As a UC Berkeley law student you will need to make extensive use of computing technology to facilitate and enhance your legal training. You will use computers to prepare documents and reports; collaborate with fellow students, administrative staff and faculty; and perform online legal research.
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 are working to improve the services we already offer. Some of these services include: a computer lab exclusively for law students, hardware and software support, email accounts, computer hardware and software recommendations, law school computing orientation, training on using library-based electronic resources, 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. It will provide you with access to a wide range of both law school and campus web-hosted resources. This includes personal storage space on bSpace (the campus course website system), and access to the law library computer lab and networked printing.
bConnected
UC Berkeley is one of the many universities nationwide to embrace Google Apps for Education. Every registered student will be provided with a bConnected account, with access to bCal, bDrive, bMail, bMail Contacts, and Chat. Everything you need to know about these services is available at: http://bconnected.berkeley.edu/
NOTE: Using bConnected is better than consumer Google accounts! Google Apps for Education tools are designed to work together– you will have a greater functionality if you use bMail along with bCal and bDrive in the bConnected environment, rather than switching back and forth between bConnected and another email client.
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.
Starting in April you will be able to create 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.
bCal Calendar, Drive Storage, Contacts and more information about bMail
Everything you need to know about these services is available at: http://bconnected.berkeley.edu/
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 J.D., LL.M. and J.S.P. students and you must attend an orientation session to use the computers. You will find information about all computing resources at:http://libguides.law.berkeley.edu/computing. 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 at airbears.berkeley.edu.
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/.