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Services & Resources

About the Library

The Jacob Burns Law Library is named for Jacob Burns, LLB ’24, LLD ’70, a generous supporter of GW Law and longtime trustee of the University. Burns (1902-1993) was renowned as a lawyer, artist, and philanthropist.

The Jacob Burns Law Library offers a research collection rich in the historic and contemporary legal materials of America, as well as international and comparative materials. The Law Library’s holdings of more than 700,000 volumes (and equivalents) and its wide range of electronic resources provide researchers with a wealth of legal information.

Vision Statement

The Jacob Burns Law Library, as one of the world’s preeminent legal research facilities, empowers its users to achieve their goals, impact society, and lead meaningful and successful careers.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Jacob Burns Law Library is to advance the strategic initiatives of the George Washington University Law School through the support of academic offerings and programs, the research and publication needs of the law faculty, and the study and research needs of the law students; and to provide to the scholarly community at large access to a research collection of materials about the law and its history. The library also responds, as appropriate, to the legal research requests of members of the George Washington University community and graduates of the Law School. In fulfilling our mission, we value and respect all members of our community, and endeavor to build a culture in which diversity and inclusion thrive.