| How do I register? | | How do I sign on? | | How do I find citations & print? |

| I need some extra help. |

How do I register?

Above, you should see Westlaw's internet address. Once you have entered this address and have been directed to Westlaw's law school homepage, add the address to your favorites for future reference.

Before you can use Westlaw, you must register your password. This must be done soon after you have received your password at orientation since Westlaw invalidates unregistered passwords after a brief period of time. Don't wait until you need something urgent and find out your password is no longer valid!

Click on the hyperlink shown above which states "Register your password here" You should then be directed to the screen shown below:

1. You will be selecting Registering for the First Time. If you have any questions, feel free to contact a reference librarian.

You will then be asked to enter your e-mail in the screen shown below:

Enter the Cooley e-mail you received at orientation and click go. Follow the instructions provided, enter the required data and agree to the terms of use. You will also have the option of personalizing your Westlaw password. Use your Cooley e-mail when registering.

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How do I sign on?

To sign on to Westlaw, enter the URL listed above. This address will take you to the page shown below:

Now that you have registered your password, you will be able to access Westlaw.

1. If you have personalized your Westlaw password, you may utilize the West One Pass which asks for your username and password.

2. Otherwise, enter the Westlaw password provided to you at orientation in the Westlaw password prompt.

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How do I find citations & print?

Below, you are seeing Westlaw's main index page. This should be the screen that you are automatically routed to when you sign on.

Select ‘Go To Westlaw’ or directly enter the citation of case, statute or document you want in the Research Shortcuts field. In most circumstances you will be selecting the ‘Go To Westlaw’ button as it provides the most research options to you. Until you take Research and Writing, you will only have the ability to Find a document by its citation. By selecting this button you will see the screen below:

1. The Add/Remove Tabs link allows you to tailor your Westlaw site to your needs.

2. Enter your citation in the Find by citation box and click Go or press enter to retrieve the document. If you have entered a wrong citation Westlaw will prompt you with some alternatives. Directly below, you should see a blue hyperlink entitled Find using a template which further assists you in finding a requested document.

Below is an example of a search:

The 4 stands for the volume number while USC stands for the United States Code and 71 stands for the section. Clicking on Go or hitting <enter> will retrieve the statute as shown below:

When you retrieve a document, your page will look similar to the above screen.

After you have completed your search, do not forget to sign off.

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I need some extra help.

If you are having any difficulties, you have a few options at your disposal.

1. You can request help by selecting the help button circled below and will either be given the opportunity to directly call Westlaw (1-800-850 WEST) or use their online chat room.

2. Westlaw student representatives are often on duty in the computer lab to assist you with any of your questions.

3. The reference librarians may be contacted in person, phone, email or by chat.

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Back to the Westlaw and Lexis Introduction

Back to Orientation Index