Library Resources & Tips for First-Generation Law Students

Our first-generation CSU|LAW students make our campus experience extraordinary and inspirational. In celebration of first-generation law student and legal professionals, here are some resources the law library proudly offers:

Use Online Study Aids & Flashcards

The law library offers you two online study aid platforms, allowing you 24/7 access to some of the best supplemental learning materials. West Academic includes popular series such as Nutshells, Concepts and Insights and Sum and Substance Audio, while Aspen Learning Library gives you Glannon Guides, Examples and Explanations, and more. You also have access to Spaced Repetition Law Flashcards, which allows you to review key concepts and track your learning progress.

Try a Law School Success CALI Lesson

CALI (Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction) has a nice collection of CALI lessons – brief online video or podcast tutorials – covering many academic success topics such as study scheduling for the evening, weekend, or part-time J.D. student, first-generation student experience, and setting realistic expectations in law school. Get our school’s access code from the library’s database list.

Reach Out to a Librarian for Research Help or Library Questions

Librarians are here to help you with researching for seminar papers, notes, and other research tasks. Contact us to set up a research consultation – we can meet with you in person in the library, or over zoom.

Relax a Minute and Focus on Wellness

If you’re in the library, check out the Wellness Lounge, located in the Learning Commons. This is a quiet area where you can relax and regroup. With wellness in mind, check out our Mental Health and Well-Being Resources for Law Students guide, which highlights ebooks and print books from our Law Library Mental Health and Wellness Book Collection.

Find a Quiet Place to Study or a Place to Meet with Your Study Group

Reserve one of our study rooms or gather at the tables in the Ohio Room, in the Learning Commons, or in one of the individual study carrels throughout the library.

Be Inspired About the Legal Profession

Search Scholar, the library catalog to find ebooks and print books that inspire you about the legal profession. Some recent titles include Becoming a Public Interest Lawyer, How To Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Need to Know, or Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America.