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Prepare to Practice: Tips for 3Ls & Recent Grads

Resources for the soon to graduate USD law student

Overview

Recent grads (3 to 18 months after graduation depending on the vendor) can continue to use many of the LRC premium electronic research databases after graduation - with some limits.

Refer to our website for information on graduate use of databases including Lexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg Law, and CEB OnLaw pro.

Without a date limitation you can consult with LRC reference librarians by chat or email. For more information on services available for all alumni, please see our Law Alumni and LRC Visitor Library Accounts guide.

Alumni Access to HeinOnline, JSTOR, and Other Databases

The LRC and Copley Library offer off-campus alumni access to HeinOnline, JSTOR, and some other databases to registered alumni. To access these databases, you will have to log into the Torero Network. For help registering for a Torero Network account, please contact the Alumni Association. Once logged into the Torero Network, navigate to the Library Benefits page to find access to the alumni databases.

Many of the LRC's databases can also be accessed by alumni on-campus using our public computers or a laptop connected to USD's wifi.

San Diego County Law Library

The San Diego Law Library offers many services to attorneys and the public, including access to several legal databases. While most of their services and resources are available in-person for free, SDLL's Borrowers Program offers additional benefits like remote access to some databases.

General Research Tips

When you don't know where to start your research or you feel you've reached a dead-end:

  • Does your firm have a law librarian? If so, consult them.
  • Check the secondary sources/practice guides available on Bloomberg Law, CEB, Lexis and Westlaw (the alumni HeinOnline has only law journals)
  • Find more information on research different legal topics or performing legal research tasks in the LRC's other research guides. Our Summer Clerk Guide in particular has recommendations based on different types of legal jobs.