As everyone gets set to head out to jobs and externships a question I’ve heard a lot is whether your Westlaw or Lexis student accounts can be used over the summer. The answer is “it depends.” Both Lexis and Westlaw allow summer use in certain situations. Both also require you to register for summer access. Below are the approved activities as outlined by the two companies. If you have specific questions about their application, feel free to get in touch with our reps, Jeff Brandimarte (Westlaw) or Kristy Ballard (Lexis).
LexisNexis
If you are a law school student and want full access to the LexisNexis® services for the summer, you need to register for full summer access. You must participate in one of the following qualifying activities to be eligible for full educational access on your law school ID during the summer:
Class preparation and assignments
Research associated with moot court or law review / law journal
Research associated with pursuing a grant or scholarship
Service as a research assistant to a professor (either paid or unpaid)
An unpaid internship / externship or clinic position for school credit
Bar Review
Clerkship for credit
Research skill improvement for educational (non-commercial) purposes
Westlaw
Summer law school classes
Law review or law journal work
Project for a professor
Moot court
Unpaid, nonprofit public interest internship / externship pro bono work required for graduation