LexisNexis at HLS

LexisNexis provides online access to U.S. federal and state law sources as well as sources of international law and the laws of a growing number of other jurisdictions. Sources vary by jurisdiction, but may include constitutions, legislation, legislative history, statutory codes, regulations, regulatory materials, cases, case digests, citators, public records, law reviews, treatises, and general and legal news.

The LexisNexis Directory of Online Services provides detailed, current information on databases offered by LexisNexis. In addition, the LexisNexis Directory of Online Services is available in print at the Langdell reference desk. Please note: many but not all LexisNexis databases are available under our academic account.

Shepard's BriefCheck is a web-based, automated citation-checking service which automatically extracts citations from documents and verifies them using the Shepard's citator service.

Requesting a LexisNexis Account

The HLS contract with LexisNexis allows us to create accounts for law school faculty including visiting faculty, law school staff, and law school students currently enrolled in either law school classes or in an HLS-sponsored Harvard joint-degree program only. At its discretion, LexisNexis allows exceptions for HLS visitors including visiting scholars, researchers and fellows of the law school and for cross-enrolled students taking a law school class. Exceptions are also usually made for law school faculty research assistants who are not law school students or staff. If you are not a member of the law school community, you will most likely be denied access.

Student accounts. LexisNexis accounts are distributed to new students in their registration packets. Returning students should continue using their LexisNexis accounts from last year. Please stop by the Langdell Reference desk located just off the reading room on the fourth floor of Langdell Hall if you have not received your account.

Faculty, Visiting Faculty & Staff accounts. Law school faculty including visiting faculty and law school staff may request a LexisNexis account by emailing the Langdell reference desk using their HLS email account. Please include your full name and position in the text of your message.

Visitor accounts. At its discretion, LexisNexis allows exceptions for HLS visitors including visiting scholars, researchers and fellows of the law school and for cross-enrolled students taking a law school class. Exceptions are also usually made for law school faculty research assistants who are not law school students or staff. HLS visitors, cross-enrolled students and faculty research assistants who are not law school students or staff must email their account request directly to LexisNexis. For more information, please visit the Langdell reference desk located just off the reading room on the fourth floor of Langdell Hall or see LexisNexis & Westlaw Account Information (pdf).

Registering Your LexisNexis Account

You will not be able to sign on to LexisNexis using your 7-digit activation code. Instead, use your activation code to register your account with LexisNexis. During registration, you will create your own ID and password, which you will then use to access the LexisNexis services. When registering, please be sure to select a memorable security question and answer.

Creating Your LexisNexis ID and Password

Here are the LexisNexis guidelines for creating your ID and password:

Your ID must consist of 8 to 25 characters, with at least one letter and no spaces.
Your password must consist of 6 to 50 characters, with at least one letter, one number and no spaces.
In addition to letters and numbers, your ID and password may include any of these four special characters: @ (at sign), _ (underscore), . (period) or - (hyphen).
Your ID and password must be unique from any other LexisNexis custom or LexisNexis-assigned IDs and passwords you might have.
Do not use LexisNexis product names (Lexis, Nexis, etc.,).
Your full name (first, last, firstlast, lastfirst, etc.) cannot be used alone as an ID or password. However, you can include your initials and last name as an ID or password so long as it meets the above requirements, e.g., mjohnson, mjohnson42, m_johnson.

For additional information, see: LexisNexis ID/Password Instructions (pdf)

LexisNexis users needing assistance with lost or forgotten custom IDs and passwords must use the Forgot Your ...? links located near the middle of the sign on box on the LexisNexis law school home page.

LexisNexis Training

The library sponsors LexisNexis introductory, refresher and advanced training sessions throughout the academic year for students who would like hands-on instruction. The sessions are taught by our LexisNexis account representatives. All sessions are held in the Langdell Computer Classroom (L233) located on two north. Session dates, times and sign-ups are available at the LexisNexis home page: sign on and then click the My School tab; next click the Training Schedule link in the left margin or scroll down to locate the LexisNexis Training Schedule.

In addition, the HLSL LexisNexis & Westlaw Tutorial, prepared by the Langdell reference librarians, is designed to get you started with LexisNexis.

Contacting LexisNexis

LexisNexis customer support is available at: (800) 455-3947

Our LexisNexis account representative is: Cristen Cozart Lebel, cristen.lebel@lexisnexis.com

Help with LexisNexis

The LexisNexis home page offers a number of useful materials and services including reference literature, research guides, tutorials, product tours, study aids and outlines. LexisNexis documentation and instructional materials are available in print in the Computer Classroom (L233) located in Langdell Hall on two north.

Please contact the Langdell reference desk, (617) 495-4516, located just off the reading room on the fourth floor of Langdell Hall with any questions.

Compiled and edited by Michael Jimenez.