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Reference

Law librarians are dedicated to helping scholars locate resources, validate results, and plan research methodologies. Six members of the Reference Staff also hold a joint appointment as Lecturers in Law and teach in the J.D. and LL.M. Legal Research and Writing programs.  

A Reference Librarian is on duty at the Reference Desk (in the Library Lobby) from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12:00 Noon until 5:00 p.m. on Friday when law classes are in session. Call 314.935.6459 for reference assistance.

Circulation & Access

The Circulation Desk is staffed during all the hours that the library is open. To contact the circulation desk, please call 314.935.6450. As in many law libraries, most material does not circulate. The law school provides numerous photocopiers and microform printers. We also have detailed information on our circulation, access, food and drink, and cell phone policies.

Interlibrary Loan

If the library is unable to supply you with the materials needed for your research, interlibrary loan is available. Please use the online form if you need to request materials. For more information on who is eligible for interlibrary loan as well as information about how long it takes to receive materials, please see the Interlibrary Loan page.

Technology in the Library

The Law Library is an esthetically pleasing facility with an old-world ambience that holds a state-of-the-art technological system behind it. A major strength of our institution is the access we provide the Law School community to specialized legal materials via electronic databases. Almost every table and carrel in the library is wired so that a student may plug a laptop into the port and access the library's online resources.  Electronic databases, providing access to a wide variety of legal materials, are also available to the Law School community. Washington University School of Law subscribes to a large number of online services in order to assist the researcher and help prepare our students to become effective attorneys.