Note on Legal Resources
Some of you may be familiar with Lexis.com and Westlaw. At Northeastern, these resources are reserved for the use of Law School affiliates. Snell Library provides access to Westlaw Campus Research which is the academic library version of Westlaw.
NOTE: Despite the limitations noted above, all NU affiliates may visit and borrow materials from the NU Law Library. Several Law Library databases are accessible to all, including HeinOnline and Law 360.
Massachusetts residents/students have access to Westlaw and Lexis through the state Trial Court Library system. There are 15 trial court libraries in the Commonwealth; check the Trial Court Library site for locations and information about resources and user privileges.
Using Westlaw Campus Research
This box provides several tools to help you navigate Westlaw Campus Research.
- PowerPoint slides - Find Cases and Law Review Articles in Westlaw Campus Research.
- Video - Find Cases and Law Review Articles in Westlaw Campus Research.
- Introduction to Legal Research on Westlaw - An in-depth guide to using Westlaw Campus Research.
- Find Cases and Law Review Articles in Westlaw Campus ResearchNo time to watch a video? Flip through these slides.
- Westlaw Campus Help GuideProvides tips for effective case and statute research.
Finding Federal Cases
Many sites provide access to federal court cases. For alternatives to the recommendations below, check the Legal Research Guide.
Use Westlaw Campus Research for access to materials from a wide range of federal court jurisdictions: District Courts, Circuit Courts, the Supreme Court.
For added value, consider the following options.
- United States Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court site provides audio recordings of oral arguments as well as access to case documents.
- SCOTUSblogIncludes detailed case analyses, petitions, and statistics in addition to podcasts and videos.
- OyezOyez offers clear descriptions and analyses of issues under consideration; recordings or oral arguments and opinion announcements are included (recordings aren't available immediately).
Massachusetts Courts and Cases
- Westlaw Campus Research - Massachusetts CasesWestlaw Campus Research provides access to cases from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Appeals Court, and Trial Courts. SELECT CASES FROM WESTLAW'S MAIN MENU AND NAVIGATE TO STATE CASES-MA.
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial CourtSJC makes a variety of resources available to the public, including selected opinions, slip opinions, and advance opinions.
- Massachusetts Trial CourtsIncludes links to the Boston Municipal Court Department and the Housing, Juvenile, Land, District, Probate/Family, and Superior Court Departments.
Cases from Other States
- Westlaw Campus Research - State CasesJurisdictions available vary from state to state. Some states provide cases at the trial court level; only Supreme Court and Appeals Court cases are available for other states.
- States and Territories (Library of Congress)In addition to linking to state judicial sites, this resource provides access to administrative codes, state constitutions, and legislative materials.
- State Legal Materials CollectionFrom the Cornell University Legal Information Institute (LII)
- State Court Web SitesFrom the National Center of State Courts