Hours of Operation

During the academic year, Library hours are: Monday – Thursday, 7 AM to Midnight; Friday, 7AM to 10PM; Saturday, 9AM to 10PM; Sunday 9AM to Midnight.  Hours, including special hours during summers and holidays, are posted on the digital sign by the Library’s main entrance and under the Hours link at the bottom of the Law Library’s website.

Access

After 6:00 PM on weekdays and weekends, access is limited to Law School faculty, students, staff, and others who have received prior authorization.

Library Catalog

The Law Library shares an online library catalog with other VU libraries. This one interface allows for searching the libraries' vast resources of books, journals, databases, and more. The online library catalog is also available from the Law Library website. 

Book Check-Out

Many of the books in our collection circulate for ninety days.  Exceptions include study aids, CDs, and other media, which have a circulation period of only three days.  You must present a valid VU ID card at the time of check-out. 

Reserve Materials

The Library maintains a small collection of materials housed behind the Service Desk that remain on reserve indefinitely. Professors may also request that materials for individual classes be placed on reserve. Reserve materials may be checked out for 2 hours.

Recalling Books

If a book you need is checked out, you may recall it using the "Recall this Item" button in the catalog. If you need help with this service, please visit the Service Desk.

Missing Books

If you cannot find a book that you believe should be on a shelf, please speak with someone at the Service Desk.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Materials not available in the Vanderbilt Libraries may be obtained through interlibrary Loan. If you have never submitted an interlibrary loan request before, please seek assistance at the Service Desk.

Research Guidance

During the academic year, a research librarian will usually be available Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5PM.  For research guidance, please ask someone at the Service Desk to contact the on-call reference librarian.  You may also contact the research librarians by sending an email to law_library_reference@list.vanderbilt.edu.

Study Carrels

Study carrels are located throughout the Library.  Carrels are assigned by the Circulation Manager on a first-come, first-served basis to visiting scholars and student-published journals.  All other carrels, when not in use, are available to any student for study use. 

Study Rooms

Study rooms are available for group study on a first-come, first-served basis. Near and during the finals period, study rooms can be reserved by law students only.  An email with the link to the reservation system and instructions will be sent near the end of each semester.

Bloomberg Law, Lexis Advance, and Westlaw

Bloomberg Law, Lexis Advance, and Westlaw are the three major computer-assisted legal research systems and all are available to the Vanderbilt Law School community.  Research librarians, company account executives, and student account representatives can provide instruction and limited assistance on search strategies, database content, and general searching tips and techniques.

You will receive passwords for all three of these systems during your first legal research class.  They must be registered shortly after receiving them or they will be deactivated.  For registration assistance, contact a research librarian.

Documents retrieved from Lexis Advance can be printed to Lexis-maintained printers located in the Law Library photocopy room

Advanced Legal Research Course Offerings

Take your legal research skills to the next level with our upper division advanced legal research courses. 

CALI

CALI (Computer Assisted Legal Instruction) provides web-based interactive tutorials on legal topics that the Law Library makes available to you.  You can access them online at www.cali.org. Registration is required with a specific authorization code, available by contacting the reference staff.

Study Aids

The Law Library provides access to study aids in both print and electronic format.  Study aids are available on Westlaw and in print on the lower shelves in the reading room.  Print study aids have a circulation period of three days.

Dell Laptops, iPads, and Apple Laptop Chargers

Students may check out electronic devices from the Service Desk for personal use.  Please note the shortened borrowing limits for these items. 

Unattended Items & Lost and Found

Unattended items left in the library will be removed.  A Lost and Found is located at the Circulation Desk; items are retained for approximately one month.