Information Technology
All law students must have a laptop on which to take their final exams. Many students choose to take notes on laptops as well. All law students may take out an additional $1,500 alternative loan to purchase a computer.
Computer labs
The Law School operates a computer lab on the third floor of the library. The lab contains ten computers running Windows 7 Enterprise. All computers have Microsoft Office 2010, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and other specialized software. The lab contains two laser printers and a scanner. The Lab Manager, David Blood, is on duty weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Additional coverage is provided on evenings and weekends. If you have questions, contact the Lab Manager at 773-702-4493, or send an e-mail to lab_support@law.uchicago.edu.
Video Conference Interviews
The Law School has video conference capabilities that can be used for student interviewing. Students must coordinate their video conference arrangements directly with the employer before making a request for access to the equipment. Equipment availability is limited to weekdays between 9:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. (CST). A test call prior to the scheduled video conference date may be arranged by contacting the Law School IT department Help Desk via 773-834-5300 or helpdesk@law.uchicago.edu.
Students must follow these instructions to make their request: Video Conferencing Request Information
Printing
Students are allowed to print 1,200 pages per academic year free of charge. You can get further details and instructions for printing from your personal laptop.
Training
The Law School Library provides training on law-specific computer services, such as Westlaw and LexisNexis. The Library demonstrates useful law- and business-related Internet sites throughout the year. IT Services provides a variety of training courses on various commonly used software packages.
The Law School local area network
All study carrels, reading tables on the north side of the Wilson Reading Room, and tables in the book stacks on the upper floors of the library have Ethernet connections, where students may connect to the local area network and gain access to laser printers, the Internet, Lexis, and Westlaw. To connect your laptop to the network, you need a 100/1000baseT Ethernet adapter and cable. Many of the student study areas are now covered by the Law School's 802.11b/g wireless network as well. Students with an integrated or add-on wireless card should be able to access the Internet from most study areas in the building.
The Law School uses DHCP to assign IP addresses dynamically. Instructions on configuring your laptop to use DHCP are available online at http://totality.uchicago.edu/itservices under “Student File Library” (either Macintosh or Windows Network Guide). If you wish to access the network both at the Law School and in a dorm room, you may need to switch your network settings when you move from one location to another.
Computers in the Reading Room
The Library provides computers in the Wilson Reading Room for searching the library catalog and databases, web searching, and checking e-mail. From these computers, you can print to the multi-function device located in the Reserve Room.
Lexis and Westlaw
Students will receive their Lexis and Westlaw passwords at introductory training classes early in the fall quarter by the Law School Library.
Internet services
The D'Angelo Law Library subscribes to many databases and e-journals that can be reached through the Library's web server, http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/law/. The Library also posts old law school exams and model answers at http://www1.lib.uchicago.edu/e/law/courses/exams/. The University subscribes to thousands of Usenet newsgroups, including ClariNews, which delivers news from Reuters and various newspapers on over 400 subjects. Individual students and student organizations may publish personal web pages. There is also a mailing list server for student lists.
Computer Passwords
Law students have four sets of passwords: (1) Computer lab user name and password: To prevent unauthorized access, use of the Law School computer labs will be restricted to holders of UCLAW usernames and passwords. These are issued to each student during orientation. You need these to log in to the computers in the labs, to access laser printers over the network from your notebook computer, and to access some services restricted to law students (job listings from Career Services, course evaluations, the exam system, etc.). You should sign off computers when you are done or you will risk having other people's print jobs charged to your account.
(2) CNetID and password: You need these to check your e-mail and authenticate to the wireless network, as well as to access many of the University's online assets.
(3) Lexis ID: Use to logon to LexisNexis: http://www.lexis.com/lawschool. You can create a custom LexisNexis ID and password when you register.
(4) Westlaw password: Use to logon to Westlaw. You also need it to register for your professor's home page on The West Educational Network (TWEN): http://lawschool.westlaw.com/. You can create a custom Westlaw login and password (OnePass) when you register.
A word about laptops: It is risky to configure software on a laptop computer to automatically remember your passwords. If the laptop were stolen, the thief would have access to all of your accounts.
What to do if your password is lost or compromised
(1) Computer lab password: The Lab Attendant can change your password to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your account and files.
(2) CNET password: You may reset this by visiting the CNET website: http://cnet.uchicago.edu. If you encounter problems online, you may go in person to the Identification and Privileges Office near the entrance to the Regenstein library, and they will create a new password. For security reasons, they absolutely cannot give out passwords over the phone or by e-mail. If your password is compromised, you may find your account frozen because of abuse by the unauthorized user.
(3) LexisNexis ID: The Lexis student rep or a reference librarian can look up a LexisNexis ID that you have forgotten. If your password has been compromised, the Lexis rep or reference librarian can cancel the old password and have a new one created. In an emergency, phone Lexis customer service at 1-800-543-6862.
(4) Westlaw password: The Westlaw student rep or reference librarian can look up your password on the spot. If your password has been compromised, the Westlaw rep or reference librarian can have the four-letter extension changed.
Problems/Questions
Operational issues (problems in the labs, printing, setting up e-mail, etc.) should be directed to the Lab Manger and Assistants on duty in the Computer Lab. Global computer issues (lab policies, law school computer purchases, etc.) should be directed to Shem Boduch (773-834-5472, shem@law.uchicago.edu).
University Computing Services
IT Services provides all students with a wide range of computing resources at no charge, including e-mail, networked information, interactive computing and Internet service. IT Services manages three computing sites for the University community:
USite: adjacent to Harper Library, 773-702-7894 8 a.m. - 3 a.m. (weekdays) noon - 3 a.m. (weekends) PCs, Macintosh, and Silicon Graphics workstations
Regenstein: 2nd floor, 702-7894 open during library hours Macintosh & PCs
Crerar: basement, 773-702-7894 open during library hours Macintosh & PCs
IT Services provides technical support and can be reached on the techline (773-834-8324) or by e-mail (support@uchicago.edu).
Computer Sales
The University of Chicago sells computers and software to students through the IT Services Solution Center. The Solution Center sells hardware and software from major vendors such as Apple, IBM, Microsoft, and Dell. Pricing is very competitive.
IT Services also provides a FREE download of Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade (32bit or 64bit), Microsoft Office 2010 for Windows, and Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac to each student. Information can be found at http://softwarediscount.uchicago.edu.
Where To Get More Information
On computers and pricing:
IT Services Solution Center
U. of C. Bookstore, 3rd Floor
970 E. 58th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
773-702-6086
Connect Student Services Office (IT Services) 1307 East 60th Street, Room B-2 Chicago, Illinois 60637 773-834-8324
On student user accounts (E-mail, Internet):
Identification and Privileges Office
Regenstein Library, Room100F
773-702-8782
support@uchicago.edu
