Services @ the Jacob Burns Law Library

GW students may use the GW Law Library for legal research.  Due to space constraints, GW non-law students are not permitted to study in the library.

Students must present their GWorld cards when entering and will be referred to the reference desk for assistance in locating legal materials.  Prior to visiting the library, we encourage students to browse JACOB, our online catalog, to locate legal materials relevant to their research and to use our research guides on legal topics.

Students who need to use the library for legal research for a semester may ask their professor to email Access Services to request semester passes; email andrew.winston@law.gwu.edu.

GW students may use law-related databases from dedicated computers in the law library, including Hein Online, Cheetah (Wolters Kluwer), and Law360.  Some of our databases are available campus-wide.  For more information about these resources, see our Online Databases, Books, Journals and Articles at the Burns Law Library.

GW students may use Westlaw at no charge via a dedicated computer located on the first floor of the Law Library.  While the Westlaw service does not provide access to all of its databases, it does provide access to federal and state legal materials, journals and law reviews, and major secondary publications.  Students may obtain the log-on key from the circulation desk (1st floor).

Please see our guide, Borrowing @ Jacob Burns Law Library for additional information.

GW Graduate Students:

GW graduate students may borrow books from our circulating collection for 42 days.  However, many books may not be checked out, such as case reporters and digests. Reserve items may be borrowed for two hours and must be used in the library.

Charged materials must be renewed on or before the date due; overdue items may not be renewed.  

GW Undergraduates and Non-Degree Students:

GW undergraduates and non-degree students are welcome to use the Law Library collection for legal research; however, circulating materials may be checked out only through the Gelman Library's interlibrary loan service. Reserve items may be borrowed for two hours and must be used in the library.