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Introductory Guide for First Year Students

This guide will help new law students get started with Law School and become more familiar with the Law Library.

Welcome

Welcome sign and front desk of libraryWe are excited to welcome you to the GSU Law family! We hope that this is the beginning of a long-lasting relationship with the Law Library.

This guide is intended to serve as an introduction to the many services the Law Library provides, as well as help you get introduced to different aspects of the library. 

The primary mission of the Law Library is to provide faculty, students, and staff of the College of Law with the information resources and services that are necessary to support effective legal instruction and research.  Additionally, we instruct students in information-seeking skills for their academic success and use in their legal careers.  We also provide resources and services to the Georgia State University community, the legal community of Atlanta, and the general public.

Please know that the Law Library is here for you! Feel free to reach out to us.

Electronic Access to Orientation Reading

As part of your law school orientation experience, you will be reading Just Mercy. The library has print versions of the text, as well as an electronic version. The electronic version only allows one person to view it at a time. If someone else is reading it, you will not be able to access it until they are done with it.

Early eBook Access from West Academic

If you have ordered your books and they have not arrived yet, you may be able to access it for free online while you wait for your books to arrive.

If the casebook is published by West Academic or Foundation Press, it will be available for temporary, eBook access starting the week before classes through the first two weeks of the semester. Instructions are attached.

If you have any questions, please contact Alison Guffey, aguffey3@gsu.edu.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the State of Georgia, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. Georgia State University College of Law and the authors of the works contained on this website do not assume or accept any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, currentness, or comprehensiveness of the content on this website. The content on this website does not in any manner constitute the issuance of legal advice or counsel. The information on this website is intended to provide resources that may aid the research of the topics presented, and are in no way a comprehensive list of sources one should consult on the topics presented. Please note that case law, statutory law, and administrative law may be modified and/or overturned. Additionally, because the laws vary between jurisdictions, the laws referred to herein may or may not be applicable to the law within the reader’s jurisdiction.