Westlaw at HLS
Westlaw provides online access to U.S. federal and state law sources as well as sources of international law and the laws of a growing number of other jurisdictions. Sources vary by jurisdiction, but may include constitutions, legislation, legislative history, statutory codes, regulations, regulatory materials, cases, case digests, citators, public records, law reviews, treatises, and general and legal news.
The Westlaw Database Directory provides detailed, current information on databases offered by Westlaw. In addition, the Westlaw Database Directory is available in print at the Langdell reference desk. Please note: many but not all Westlaw databases are available under our academic account.
WestCheck is a web-based, automated citation-checking service which automatically extracts citations from documents and verifies them using the KeyCite citator service.
Requesting a Westlaw Account
The HLS contract with Westlaw allows us to create accounts for law school faculty including visiting faculty, law school staff, and law school students currently enrolled in either law school classes or in an HLS-sponsored Harvard joint-degree program only. At its discretion, Westlaw allows exceptions for HLS visitors including visiting scholars, researchers and fellows of the law school and for cross-enrolled students taking a law school class. Exceptions are also usually made for law school faculty research assistants who are not law school students or staff. If you are not a member of the law school community, you will most likely be denied access.
Student accounts. Westlaw accounts are distributed to new students in their registration packets. Returning students should continue using their Westlaw accounts from last year. Please stop by the Langdell Reference desk located just off the reading room on the fourth floor of Langdell Hall if you have not received your account.
Faculty, Visiting Faculty & Staff accounts. Law school faculty including visiting faculty and law school staff may request a Westlaw account by emailing the Langdell reference desk using their HLS email account. Please include your full name and position in the text of your message.
Visitor accounts. At its discretion, Westlaw allows exceptions for HLS visitors including visiting scholars, researchers and fellows of the law school and for cross-enrolled students taking a law school class. Exceptions are also usually made for law school faculty research assistants who are not law school students or staff. HLS visitors, cross-enrolled students and faculty research assistants who are not law school students or staff must email their account request directly to Westlaw. For more information, please visit the Langdell Reference desk located just off the reading room on the fourth floor of Langdell Hall or see LexisNexis & Westlaw Account Information (pdf).
Registering Your Westlaw Account
Westlaw requires all users to register their accounts. During registration, users have the opportunity to create an optional custom username and password. Accounts not registered within six weeks of the day first used will automatically deactivate.
Westlaw Training
The library sponsors Westlaw introductory, refresher and advanced training sessions throughout the academic year for students who would like hands-on instruction. The sessions are taught by our Westlaw account representatives. All sessions are held in the Langdell Computer Classroom (L233) located on two north. Session dates, times and sign-ups are available at the Westlaw home page: sign on and then click the gold Westlaw Training button; next click the In-person Westlaw training courses link to view the Westlaw Training List.
In addition, the HLSL LexisNexis & Westlaw Tutorial, prepared by the Langdell reference librarians, is designed to get you started with Westlaw.
Contacting Westlaw
Westlaw customer support is available at: (800) 937-8529
Our Westlaw account representative is: Kimberly Kenneally, kimberly.kenneally@thomsonreuters.com
Help with Westlaw
The Westlaw home page offers a number of useful materials and services including reference literature, research guides, tutorials, product tours, study aids and outlines. Westlaw documentation and instructional materials are available in print in the Computer Classroom (L233) located in Langdell Hall on two north.
Please contact the Langdell reference desk, (617) 495-4516, located just off the reading room on the fourth floor of Langdell Hall with any questions.
Compiled and edited by Michael Jimenez.