Squire Law Library

Squire Law Library is the primary legal research library for the University of Cambridge and its Faculty of Law. It serves as a crucial resource for students, scholars, and legal practitioners, supporting the study and research of common law, international law, and comparative law. The library's extensive holdings and specialized services underpin the University of Cambridge's global reputation in legal education and jurisprudence.

History

The library's origins trace back to the early 20th century, established to support the growing academic discipline of law within the University of Cambridge. Its development was significantly influenced by the scholarly contributions of figures like Sir Percy Winfield, a renowned authority on English tort law. Over the decades, its collections expanded in parallel with the faculty's increasing focus on areas such as Roman law, legal history, and emerging fields like European Union law. The library has continually evolved, integrating new legal materials from jurisdictions including the United States, the Commonwealth of Nations, and international bodies like the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.

Collections

The library's core collection encompasses approximately 180,000 volumes, with a particular strength in primary legal materials from the United Kingdom and other common law jurisdictions. It maintains comprehensive holdings of law reports, statutes, and parliamentary debates from Westminster. Significant foreign collections cover the legal systems of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, alongside major civil law jurisdictions like France and Germany. Specialized collections support research in international law, human rights law, legal philosophy, and criminology. The library also provides access to major legal databases such as Westlaw, LexisNexis, and HeinOnline.

Services and facilities

The library offers a range of services tailored to the needs of the University of Cambridge community, including advanced research support from specialist librarians. It provides dedicated training in legal research methods and the use of electronic resources for students of the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge. Study facilities include a combination of silent reading rooms, collaborative workspaces, and computer clusters. The library operates an inter-library loan service, connecting users with collections at institutions like the Bodleian Library and the British Library, and offers document delivery for academic staff.

Architecture

Housed within the David Williams Building on the University of Cambridge's Sidgwick Site, the library's design prioritizes functionality for legal study. The reading rooms are characterized by their high ceilings and natural light, creating a conducive environment for prolonged research. The architectural layout facilitates clear zoning between different collection areas, such as reference works, periodicals, and jurisdiction-specific materials. The building's location places it in close proximity to other key academic departments and libraries within the University of Cambridge, fostering interdisciplinary engagement.

Role in legal education

As an integral component of the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, the library is fundamental to both undergraduate and postgraduate legal instruction. It directly supports the Bachelor of Arts (Law) and the Master of Law (LLM) programs, providing the essential texts for courses on subjects ranging from contract law and criminal law to equity and trusts and public international law. The library's resources are vital for students completing dissertations and for academics conducting pioneering research published in journals like the Cambridge Law Journal. Its role extends beyond Cambridge, serving as a key research destination for visiting scholars from institutions like Harvard Law School and the London School of Economics.