Library Access and Reference Services
Public access and staffed library hours are located on the Hours and Access Page. Swipe card access for recent graduates follows Katz Building access which typically ends in August.
Penn State Law current students and alumni are welcome to contact the Law Library for reference services. Please email library@pennstatelaw.psu.edu and a librarian or staff member will respond during regular business hours.
Summer and Post-Graduation Access to Law Library Services
Access to Lexis, Westlaw and Bloomberg Law
Recent Graduates
Lexis Graduate Program
Recent graduations can continue to access Lexis through their Graduate Program through December 31, 2024. This ID also grants recent graduates access to the Graduate Home Page and a graduation gift. The transition from a regular law school ID to a graduate ID happens on July 10, 2024.
LexisNexis Rewards Expiration: Spring 2024 graduates have until June 30, 2024 to redeem their LexisNexis Rewards points. This is a firm date with no exceptions.
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, please see this webpage.
Westlaw
You can use Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw and Practical Law, for 6 months after graduation. Your graduate extension access gives you 60-hours of usage per month, with no restrictions against using them for professional purposes.
You will receive an email directly from Westlaw to opt-into this graduate extension access.
Bloomberg Law
Recent graduates can use Bloomberg Law for 6 months post-graduation. There are no restrictions on using Bloomberg Law during this time period and no requirement to register for continued access.
Rising 2Ls and 3Ls
Lexis Summer Access
Lexis provides full access to Lexis+® and Lexis+ AI through students’ law school ID throughout the months of May, June, July and August. Continued access includes tools, search history and the same exclusive content and practical guidance they have relied on all year long. Whether clerking, interning or working at a firm, students can use their Lexis law school access.
Westlaw
You can use Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw®, Practical Law, and the Practice Ready solutions, 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.
Bloomberg Law
You can use your law school Bloomberg Law access for summer research. There are no restrictions on using your Bloomberg Law account for your summer jobs and you do not need to do anything to gain access to these tools over the summer.
Library Accounts
Students may review their library account information at the University Libraries website under My Account.
Recent graduates retain student borrowing privileges at all Penn State Library locations until their Penn State account is updated by the University. Student accounts will be automatically transitioned to a PA Resident account. Out of state graduates wishing to update their account may email the Law Library at library@pennstatelaw.psu.edu
Access to Digital Library Resources
Penn State Limited Access Accounts
180 days after students leave the University their Penn State Account reverts to Limited access status. Older accounts may be reactivated at accounts.psu.edu. Penn State Limited accounts provide access to digital library resources when logged onto an on-site library workstation at any PSU Library location. More information about limited access accounts is available at Penn State News.
Penn State Alumni Association members have access to a selection of online databases.