Over the summer months, students at the Moritz College of Law can continue to access their student accounts with the three major legal research platforms (Bloomberg Law, Lexis Advance, and Thomson Reuters Westlaw). For graduating students, access will be extended for a limited period after graduation. However, students should be aware that each platform sets different restrictions on summer and post-graduation use.
Bloomberg does not have any restrictions on summer use and will continue to be available to graduating students for six months after graduation. Lexis also does not have an “academic use only” policy and will continue to be available to graduates until the end of the year. Westlaw permits limited use for education-related or non-commercial purposes. Graduates can continue to access Westlaw for 18 months after graduation, but must first register with Westlaw's Grad Elite Program. For more details, see the Moritz Law Library’s Research Assistant Resources Guide or ask a reference librarian.
Fastcase is another legal research option for summer or post-graduation use. Fastcase provides a quick and easy way to search federal and state cases and statutes, state constitutions, administrative opinions, regulations, law reviews, and legal forms. The Columbus Bar Association offers members free access to Fastcase, and a number of firms and solo practitioners in town use it. Moritz has an institutional account, which you can access here.
UPDATE (4/17): Westlaw's prohibition against using your student account for commercial purposes during the summer applies only to current students, not to recent Moritz grads. The Grad Elite Program allows Moritz graduates to use Westlaw for 18 months after graduation for any purpose, commercial or otherwise.
Bloomberg does not have any restrictions on summer use and will continue to be available to graduating students for six months after graduation. Lexis also does not have an “academic use only” policy and will continue to be available to graduates until the end of the year. Westlaw permits limited use for education-related or non-commercial purposes. Graduates can continue to access Westlaw for 18 months after graduation, but must first register with Westlaw's Grad Elite Program. For more details, see the Moritz Law Library’s Research Assistant Resources Guide or ask a reference librarian.
Fastcase is another legal research option for summer or post-graduation use. Fastcase provides a quick and easy way to search federal and state cases and statutes, state constitutions, administrative opinions, regulations, law reviews, and legal forms. The Columbus Bar Association offers members free access to Fastcase, and a number of firms and solo practitioners in town use it. Moritz has an institutional account, which you can access here.
UPDATE (4/17): Westlaw's prohibition against using your student account for commercial purposes during the summer applies only to current students, not to recent Moritz grads. The Grad Elite Program allows Moritz graduates to use Westlaw for 18 months after graduation for any purpose, commercial or otherwise.