The Law Library has just published a LibGuide for law students interested in learning more about generative AI and what it can do for your law school workflow. You can access it here: https://libguides.wlu.edu/GenAI/. See preview below:
A freshly updated guide to resources for student summer employment is now online, courtesy of the W&L Law Library.
The guide is based on the Spring Into Summer Success with W&L Law Library and OCS program held at W&L Law between March 17 and April 3, 2025. It includes guidance and resources for conducting smart and efficient legal research and making the most of the summer work experience. Information is relevant for any legal workplace, such as private firms, public interest organizations, judicial internships, or government agencies.
Content includes:
Streaming video recordings of the in-person sessions are included where available.
You are welcome to reach out to the W&L Law Library (lawref@wlu.edu) and Office of Career Strategy (lawcareer@wlu.edu), both while preparing for your job now and during the summer. We are glad to help and will do our best to get you the information or advice you need!
Zotero is free software that can create and manage citations in many different formats, including Bluebook! To use Bluebook citation with Zotero, follow these steps:
Be sure to check out the Law Library’s helpful LibGuide on using Zotero here: https://libguides.wlu.edu/zoterolaw
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the Law Library at lawref@wlu.edu.
Guest post by Haley Lawson, 1L and SLACer
After taking Legal Research as a 1L, a law student might feel like they have mastered Westlaw and Lexis and can seamlessly find the answer to any legal research question thrown at them.
While I do not want to burst your bubble, your understanding of these research platforms unfortunately does not make you special. Every 1L across the country has just learned about Lexis and Westlaw. But don’t worry! There are opportunities to set yourself apart as a student and job candidate—and even as a lawyer down the road—with certified, superior online legal research skills.
Just take advantage of the free certifications offered by Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg Law. These self-paced online programs help you both review fundamentals and learn advanced tips for using legal database tools and content. From transactional drafting and litigation analytics to legislative history and dockets, you can choose your topic and get started anytime. Once complete, you will earn an official credential of certification from the company that looks great on your résumé or LinkedIn page. Take my advice: Check out the certifications for Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg Law and stand apart from the legal research pack!
Are you interested in improving your writing for Clinic, a seminar, or journal? W&L Law Library is pleased to announce free access to WordRake for students, faculty, and staff. WordRake is an automated in-line editing plugin for Microsoft Word that can make any document or email clearer, shorter, and better. The tool is particularly useful for legal professionals, business writers, and anyone looking to enhance the readability of their documents.
WordRake improves clarity and conciseness by suggesting changes to eliminate unnecessary words and tighten sentences. Integration into Microsoft Word offers real-time editing suggestions that streamline writing and make it more professional.
Similar to Grammarly, WordRake makes suggestions on your legal writing to make it more concise, improve word choices, and improve the overall flow of your document. You can view a 30-second demonstration of WordRake here.
If you are interested in receiving a key to install WordRake to your Mac or PC, please email lawref@wlu.edu.
A freshly updated guide to resources for student summer employment is now online, courtesy of the W&L Law Library.
The guide is based on the Spring Into Summer Success with W&L Law Library and OCS program held at W&L Law between March 12 and March 19, 2024. It includes guidance and resources for conducting smart and efficient legal research and making the most of the summer work experience. Information is relevant for any legal workplace, such as private firms, public interest organizations, judicial internships, or government agencies.
Content includes:
Streaming video recordings of the in-person sessions are included where available.
The guide is at https://libguides.wlu.edu/summersuccess2024. Please note that the guide is exclusively accessible to the W&L Law community; click here to log into Box for the required password.
You are welcome to reach out to the W&L Law Library (lawref@wlu.edu) and Office of Career Strategy (lawcareer@wlu.edu), both while preparing for your job now and during the summer. We are glad to help and will do our best to get you the information or advice you need!
Sign up today to attend Spring Into Summer Success with W&L Law Library and OCS, Tuesday, April 4, from 5:00 to 7:30pm in Millhiser Moot Court Room. Open to all 1L, 2L, and 3Ls – food provided.
Learn expert tips and strategies to help you succeed this summer and beyond. The W&L Law Legal Research faculty will present resources for effective research and keeping current in any legal practice area or job type. The Office of Career Strategy will lead discussions about working in firm, court, and public interest positions. LexisNexis will also present on tools to enhance your work this summer.
The program includes insights on legal research and professional success from experienced legal practitioners:
Also sharing information and insights:
Attendees will earn a Certificate in Legal Research to add to your credentials and show value to employers.
Visit go.wlu.edu/success to register.
The Law Library is happy to announce full access for W&L Law students and faculty to CALI, the premier online platform for interactive legal-subject tutorials.
With over 1,000 online lessons spanning 50+ topics of doctrinal law and practice-oriented skills, CALI content is created and used by law professors nationwide to provide self-directed yet rigorous guidance for students, both as assigned course materials and as extracurricular supplements.
Popular for first-year and upper-level elective subjects, CALI lessons can also provide valuable reviews of core concepts for 3Ls preparing for the bar exam. Extensive selections of outlines, ebooks, and podcasts on law school subjects are also available.
Current W&L Law students can click here for the Authorization Code to sign up for a free account. Faculty should email LawRef@wlu.edu to request access.
Please contact the Law Library with any questions. We hope you enjoy this great resource!
Student post by Sara Lee, 2L and W&L Law Library SLACer
Has everyone been mentioning hornbooks, commercial outlines, and other such supplemental readings that you have not touched? Do you have no idea what everyone else is talking about?
Here’s a quick and simple guide to some of the basics on study aids and supplements for law courses:
Ready for more applicable practice? A selection of past exams from W&L Law professors are available on Box.
Many of the supplements above are available in the Reserve Room (Level 3 near the Circulation Desk) or online through West Academic Study Aids. You can also download some audiobook titles to your computer/device and access streaming audio recordings through the West Academic Audio app.
Hope this helps!
Sign up today to attend Spring Into Summer Success with W&L Law Library and OCS, Wednesday, March 23, from 5:00 to 7:00pm in Millhiser Moot Court Room. Open to all 1L, 2L, and 3Ls – refreshments provided.
Learn expert tips and strategies to help you succeed this summer and beyond. The W&L Law Legal Research faculty will present resources for effective research and keeping current in any legal practice area or job type. The Office of Career Strategy will lead discussions about working in firm, court, and public interest positions. LexisNexis will also present on tools to enhance your work this summer.
The program includes insights on legal research and professional success from experienced legal practitioners:
Attendees will earn a Certificate in Legal Research to add to your credentials and show value to employers.
Please visit go.wlu.edu/success to register.