Computer Recommendations, Email and LawWeb Information for Students

Buying a Computer

Given the importance of access to online information, the Law School's reliance on electronic communications, and the requirement that students take exams on computers, the Law School requires that all entering J.D. and LL.M. students own a notebook computer with a functioning wireless network card.

The Law School strongly recommends purchasing one of Cavalier Computers’ school-approved and selected models for law students. The Law School IT Help Desk and University IT departments do not offer extensive customer support for other models. Specific model and cost information for Law bundles available to the incoming J.D. Class of 2026 and LL.M. Class of 2024 will be available on the Cavalier Computers website on or around May 1, 2023.

Cavalier Computers’ “Law bundles” meet the minimum University’s computer specifications and come pre-configured with important software and services, such as Microsoft Office Professional, email, antivirus protection, cloud data backup, and a wireless card. Virginia Law students typically use their laptop computers every day to take notes, conduct research and complete assignments throughout their law school career. This causes a great deal of wear and tear on the components and accessories attached to their notebooks. Even the most fastidious of computer owners is likely to encounter a situation that requires support or repair. The Law bundles come with a customized three-year service and support plan that minimizes downtime and provides a secure and updated computing platform.

If you do not care a Law bundle option, you are welcome to order any laptop that meet the minimum requirements for supportUVA ITS or Law IT will not have the same specialized knowledge of these other models; and as such may not be able to provide support for other models of computers.

The Law School's Financial Aid Office will increase a student's budget up to $2,500 toward the cost of any notebook computer purchased on or after May 1, 2023 upon request from the student and submission supporting documentation (i.e., computer expense form and sales receipt) to the Financial Aid Office. This increase is available only to J.D. candidates.

Law School Bundles and Customer Support

UVa ITS and Law IT staff provide complete hardware, software and wireless network support for Law School Bundles. If a problem with a bundle notebook stems from a hardware failure, the Law School IT help desk will provide a loaner notebook to the student until repairs are completed by Cavalier Computers typically within one business day. If the problem is related to the software that comes with the system, the Law IT Help Desk will work with the student to fix the problem and also will loan a notebook if needed.

Other Computers

The Law School IT Help Desk cannot provide extensive software, hardware, or wireless network support for notebooks that are not Law School bundles. Students with non-Law bundles:

  • Should try to follow UVA’s minimum specifications when considering purchasing or bringing a laptop to be used during their enrollment at the Law School.  Law IT HIGHLY recommends a 3yr manufacturer’s warranty as well as a 3yr accidental warranty in addition to UVA’s minimum specifications.
  • Should be prepared to use “for fee” third-party vendor and/or manufacturer services.  Law IT will be able to recommend local services that are available.
  • Will not have access to Law School loaner computers unless the owner can prove they are making best effort in getting their laptop fixed and need something in the interim if repairs are required.

Students who decide to not purchase the Law School bundle and have a computer that does not meet UVA’s minimum specifications may have to rent or borrow a computer if they have computer problems.

Email and LawWeb Accounts

Once you have paid your full deposit, you should be able to activate your email account after a 72-hour waiting period. To do this you need to review the UVA policies and procedures related to Responsible Computing and then complete the Responsible Computing Quiz. All of this can be found at the UVA ITS Student Accounts page.

LawWeb accounts are created in a large initial batch at some point during the summer (usually mid-June) to catch any students with active email account at that point, and then individually after that as students activate their email accounts prior to orientation. If you have any questions regarding the computer resources offered at UVA please email [email protected].

Creating Email Accounts

There are several steps involved in activating your UVA email account. Before you get started you should look for an email from the Law School Office of Financial Aid referring to the Student Information System (SIS). That email will have a computing ID and student ID number that will be necessary to activate your UVA email account. If you cannot find that initial email, you can find the information here. When you have your computing ID and student ID number, you can proceed to Step 1 of email activation.

Step 1

If you have not done so already, create your initial UVA SIS password.  Using the computing ID and student ID from the email, go to the following website and set your initial UVA SIS password:

Once you have your login credentials, you can go to: https://sisuva.admin.virginia.edu/ihprd/signon.html.

If you already have a working SIS password, you can skip this step and proceed to Step 2.

Step 2

With your computing id and initial SIS password in hand, you can begin the activation of your UVA email account. To do this you will have to review proper policies and procedures for email and complete the Responsible Computing Quiz. All of this can be found here: Password Help & ID Lookup - UVA ITS (service-now.com)

Once you complete the Responsible Computing Quiz, you should be able to access your UVA email by going to https://outlook.com/virginia.edu. Your username will be your computing ID and your password will be your SIS password obtained previously. 

If you have any questions about getting started with computing at the Law School, please do not hesitate to contact Law IT directly by email at @email