Category: Law Library

This lesson covers the structure and function of the 3 branches of the Unites States government, how each branch makes laws and the checks and balances in place that prevent one branch from acquiring too much power.   Even if you are comfortable with how our law is made, it might be wise to work through this short review.  It is a very fast lesson and, like all of the CALI lessons, you learn a lot without realizing it. 

Lesson Completion Time: 30 minutes

How to find this lesson: After logging into CALI, click on Legal Research.  The lessons are alphabetic at the next page.

Questions?  Contact Lynn Lenart, Assistant Law Librarian for Reference Services.  330-972-6357, llenart@uakron.edu, Law Library, second floor, office 269. 

Casemaker is a legal research database containing federal and state legal materials.  Casemaker is available to all members of the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) and is also used by many other state bar associations in the U.S.  As law students you can get an OSBA membership for free.  Just fill in the OSBA law student application and mail it to the address listed on the application.   It is free unless you join a special section that costs extra.  Here is a link to the PDF copy of the application-> Download the Student Membership Application.

After your application is processed by the OSBA you will have access to the Casemaker database.  Other than typical licensing restrictions, there are no “law school only” password restrictions. You can use the database for school, work or for fun.

A brochure that explains the many benefits of having a student membership with the state bar can be found here -> Download the Membership Brochure.

 More information on Law School Student Membership.

Check your profile on Westlaw and LexisNexis

At least once-a-year law students should update their profiles on LexisNexis and Westlaw.  Things change such as your e-mail address and other information stored on your profile page.  You can change this information yourself. 

For Westlaw: Log into Westlaw http://lawschool.westlaw.com/ and just to the right of your name is the UPDATE link.  Click on that link to update your profile.

For LexisNexis: Log into LexisNexis http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/ and click on the GET HELP tab.  At the next screen, click on UPDATE REGISTRATION INFORMATION.

Questions?  Contact Lynn Lenart, 330-972-6357, llenart@uakron.edu.  Office 269, Law Library, second floor.

If you ever arrive early or attempt to enter the Law School late, and the doors are not unlocked at a time that our posted building hours define the building as “open,” please attempt to enter using the Wolf Ledges Entrance to West Hall. This door is controlled electronically and is programmed to be open according to the building hours.