Passwords & access from outside Oxford

Please remember...

  • Passwords for legal databases may only be used for academic work
  • They may NOT be shared or given to anyone else under any circumstance.

Users on campus

When you are on campus you will be able to connect to many legal databases without a username and password. 

However, you will need to use your Oxford Single Sign On [OSS] username and password to access Lawtel, Lexis®Library  (formerly LexisNexis Butterworths) and Westlaw UK. Your Oxford Single Sign On username and password is the same as your Oxford webmail username and password.
 If you have forgotten your OSS password you should be able to reset it using the OUCS reset a forgotten password facility. If you have never activated your Oxford Single Sign On or are unable to reset your password please contact the OUCS help desk. The Law Library staff are unable to change/reset it for you.

In addition there are a number of specialist databases (listed below) which require you to use a special password.  These are coded [P.WORD] in the A-Z of legal databases. The passwords for these databases are available on the web to users with an Oxford Single Sign On. To see what they are go to this Weblearn link and login with your OSS details. You will then find the passwords for use with each of the following databases:  All South African Law Reports, Carilaw, Current Legal Information,  Law Africa,  Linex Legal, Lloyds Law Reports,  Manupatra, OGEMID Archive and Transnational Dispute Management, Singapore Legal Workbench and State Trials.

Personal Lawtel accounts

If you would like to use the Lawtel alerting service to receive e-mail alertsyou will need a personal Lawtel username and password. Please e-mail law.library@bodleian.ox.ac.uk to request a password (please quote your University card barcode number).

Users off campus 

When you are outside the Oxford network you will need to use Oxlip+ to access legal databases and other Oxford only resources (such as OXAM).   This will give you access to all online resources as if you are on campus. 

Oxlip+

Oxlip+ gives you full access to Oxford's online resources where ever you are in the World.  To use Oxlip+

  1. Go to http://oxlip-plus.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/
  2. You may get a warning saying that the security certificate is out of date or invalid. If so, ignore this message and choose "continue".  Oxlip+ is perfectly safe.
  3. Choose "Log in" (top left). Enter your Oxford Single Sign On details.
  4. You will now find yourself back at the Oxlip+ homepage.  Enter the name of the database you wish to search in the search box (e.g. Westlaw).
  5. Alternatively if you prefer to browse a list of legal database click the "Other options" and choose "Law" from the subject drop down menu.  

Alternatives to Oxlip+

We strongly recommend that you use Oxlip+ to access databases from off campus

If you have problems with Oxlip+ please contact the Law Library.     However, if you still prefer not to use Oxlip+ here are some alternatives:
UK Access Federation (uses your Oxford Single Sign On details)

You can use the UK Access Federation to access some legal databases by entering your Oxford Single Sign On details. The UK Access Federation will give you access to HeinOnline, Justis, Lexis®Library, Sage, the Social Science Citation Index and some other databases. Please note you will not be able to access OXAM or many of the international law databases using the UK Access Federation.

To connect to a database using the UK Access Federation follow the link to the database as usual.  If you are accessing Lexis or the Social Science Citation Index you will be asked for your Oxford Single Sign On as usual.  However, if you are accessing any other database you will need to find a link for "Academic users", "UK Access Federation" or "Shibboleth" (unfortunately the wording varies).    This will take you to a list of academic institutions where you will find University of Oxford under U.  You will then be prompted for your Oxford Single Sign On details .

OUCS Virtual Private Network (VPN)

The OUCS VPN service gives you access to all legal databases and all Oxford only web pages as if you are in Oxford.

To use the VPN you must register for a remote access passwords and you must install the VPN software. You can get the remote access password and download the VPN software freely from https://register.oucs.ox.ac.uk (log in using your Oxford webmail username and password).

Please see our VPN instructions for notes on how to install and use the VPN. 

If you encounter difficulties with the VPN please contact help@oucs.ox.ac.uk or telephone (01865) (2)73200.