Visiting Researcher Program
Georgetown Law, the Edward Bennett Williams Law Library, and the John Wolff International and Comparative Law Library welcome the opportunity to serve the research needs of scholars from throughout the world each year. To the extent allowed by our resources, we provide access to our library collections, campus facilities, and academic community to established legal scholars as well as to those just beginning their scholarly careers. Doctoral students from Georgetown Law's partner schools around the world may also apply. Visits are limited to a maximum of one calendar year.
Important Note: Georgetown Law's Visiting Researcher program is designed for visitors with well-defined, independent research agendas. It is not generally appropriate for those who seek regular consultation with Georgetown faculty, whose own research demands may limit their availability to meet with visitors.
- Successful applications will include details of a well-defined scholarly project and methodology.
- Candidates who would require a "faculty supervisor" are advised to consider alternative opportunities at other institutions.
General Program Benefits
All Visiting Researchers enjoy access to the Edward Bennett Williams Law Library and the John Wolff International and Comparative Law Library, as well as access to the Lexis Nexis and Westlaw databases. The Edward Bennett Williams Law Library is one of the largest academic law libraries in the United States, with a collection of over 1,000,000 volumes and many of the newest technological innovations in information retrieval. Collections of note include an extensive American Tax collection and a historical and archival area called Special Collections. The John Wolff International and Comparative Law Library houses a comprehensive Foreign and International Law Collection. Special orientation presentations are available for Visitors and designed to maximize the effectiveness of the use of the research sources available at Georgetown.
Visiting Researchers are given access to the libraries and to all of the services offered to our students by those libraries, except that no materials may be removed from the library. Visiting Researchers may be given study carrels in the Williams Library or assigned shelf space in the Wolff Library, to which materials can be checked out. Visitors can use their own laptop computers and printers in the library space, and can connect to Georgetown's wireless internet network. However, study desks are not secured areas and we would not suggest that personal items be left unattended. There are also computers and printers that are made available to the entire academic community at various sites in the library.
Visiting Researchers are welcome to attend the many general academic and other public events at the Law Center. They may also audit one course with permission of the instructor.
