Library Services
ONLINE CATALOG
Our online catalog can be used to search all of our library’s materials, including print books, e-books, videos, journals, and more. Use the advanced search features to find materials by keyword, title, or author. Clicking the “Map it” button in an entry for print materials will let you know exactly where the book is located in the law library.
LAW SCHOOL RESEARCH DATABASES
In addition to Westlaw & Lexis, Suffolk Law School students, faculty, alumni and staff can also access a long list of legal databases like: MCLE OnlinePass, HeinOnline, Law360, JSTOR, and more! Almost all of these databases can be accessed on- or off-campus by active students, staff, and faculty and on-campus by alumni. For a guide to free and cost-effective research databases, take a look at our Top Ten list.
STUDENT GUIDE TO CHATGPT
This Guide contains information about what ChatGPT is and how you might use it as a law student and in your future practice as a lawyer.
LEGAL RESEARCH COURSES, WORKSHOPS, AND TRAININGS
The law library offers advanced legal research classes for students who want to hone their research skills and become practice-ready attorneys. These law school courses are typically 2 credits and designed to give students a hands-on learning experience. They are generally offered in both the fall and spring semesters. Recent legal research course offerings have included: Massachusetts Legal Research (a fully online class), Practice-Ready Legal Research (a hybrid class which includes three online-only sessions), and International and Comparative Legal Research.
Throughout the year, legal research librarians also offer advanced trainings, one-on-one refreshers, micro-trainings, and workshops for current Suffolk Law students. Check out our events page for more information or contact a librarian at the reference desk for assistance. Stop by any time between 10 – 6 Monday through Thursday or between 10 – 5 on Fridays. Call or email us: (617) 573-8516 or [email protected]
ASK A LEGAL RESEARCH LIBRARIAN
Faculty, students, and alumni are encouraged to visit our Research Desk, located on the 6th floor of the Law Library, with any research questions they may have. The Research Desk is staffed between 10am-6pm, Monday through Thursday, and between 10am-5pm on Friday.
Current students who are unable to meet with a legal research librarian during regular Research Desk hours, or who have a more involved legal research question or would like training on a particular database, can set up an appointment. To schedule an appointment at a specific time, email us at [email protected] with your research question and your general availability. We typically set up one-on-one meetings between 9am-6pm but we do our best to accommodate students outside of that timeframe.
STUDY AIDS
Research guides and treatises are a good way to begin your research when you are studying or writing a paper in an area of law that's new to you. Our West Academic Study Aids online collection includes hornbooks, Nutshells, and audio lectures through Sum and Substance! We encourage the use of CALI exercises in preparation for exams.
ICOMPETE WRITING: A COMPILATION OF LEGAL WRITING COMPETITIONS
See our Guide to Student Writing for Publication and Prizes for tips on writing and getting your work published. Entering your work in student writing competitions is one way to refine your legal writing and research skills. There are over a hundred competitions on many different topics, some of which offer substantial prize money. The Law Library and the Legal Writing Skills Program have put together a list of current competitions called iCompete Writing – this resource is arranged by topic so you can search for writing competitions in your areas of interest and also limit by deadline. This list of competitions is regularly updated and is a portal to dozens of competitions, with prizes up to $25,000.
INTERLIBRARY LOAN REQUESTS
If a book or article you need is not available at the Moakley or Sawyer Library, we can request it from another library through an interlibrary loan.
RESERVE A STUDY ROOM
Current Suffolk Law Students can use our online reservation system to sign up for a group study room.
BLUEBOOK GUIDE FOR LAW STUDENTS
If you need Bluebooking help, then our Bluebook Guide for Law Students is a great starting point.
INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS
Watch one of the law library’s short legal research videos.
RESOURCES FOR NEW STUDENTS
For an overview of law library resources and services that will help you succeed in law school, check out our Quick Tips Guide (this currently links to a very old one). Incoming law students can check out the Bibliography for Incoming Law Students – a basic guide for students who have asked for reading recommendations and want to learn more about law school and the legal process before they begin their official journey as law students.