Answered By: Kate Britt
Last Updated: Sep 13, 2022     Views: 1272

Access to Westlaw, Lexis+, and Bloomberg Law is only available to the MLaw community. MLaw faculty or students with questions regarding access to these services should contact Kate E. Britt at kebritt@umich.edu.

There are a number of options available to members of the public who would like to conduct legal research.

University of Michigan Campus

  • Nexis Uni, a subset of Lexis databases, is available to U of M students, staff, faculty, and public patrons on the U-M Ann Arbor campus.

Off-Campus

  • Oakland County Legal Resources Center
    • Seven terminals for public internet access and access to web-based Westlaw and HeinOnline for patrons free of charge. Access to Fastcase is also available, which now includes LoisLaw i.e., access to all Federal cases.
    • For details call: (248) 858-0012. 
  • Arthur Neef Law Library, Wayne State University Law School
    • Access to Lexis-Nexis & Westlaw terminals for enrolled students and attorneys with their own passwords. Lexis Academic is also available to the public.
    • For details, contact the Reference Desk at: (313) 577-6180 
  • John F. Schaefer Law Library, Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law
    • Access to Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw terminals for anyone who has a password. Westlaw searches are available on demand for a reduced fee for DCL alumni only; searches must be done by DCL librarians.
    • For details, call the Reference Desk at: (517) 432-6870.

Fee-Based Services

  • Westlaw and Lexis both offer plans for small firms and solo practitioners.
    • Generally, these plans are specialized and prices are not available online.
  • ICLE (Institute of Continuing Legal Education)
    • ICLE provides seminars, books, and tools developed by and for practitioners in the state of Michigan.
    • Purchasing a "Partnership" provides access to a range of ICLE products, but products can also be purchased a la carte.
    • Contact (877) 229-4350 or (734) 764-0533 for additional information.
  • Casemaker
    • Database of Federal and State cases, statutes, and codes. Includes a cite checker.
    • Available for no cost to all members of the State Bar of Michigan.
    • Call (877) 659-0801 for additional information about the service. 
  • Fastcase
    • Database of case law, statutes, regulations, court rules, constitutions, and law review articles.
    • Pricing is available online for monthly and yearly subscriptions.
    • Call (866) 773-2782 for additional information about the service. 

University of Michigan Alumni

  • Off-campus access to subscription-based resources is restricted to current U-M students, faculty, and staff. We do not have control over such access.

  • Visitors to the Law Library may be able to access certain materials that are licensed for on-campus use by using our public terminals, but Westlaw, Lexis+, and Bloomberg Law (or any other material restricted by license agreements) are not available through this method.

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