Welcome Back!
This week in the Law Library we welcome everyone back, introduce 1Ls to legal research and sources of legal authority, teach AI and Advanced Legal Research, and train and highlight useful law school success resources.
Happy 1st Day of Classes!
Happy 1st Day of Classes!
Law Library Hours & Services
Library Access
Selected building doors are unlocked Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm except during University of Cincinnati holidays. Law students, faculty, and staff have 24/7 access with their UC Bearcat ID cards. Check your UC Bearcat ID cards to make sure they work on the locked doors. Report issues to Justin Ellis.
Circulation hours
- Monday — Friday 8:00am – 6:00pm (except during fall break which will be 8:00am – 5:00pm)
- Closed Saturday and Sunday
- Closed for the Following University Holidays:
- Monday, Sept. 1
- Thursday-Friday, Nov. 27 - 28
Research & Library Help
Take advantage of librarian expertise! Schedule an appointment, email us, or stop by our offices. We’ll be happy to help with suggestions for sources and tips. Also, don’t forget the Library’s Web page and many research guides.
Library Study Areas
Library seating is found throughout the law school building. Most seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Check out our Virtual Tour of the Law Library!
Basement
A limited number of carrels and tables are available in the basement where the law stacks are.
1st Floor
Four group study rooms are available on this floor: 101, 103, 163, 165. They are for law students only and can be reserved through 25Live. Reservations can be made in 1-hour increments for up to 4-hours per student, per day. Keys are available for check-out at the Circulation Desk.
2nd Floor
Library seating on the second floor includes the Law Library Reading Room (Room 270) and group study rooms 227, 271, 273, 275, 276, and 277. Study rooms are for law students only and can be reserved through 25Live. Reservations can be made in 1-hour increments for up to 4-hours per student, per day. Keys are available for check-out at the Circulation Desk.
4th Floor
The fourth floor library seating includes carrels in the Quiet Reading Room (Room 445).
5th Floor
The fifth floor library seating consists of open study space in room 545.
Lockers
Please email Justin Ellis, Law Library Circulation Manager, for a locker assignment.
This Week’s Research Sessions
Monday, August 25, 2025
Meet your librarian during your first Lawyering I class!
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Meet your librarian during your first Lawyering I class!
AI & the Law
- 10:40am - 12:05pm
- Room 235
- Profs. Laura Dixon-Caldwell, Shannon Kemen, Ashley Russell, and Michael Whiteman
Technology Tuesdays
- Canvas Syllabus, Modules & Pages
- 12:15pm - 1:15pm
- Zoom
- Shannon Kemen, Legal Technology & Research Instructional Services Librarian
Torts Law Resources
- 2:45pm - 3:30pm
- Room 160
- Laura Dixon-Caldwell, Instructional & Reference Services Librarian
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Meet your librarian during your first Lawyering I class!
Advanced Legal Research Civil Litigation
- 3:05pm - 4:05pm
- Room 107
- Laura Dixon-Caldwell, Instructional & Reference Services Librarian
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Lawyering I, Cohort 6
- 9:00am - 10:25am
- Room 240
- Introduction to Legal Research & Sources of Legal Authority
- Ron Jones Electronic Resources Instructional Services Librarian
AI & the Law
- 10:40am - 12:05pm
- Room 235
- Profs. Laura Dixon-Caldwell, Shannon Kemen, Ashley Russell, and Michael Whiteman
Lawyering I, Cohort 3
- 10:40am - 12:05pm
- Room 245
- Introduction to Legal Research & Sources of Legal Authority
- Ashley Russell, Instructional & Reference Services Librarian
Featured Study Aid
CALI
CALI stands for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction. CALI.org is a non-profit consortium of law schools – of which UC Law is a member – that develops and distributes legal education lessons to the consortium members. If using CALI, you will need to create an account (if you have not already done so) using a Cincinnati Law authorization code. You can obtain this code from a librarian.
There are over 400 CALI lessons dealing with First Year topics. CALI also publishes a selected number of free e-books. Of particular note are the Federal Rules.
Featured Database
Preview of United States Supreme Court Cases on HeinOnline
Preview is an eight-issue subscription publication that provides, in advance of oral argument, expert, plain-language analysis of all cases given plenary review by the Supreme Court. Preview Issues 1-7 precede the Court’s seven argument sessions from October to April. Published in July following the close of the Court’s term at the end of June, Preview Issue 8 reviews the term using a combination of charts, statistics, case summaries, and essays.
Featured Videos
Sources of Law & Legal Authority Video Part 1
This video discusses sources of law and legal authority among the different branches of government and looks at the weight of different primary law authority. The video is 8:11 minutes long and features closed captioning and a table of contents.
Sources of Law & Legal Authority Video Part 2: Hierarchy of Case Law
This video focuses on the hierarchy of case law and looks at the federal court system and several different state court systems. The video is 7:30 minutes long and features closed captioning and a table of contents.
Featured Guides
1-L Sucess Guide
This guide provides vital information on library resources and services for first year law students.
LLM Success Guide
This guide provides vital information on law library resources and services for LL.M. students.
Law Student Guide to the Law Library
This guide provides an overview of the Law Library for law students.
Keys to Law School Success
CALI Resources for Law School Success
Common Law Basics: What Faculty May Assume You Know
A basic introduction (or refresher!) about sources of law, court structure, and precedent.
Law School Lingo: How to Navigate A Brand New Vocabulary
If you are just starting law school, or thinking about doing so soon, it can often feel like you need to learn a foreign language. Not to mention all the abbreviations, odd acronyms, and more! This lesson is designed to help you get started on mastering the brand new language that is the field of law.
Law school will consume your life during the three or four years that you are enrolled. But that doesn’t mean that life stops. Bills still have to be paid; people still get sick; the rest of the world keeps rolling on. There will likely be a time during your legal education when you need help with something. The good news is that there are plenty of people available to help. You are not alone. Whatever you are going through, someone else has gone through too. It’s important to reach out for help, so you can work through your problems, without hurting your academic performance. This lesson will address what to do if you face a variety of academic and life issues. It will also get you to begin thinking about post-graduation planning.
Time Management: Creating Your Plan
This lesson provides time management strategies for law students.
Posted August 25, 2025 by Susan Boland