Westlaw
Alumni have access to a generous selection of Westlaw databases, including cases, statutes, and secondary sources, at the designated Alumni Research workstation in room L208.1 of the Mendik Library. To get an overview of the Westlaw databases that are included in the Alumni package, click on Westlaw Alumni Databases link, below.
LexisNexis Digital Library
The library subscribes to more than 75 Matthew Bender treatises in e-book format. Alumni can access these treatises at workstations in library labs, or on personal laptops anywhere on campus when logged in to the NYLS Guest wireless network. Ask at the Reference Desk for assistance in accessing these treatises.
Other Digital Subscriptions
When on campus, Alumni have access to a wide range of law-related digital subscription resources. These can be accessed from the Alumni terminals in L208.1, from PCs in the library labs on L2, or from personal laptops when logged in to the NYLS Guest Network. A complete list can be found here: http://libguides.nyls.edu/eresources
Free Research Sources
The library has compiled a guide to free and low-cost web-based research tools.
Fastcase and Casemaker
All attorneys who have bar membership in the United States have free access to Fastcase or Casemaker. Check your bar association’s website for details.
Bloomberg Law
Graduating law students have access to Bloomberg Law for six months after graduation.
LexisNexis
Law School Graduate Program: LexisNexis permits graduating students to continue to use their law school Lexis account through December 31, 2023 and need not do anything further to do so. Use the same Lexis account log on credentials you used during law school. This access is intended to help you study for the bar, conduct your job search and become more efficient in Lexis+ research.
ASPIRE Program: The ASPIRE (Associates Serving Public Interest Research) program provides 12 months of free access to federal and state cases, codes, regulations, law reviews, Shepard’s Citation Service and Matthew Bender treatises to graduates who are engaged in verifiable 501(c)(3) public interest work. Graduates who apply to this program must work directly for a non-profit or charitable organization, and be able to provide documentation (e.g. email) from a superior of the same. Exclusions include government work (even if unpaid), work for a law firm (even if it represents a non-profit organization), and solo practice (even if it encompasses non-profit work). A 501(c)(3) organization is defined as one that is organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes. Graduates should receive a new Lexis+ ID about a week after they submit the completed application.
To apply for the ASPIRE program, please contact our LexisNexis representative, Nejat Bumin, Esq. (email: nejat.bumin@lexisnexis.com; 551-580-1920).
Westlaw
Graduating law students: Graduates have access to Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw and Practical Law, for six-months after graduation. The “Grad Elite” access gives graduates 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. In addition, you get access to job searching databases on Westlaw and TWEN for 18-months after graduation for 1 hour a month.
How to extend access: Extend access by logging into https://lawschool.thomsonreuters.com. A pop-up window will appear when you sign on to the site or you can go directly to https://lawschool.westlaw.com/authentication/gradelite.
If you do not see the option to opt-in to Grad Elite, please contact our Westlaw Account Manager Shawn Lopez (Shawn.Lopez@thomsonreuters.com).