Library has created a whole list of resources that are available to alumni, whether you are on campus or settling into a new home far away. If you are staying in Wisconsin after graduation, note that you can get a law card and continue to check out materials.
Summer is meant for fun, and so is the Law Library (sort of, if you think about it). Take some time to check out our DVD collection, containing law-related feature films and documentaries which are available at the Circulation Desk for three day loan. An external DVD drive is also available for loan at the Circulation Desk. We also have plenty of books to read for pleasure with your toes in the sand, a topic more fully explored in my previous newsletter, “Reading? In this Economy?” The Ping Pong paddles and law theme boardgames will also be available all summer long.
Please remember you can always contact the Law Library for assistance, whether it's the winter holidays or the dog days of summer. Congratulations to our graduates, and an even bigger congrats to all you law students on your hard work this last semester. Enjoy your summer and we'll hopefully see or hear from you soon!
Submitted by Manriquez,Elizabeth on May 7, 2026
This article appears in the categories: Law Library
