IALS Library

The national research library for law – with over 310,000 legal texts and an extensive collection of online resources for legal research.

IALS has one of the largest legal research libraries in Europe. Focusing on foreign, comparative and international law, it is particularly rich in the law of the UK, Commonwealth and European countries, the USA and EU. IALS also manages several legal archive collections.

contactGet in touch with IALS Library

email: ials@sas.ac.uk

Reference Desk: +44 (0)20 7862 5790

Issue & Enquiry Desk: +44 (0)20 7862 5834

When are we open?

How to find us

Request document delivery

In the Library

Finding resources

Law databases

An extensive range of law databases is available, providing online access to cases, legislation, journal articles, e-books and other material:-

Library services

Assistance and advice

Library services are supported through the Issue & Enquiry Desk on the 2nd floor. For in-depth reference advice and for help with using MS Word, please make an appointment with a librarian for one-to-one assistance. A programme of Information skills training sessions is offered by the Library during the year. The librarians at IALS have written a number of guides as an aid to legal research, to help you use the library and to find the resources you need.

IALS Library team

Library staff

Computing services

Over 45 PCs are available, with internet access and Microsoft Office applications. We also offer onsite laptop loans and free WiFi. printing, photocopying and scanning facilities are also available.

Study space

A quiet study environment is maintained in all reading rooms. Library research carrels are available to hire for postgraduate researchers and academics.

Remote Services

Online legal research tools

IALS Library Catalogue

The Library Catalogue gives full details of our national research collection for law, including the Law databases available through IALS Library.

IALS Legal Research Tools

The Institute has developed a wide range of legal research tools that are freely available online to all researchers and scholars in the UK and around the world. For more information and access see IALS Digital

Law Databases

Many law databases are available offsite for academic use, providing you with access to primary law resources and legal commentary wherever you are in the world. Access with current IALS Library membership details from our Electronic Law Library  

Page last updated: 8th October 2019