Written by: Josiah Abbot

While you may be aware of the many books and resources available through Ellis Library, if you are looking to do any legal research, turn no further than our Law Library. For example, if you are a social work student looking at policy or a political science major researching law. Reference services are available from 10 am to 4 pm on weekdays, but the library is open to all students from 7:30 am to 5 pm on weekdays, with shorter hours on the weekend. Due to space constraints, non-law students cannot use the library for general study. However, you can access resources through the Reference Alcove after checking in at their front desk. This space offers access to Westlaw software, a powerful legal database. Within this database, you can find numerous documents ranging from case law to statutes to secondary law sources. You can email yourself several of these sources a day and the limit resets each day. Within the Alcove you will also find a “Reference Student,” similar to the Ellis Peer Navigators. If you are unsure of what you are looking for or where best to find it, they can help point you in the right direction. 

If you would rather research from home, you can still access some of the Law Library’s online databases. When you navigate to their webpage, click on the “Law Library” drop-down menu and then select student resources.

Under the “Legal Research” subsection you can find a link to their database list – any databases with an MU logo are open to any MU students, while the rest you would need to be in the Law Library to access.

One great resource they recommend is HeinOnline, a comprehensive source of treaties and international agreements that the United States is part of. It also has law and law-related periodicals. One reason students often choose HeinOnline is that its sources have a PDF structure, making it easy to transfer documents and cite your information.

Another useful resource available to all students is their databases on intellectual property. The “Intellectual Property Law Collection” will allow you to access cases relating to patent law. For more on patent issuances and treatises (these can be anything from the design of your Starbucks cup to NASA spaceships and Phantom of the Opera’s stage!), you can access a different database through VitalLaw (titled “Intellectual Property” within their database list). VitalLaw allows you to find Patent and Trademark Office documents for things like Pfizer rulings from the PTO.

If online databases are not your style and you prefer physical copies of resources, you can always take a look at print materials. Similarly to how you would search for books from Ellis, their books, periodicals, and journals can be found through the Libraries Discover layer. Once you’ve started a search, on the side panel under location, you can filter down to only resources from the Law Library. Journals can be reviewed onsite, and when you checkout books you can choose from any pickup location as you would normally be able to. 

Altogether, the Law Library is a great resource for students. If you are in a class and need to research a project that is closely related to law, accessing their resources could greatly benefit you. Even if you don’t have a project, they have a variety of specific resources that are interesting to check out.

Written by: Annalise Miller

At some point during your academic and professional journey, you will likely find yourself emailing a professor, university staff member, or other dignitary person. You might be writing to ask for a letter of recommendation, to apply for a job, or to communicate about an assignment. When that time comes, it is crucial to have solid email etiquette under your belt. Think of it as the art of writing polite, clear, and effective emails. The “rules” of email etiquette may vary depending on the recipient, but having a strong foundation in email etiquette will set you up for success in any situation.

As a college student, communication with professors through email is something that will undoubtedly happen during your years at Mizzou. Make sure that all MU-related emails are coming from your University assigned email address. Before constructing your email, write a clear and concise subject line. This helps clarify what your message is about and will help busy professors prioritize your email. “POL-SC 4641 Discussion Post Grade,” “Absence Notification for ENG 1000 on 2/02/2025,” or “Feedback Request for BUS 2000” are all examples of good subject lines. Subject lines should avoid all caps, emojis, or ambiguity.

Similar to writing a letter, emails should begin with a greeting. Try to avoid informal greetings like “What’s up, Kim,” or “Heyyyyy.” You are emailing a professional, not someone you just met online. “Ms. Kimberly Moeller” or “Dear Dr. Jones” are generally safe options, especially if you are unsure how the person prefers to be addressed. While some professors are fine with being called by their first names, others prefer to be referred to as “Dr.” or “Professor.”

Now, what about the body of your email? Make sure the recipient knows who you are and why you are contacting them in short, direct paragraphs. Do not make your email unnecessarily long or full of extraneous detail. That said, an important part of conciseness is making sure that you do not leave out any relevant information. Say everything that you need to say without being excessively wordy. In terms of follow-ups, try to wait at least 24 hours. This gives the recipient time to respond to your email.

Finally, use a professional sign off to conclude your email. For example: “Best, Annalise Miller” or “Sincerely, Shane Stearman”. You can get creative with this step, as long as you keep it polite and direct. Be sure to thank your recipient before signing off of your email, as well.

Before hitting “send,” do a quick proofread of your email. In emails, use grammar and punctuation as you would in any other piece of professional writing. Make sure that you do not overuse exclamation points (no matter how excited you are to be here at Mizzou) and end your sentences with periods. Do not type anything that you would not want to read out loud, either. Regardless of how mad you may be at a professor for not yet posting your grade, save the rage for ranting to your roommate. By following proper email etiquette, you can ensure effective communication while demonstrating professionalism and respect.

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Example Email:
Subject: POLSC 2000 Grade Inquiry

Dear Professor Smith,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Annalise Miller, and I am a student in your POLSC 2000 class (Section 2, Fall 2025). I am reaching out to inquire about when the final grades for the course will be posted. I understand that grading can take some time, and I just wanted to check if there is an estimated date for when we might be able to view our grades.

Thank you for your time and for all your hard work throughout the semester. I appreciate any information you can provide.
Best regards,
Annalise Miller