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Preparing for the Bar Exam: Library Information & Resources

This guide provides information for graduates preparing for the bar exam.

Law Library Access: Summer

Summer Law Library Access for December 2024 and May 2025 Graduates:
 

  • December 2024 and May 2025 U of M Law grads have 24 hour U Card access through the July bar exam.

  • Campus Security will provide walkthroughs of the building, including the library in the evenings (schedule subject to change). As always, please do not let anyone else into Mondale Hall or the Law Library with you, and do not to leave your possessions unattended. For additional security information and resources, see the Security section in the Law Students' Guide to the Law Library.
University Libraries Summer Access:

Contact Reference Librarians: Summer

Our Reference librarians welcome the opportunity to assist you with quick reference and research-related questions.  We're also veterans of the bar exam ourselves.  Remember we're here to help!

Summer Reference Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 9am - 4:30pm 
Closed: Memorial Day, May 26, Juneteenth, June 19 & July 4

Phone: 612-625-4309 |  Email: law-ref@umn.edu | Chat Live

 

Bloomberg, Lexis & Westlaw Access - May Graduates

Bloomberg Law

Spring 2025 Graduates
Spring 2025 Graduates have continued access through Nov. 30, 2025. This access is automatic (no registration required) and is unlimited and unrestricted. 
Continuing Students Unlimited Summer Access
All law students may continue to use your Bloomberg Law as you have during the academic year using your Bloomberg Law credentials.
 
Questions? Contact the Bloomberg Law Help Desk or our dedicated Client Service Partner, Colin Caleb.
LexisNexis
Spring 2025 Graduates

Lexis+ AI Graduate Access: Spring 2025 graduates will continue to have access to Lexis+® on their law school IDs through December 31, 2025.  This extended access is automatic – no registration is required and there are no restrictions or limits on research time.  On July 1, 2025, graduates’ accounts will automatically switch to the graduate portal. This customized version of the Law School homepage includes graduate-specific content and choice of a graduation gift, including extended access to a selection of products from LexisNexis® such as Law360, Practical Guidance, or a LexisNexis eBook. Graduates have access to most of the same content and features available during law school, excluding public records, Protégé, Law360 and Practical Guidance.

Graduates’ Lexis Rewards points will expire on June 30, 2025; points must be spent or donated before that date.

ASPIRE Program: The LexisNexis ASPIRE program provides 12 months of free access to federal and state cases, codes, regulations, law reviews, Shepard's® Citation Service and Matthew Bender® treatises to graduates who are engaged in verifiable 501(c)(3) public interest work. Students can apply for ASPIRE access at: https://lexisnexis.com/grad-access/  

Continuing Students Unlimited Summer Access

Lexis+ AI Summer Access: All law school students automatically have summer access to Lexis+ AI. Students may use their law school ID for academic, professional and non-profit research.  It may be used during work for a firm, clerkship, internship or externship, whether in a paid or non-paid position.  There is no limit on the number of hours students can use Lexis+ AI to conduct research this summer.

Prepare for summer employment with the Applied Legal Research Certificates in the Lexis+ AI Training Center, including certification on: Case Law, Secondary Sources, Statutory Law, AI, Administrative Law, Bankruptcy, Corporate/M&A, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Real Estate, Transactional Practice and US Civil Law.

Protégé™ Access: The Summer Access program includes access to Protégé for all continuing students (current 1Ls and 2Ls).

Questions? Contact our Lexis Academic Account Representative, Sarah Bigler at sarah.bigler@lexisnexis.com

Thomson Reuters Westlaw
Spring 2025 Graduates

You can use Thomson Reuters products, for 18-months after graduation. Your “Grad Elite” access gives you 60-hours of usage per month, with no restrictions against using them for professional purposes.

These tools include:

  • Westlaw
  • Practical Law
  • CoCounsel
  • Drafting Assistant Essential
  • Doc and Form Builder
  • ProView
  • On Demand eLearnings and Tutorials

YOU MUST OPT IN TO GRAD ELITE Access (and can do so in one of two ways):
1) Go to www.lawschool.tr.com, and, after logging on, use the drop-down menu by your name to go to Grad Elite Status
2) Or Click on this link: https://lawschool.thomsonreuters.com/grad-elite-status

 Continuing Students Summer Access

You can use Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw Precision®, CoCounsel and Practical Law 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 but are not limited to the following:

  • Summer coursework
  • Research assistant assignments
  • Law Review or Journal research
  • Moot Court research
  • Non-Profit work
  • Clinical work
  • Externship sponsored by the school
Questions? Contact our Thomson Reuters Academic Account Manager, Peter Lippmann.
 

Bar Exam Books in the Library


University of Minnesota Law Library
Reference Desk: 612-625-4309 • Circulation Desk: 612-625-4300 • Contact Us