Computing
Computing Services is the department that handles just about everything related to the computing and technology resources that you'll encounter during your time at the Law School. We're here to help you with any tech support-related questions you may have. Contact us anytime at or stop by our office in room 223 of William Gates Hall between the hours of 9AM-5PM, Monday through Friday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I go for technical support?
Requests for technical support should be directed to Lawhelp, the Law School's help desk:
Hours of operation: 9AM to 5PM, Monday through Friday
Email:
Office location: Room 223
Please note that UW Technology, commonly known as "UW Tech,"
provides a number of technology services to the Law School, most significantly email and network services. In other words, not all technical support requests are handled by Lawhelp - in some cases, we may need to refer you to UW Tech's Help Desk for support. Regardless, please feel free to contact Lawhelp with your support-related questions first - whenever possible, we'll pass your question along to the appropriate support contact within UW Tech.
Does the Law School have a personal computer requirement?
No. However, if you choose to use a personal computer, you will find William Gates Hall to be well-equipped to support your use of technology. There is wireless network coverage throughout the building, providing easy and convenient access to the internet.
Additionally, power is available at all classroom seats, and many Law School students choose to use a laptop to take notes in class.
If you are shopping for a new computer for use at the Law School, recommended system specs can be found below.
If you choose not to own or don't have access to a personal computer, the computer lab in room 222 of William Gates Hall provides 6 computers for Law School student use. The lab computers have internet access as well as commonly used software such as Microsoft Office and legal research tools. Additionally, 33 email/research terminals are available for student use in the Law Library.
Can I receive financial aid to assist in purchasing a computer?
The Financial Aid Office may be able to offer you loan funds to assist toward the purchase of a computer,
provided the computer will be used for educational purposes. The Office of Student Financial Aid encourages
you to think carefully before deciding to purchase a computer. Documentation of costs must be included with
request. Financial aid funds will only be approved once for a computer purchase; subsequent purchases will
not be approved. We may recognize computer costs up to $2,200 once in your academic career at the University.
You may submit revisions for computer repairs and necessary upgrades as defined under the University’s published
recommendations for an adequate system. Printers, software and accessories can also be included if the total
computer equipment costs do not exceed the $2,200 limit.
Revision Request Regarding Additional Expenses Application
What system requirements or specifications does the Law School recommend for personally-owned computers?
If you are purchasing a new computer for use at the law school, below are the ideal and minimum recommended specifications. If you already have a computer and have any questions about whether it will be powerful enough for use at school, please contact us at lawhelp@u.washington.edu
Ideal
-
Operating System: Windows XP Professional, with Service Pack 3
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Turion/Athlon/Phenom
- RAM: 2GB
-
Hard Disk: 100GB+, 7200 RPM+
- Network (Ethernet) Adapter: 100Mb or higher
-
DVD/CD Burner
- 2 or more USB 2.0 ports
- 17-inch monitor (desktop computer) / 14-inch display (laptop)
- 802.11 b and/or g compatible wireless network adapter (laptop systems)
- Active warranty coverage
Minimum
- Operating System: Windows XP Professional, with Service Pack 2
-
Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core or AMD Turion/Athlon
- RAM: 1GB
- Hard Disk: 60GB, 5400 RPM
-
802.11 b/g compatible wireless network adapter (laptop systems)
-
Network (Ethernet) Adapter: 100Mb
- DVD-ROM/CD Burner
- 2 USB 2.0 ports
- 15-inch monitor (desktop systems) / 12-inch display (laptop systems)
- Active warranty coverage
Note: If you are living on campus, your room will most likely be wired for Ethernet. Contact Housing and Food Services for details on how to connect.
Should I/Can I use Windows Vista at the Law School?
Law School Computing Services' current computer recommendations specify
Windows XP with Service Pack 3. However, our recommendation of Windows
XP does NOT mean to suggest that you *can't* or *shouldn't* use Windows
Vista. We've deliberately made this choice since we know Windows XP to
be stable and well-suited for Law School students to use in their
studies. Additionally, in the event you have computer troubles, Law
School Computing Services has a great deal of experience supporting
Windows XP.
If you do choose to use Windows Vista, note that we do not recommend one
version of it over another. If you're looking to buy a new computer and
have a choice of Vista versions, our advice is simply to buy what you
actually need and can afford. In general, law students primarily use
their laptops for word processing, internet/email access, and
increasingly, to view/listen to class recordings. If you're buying a new
computer and can't decide whether or not to go with Vista or Windows XP,
purchase a system that is "Vista-ready," meaning the hardware is
powerful enough to run Vista if you wanted to upgrade to it in the future.
Regarding Vista's compatibility with services you will encounter while
at the Law School:
-
Provided your laptop is equipped with the appropriate hardware,
laptops running Windows Vista can access the Law School's wireless
network, as well as other wireless networks throughout the University.
See more information about wireless services at the UW.
What brand of computer should I buy?
The Law School has standardized faculty and staff computers on Dell hardware. However, this does not mean that students necessarily need to follow suit. The rule of thumb is to buy what you can afford. Companies such as Dell, Gateway, Toshiba and IBM sell systems with excellent price/performance ratios. If you intend to purchase your computer through mail order, we strongly recommend finding a demo model at a computer store of the system you want (especially for laptops). The UW Bookstore has several models on display and a good academic discount program.
Can I use a Macintosh computer at the Law School?
Yes. However, the level of technical support that Computing can provide depends on whether you are using a Mac operating system (such as OS X) or Windows. Computing Services does not have the resources available to support OS X or other Mac OS versions in the same capacity as it does Windows. However, we can provide the same level of support to students using Windows on Boot Camp as we do to students using Windows on a PC. See more information about the technical support policy for students and information about using a Mac on an exam.
Additionally, a number of computer labs on the UW campus provide Macs for student use as well as increased support for Mac applications. A list of UW Computing Labs is located at http://www.washington.edu/computing/compmap.html.
Does my computer need to have a floppy drive?
It's not required to have a floppy disk drive in the computer you'll use at the Law School. Nonetheless, you may find it convenient to have one.
When using a computer on an exam, you're required to turn in your work on floppy disk or CD; at present, only these two types of media are acceptable (no USB flash memory keys, for example). More information about the Law School's policy for using computers on exams can be found at http://www.law.washington.edu/Students/Exams/ComputerUse.aspx.
Otherwise, we feel it may be best for you to have a floppy drive handy just in case. If you're in the market for a new system, we recommend purchasing an external floppy drive (which would connect to your computer via USB, for example) rather than buying a system with one built-in. This would allow you to shop for a new computer without having to find one with an onboard floppy, a requirement which could limit your choices.