SIP - School Information Portal

Congratulations from the Charles B. Sears Law Library for making it through another academic year! As you transition to your summer activities, please don't forget that your friendly neighborhood reference librarians are here to help with tough research assignments: just email asklaw@bufalo.edu or give us a call at (716) 645-2384. We're here to help you!

In addition to reference services, you also maintain access to Lexis and Westlaw over the summer:

Lexis:

• Returning students: No action needed to maintain the same access you've enjoyed all year. Lexis places no restrictions on using your student account for research pertaining to your summer internships.

• Graduated 3Ls: Your Lexis ID will remain active through December 31, 2026. It will remain in "student view" through June 30, 2026, then convert to "graduate view" from July 1 to December 31, 2026. Your Lexis points will also expire on June 30, so be sure to redeem them before then! In graduate view some premier content is not available, but the bulk of Lexis content is. While Lexis AI is considered premier, graduating 3Ls can complete this form to become a Graduate Lexis AI Insider and receive Protégé as a “graduation gift” from Lexis when their Lexis ID converts to graduate view. https://law.lexisnexis.com/insider-lawschool

• ASPIRE Program for graduated 3Ls joining non-profits: Lexis's ASPIRE program is dedicated to graduates engaged in non-profit work.  It provides 12 months of free access to federal and state cases, regulations, law reviews, Shepard’s, and Matthew Bender treatises to graduates who are engaged in verifiable 501(c)(3) public interest work. https://www.lexisnexis.com/grad-access/

• Full Policy: https://www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/terms/educational.page. If you have any questions, please contact our Lexis Rep, Celine Conway at celine.conway@lexisnexis.com.

Westlaw:

• Returning students: No action needed to maintain the same access you've enjoyed all year. You can use Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw and Practical Law, over the summer for non-commercial research. You can turn to these resources to gain understanding and build confidence in your research skills, but you cannot use them in situations where you are billing a client. Examples of permissible uses for your academic password include the following: summer coursework, research assistant assignments, law review or journal research, moot court research, non-profit work, clinical work, and externships sponsored by the law school

• Graduated 3Ls: Graduated students can use Thomson Reuters products, including Westlaw, CoCounsel and Practical Law, for 6-months after graduation. Your “Grad Elite” access gives you 60-hours of usage per month to gain understanding and build confidence in your research skills. While you cannot use it in situations where you are billing a client, Thomson Reuters encourages you to use these tools to build your knowledge of the law and prepare for your bar exam. You must opt in to Grad Elite Access (and can do so in one of two ways):
  • 1) Go to www.lawschool.tr.com, and, after logging on, use the drop-down menu by your name to go to Grad Elite Status, or
  • 2) Click on this link: https://lawschool.thomsonreuters.com/grad-elite-status/

• Questions: If you have any questions, please contact our Westlaw Rep, Estee Waxman at estee.waxman@thomsonreuters.com.

Good luck this summer!

Sara