Get more advice from fellow students and recent grads here!
This guide includes resources to help new legal researchers.
Reference librarians are available to provide additional research help. Contact us by Chatting with a Librarian or emailing the Reference Desk, or schedule a research consultation with a librarian to meet on-on-one or in small groups.
New students will receive an email from the Law Library during Orientation with registration information for legal research platforms Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg Law. Please register immediately for all three services and always use your Georgetown email as the contact email. First year J.D. students will need these before the first Legal Practice: Writing & Analysis class. This email from the Law Library will be sent to your Georgetown email address. If you do not see the email in your inbox or spam folder, please contact us via Chat with a Librarian or email the Reference Desk.
Returning students with questions about their Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg Law accounts should contact us via Chat with a Librarian or email the Reference Desk.
View our video tutorials for tips on using legal research tools. Want more? See our complete list of tutorials.
Westlaw, Lexis & Bloomberg Law also offer a number of online tutorials to guide users.
Consult our research guides for tips on using legal research tools. Want more? See our complete list of guides for research.
You might find CALI lessons on legal research and writing (interactive legal instructional lessons) helpful for review or additional guidance. New students will receive an email from the Law Library during Orientation with a registration code. Returning students should Chat with a Librarian or email the Reference Desk to request a registration code.
Our Guide to the Bluebook explains the purpose and structure of the Bluebook, and has tips on citing commonly-used sources. We also have video tutorials available that explain the basics of Bluebooking.