Ask a librarian

Appointments - Journal staff

The library liaison for each journal is listed below. Library liaisons serve as journal faculty advisors and provide guidance and training in research, source and citation checking, article topic selection and preemption, and more.

Reference service

Reference librarians are available during regular business hours to answer questions about research, collections, and library services.  Reference librarian offices are located in the Reserve area, located to the right of the library staircase. Reference librarians are available for in-person research help during regular business hours Monday to Friday (check our current hours). You can also contact a reference librarian by emailing lawreference@seattleu.edu.

Borrowing and locating materials

Borrowing from Seattle U Law Library - Journal staff

Journal staff should identify themselves at the Circulation Desk when checking out materials. Journal staff receive longer check out periods and can check out some materials that are non-circulating (e.g. reporters). Journal staff are responsible for turning in the materials on time and in good condition. If you are using the materials for non-journal purposes (e.g. your own study or other research), please check them out in your own name.

Borrowing from Lemieux Library

Search the Lemieux Library catalog and check out materials with your ID card at the Lemieux Library circulation desk. Be sure to turn in materials on time as loan periods vary and as fines do accrue. See Lemieux Library's borrowing policies.

Casebooks

The library maintains one copy of each required first year casebook for two-hour check out (no overnight check outs) in the Reserve collection. The first year casebook collection is to be used for quick reference and is not intended to be a substitute for purchasing casebooks. The library does not purchase upper division course materials.

Database usage

The law library subscribes to many specialized legal databases. In addition, Lemieux Library subscribes to many non-legal databases. Contact the reference department or your library liaison for help using our databases.

Use of law library databases may be subject to restrictions. Information on access restrictions is available through the Databases page. For further information, contact a reference librarian.

Micromedia materials

The Micromedia collection is located in Room 204 in Reserve. Microform materials are listed in the catalog as located in "Micromedia." The Microform Collection Guide indicates the specific cabinet drawer and tray. Microforms may only be used in the library. They may be viewed and/or printed on the microform reader printers in Room 204. Prints cost $0.10 per copy. Payment is made at the circulation desk.

Research a topic

Our law librarians maintain research guides on a variety of topics. Our guides provide student researchers with resources and strategies for effective research.

Computers and copying

Computers and laptops

Those without laptops may use library computers to access the library's online resources.

Laptops may be used throughout the library. All carrels and tables in the library are wired with power as well as data connections for access to the law school network and the Internet. Questions about laptops, network information, printing, and email accounts should be directed to the technology staff.

Internet access

Internet access is available to faculty, staff and current students. Questions about laptops, network information, printing, and email accounts should be directed to the technology staff.

Bloomberg Law, Lexis, and Westlaw

Bloomberg Law, Lexis and Westlaw are available to law students, faculty and staff through the library's educational contracts with the companies. Review the user agreements with each system for additional information.

Bloomberg Law, Lexis and Westlaw require registration and passwords. Students receive registration information during orientation or from the reference department during the year. Faculty and staff can obtain passwords from lawreference@seattleu.edu.

Bloomberg Law, Lexis and Westlaw instruction for students is initially provided during their first year; advanced and refresher courses for all students are scheduled throughout the year. For training, contact a reference librarian by emailing lawreference@seattleu.edu or contact the vendor representatives:

Photocopying - Journal staff

Journal staff make photocopies in the journal offices. Materials should be checked out before removing them from the Law Library for photocopying. When photocopying material, be sure to indicate the title, author, source, date and page number of the reference on the photocopy for your files. To make copies of materials at the Lemieux Library, ask for the copy card at the Law Library Circulation Desk.

Printing

The Document Delivery Center (DDC) is located next to the circulation desk. You can pick up your printouts at the DDC or at the printers located on the south (the flagpole) side of the 3rd floor of the library.

Other useful information

Cite checking

Check the Locating Sources and Formatting Citations pages in our Journal Staff Legal Research Guide. Ask journal editors about substituting an online version for print. Be aware that many materials are no longer published in print. For example, many government documents are now only available online. Ask your editor about substituting a PDF for print. Our librarians can help you find PDFs of materials using our databases.

Topic selection

Current awareness sources like topical newsletters (e.g. BNA reports) and legal newspapers (e.g. National Law Journal) are very useful. See our Journal Staff Legal Research Guide, specifically Finding an Article Topic and Preemption Checks. You may also want to check out these useful books:

  • Scholarly Writing for Law Students, Reserve KF250.F34
  • Academic Legal Writing, Reserve KF250.V65