As a UC Berkeley law student you will need to make extensive use of computing technology to facilitate and enhance your legal training. The Law School’s Information Systems & Technology team and the Law Library Computing Services staff are continuously exploring innovative ways to utilize technology to enhance your legal education, and working to improve the services we already offer. Some of these services include: a computer lab exclusively for law students, email accounts, computer hardware and software recommendations, law school computing orientation, training on using library-based electronic resources, hardware and software support as well as referrals to sources of help on issues that exceed our level of support.
CalNet ID
Your CalNet ID is your key to accessing many critical online services during your career as a law student so you will want to remember it. It will provide you with access to our range of Web-hosted resources and our online directory of Law School faculty, staff and students. You will have access to bSpace (the campus course website system), the computer lab and networked printers, and bConnected, UC Berkeley’s suite of collaboration and communication tools, which includes bMail, bCal, and bDrive.
Email Account
bMail is a campus-wide email service offered at no cost to UC Berkeley students. bMail email accounts are administered by the central campus through its Information Systems & Technology Department, a separate unit from Law School’s Information Systems & Technology Department.
After you confirm your acceptance of admission and pay the tuition deposit, you will given instructions on establishing your bMail email account. All students are required to sign up for an email account even if they plan to use another account for email. Email is used routinely by faculty members to disseminate course-related information and by administrators to notify students of important deadlines. Please read your email and respond to appropriate administrators as necessary.
Personal Computers
The Law School strongly recommends that students own a laptop computer. Most of our services and support, and the legal profession in general, are oriented towards Windows-based PCs. Most classrooms have power to each seat and wireless connectivity so laptops can be used to take notes during class. It is also possible to take many law school exams on laptop computers.
Computer Lab
The computer facilities are available for use only by currently enrolled law students. Attend an orientation session to use the computers. You will find information about all computing resources at: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/library/computing.html
Lab assistants are available to assist students with setting up accounts, answer software questions and troubleshoot printing and other hardware problems. For more in-depth questions and problems, there are full-time technical support staff members to assist students.
Network Access
Access to AirBears, the campus wireless network, is available in most locations throughout the law school. Use of the wireless network requires a laptop with wireless capability. If your laptop does not have built-in wireless capability, you will need to purchase a wireless network card. For more information, visit the AirBears section of the Communications & Network Services website.
Software Downloads
The University has obtained software license agreements that permit the redistribution of certain software to students, faculty and staff. Typically, these are license agreements for applications such as antivirus software, remote access/connectivity software and other miscellaneous programs. To see what is offered, visit http://software-central.berkeley.edu/.