Events & Programs
The library is a place to learn, connect, and explore. We hope you’ll join us . . . .
Upcoming Events
Open House
Friday, November 13, 2026 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
As we enter the season of gratitude, Cleaves Law Library invites the Maine legal community to join us in celebrating a new chapter in the library’s history and expressing our appreciation for your longstanding support.
Explore our refreshed collections and spaces on your own or by guided tour.
Enjoy light refreshments.
Meet the new librarian and and share your memories of Cleaves Law Library.
Discover how the library can support your legal research needs and professional practice.
Sign up for membership.
Whether you’re a longtime member of the library or a first-time visitor, we look forward to welcoming you!
Legislative History Workshop
Thursday, December 17, 2026 1:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Learn how to research Maine statutory and legislative history. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how laws are made, how to trace statutory history through recodifications and amendments, how to locate legislative history materials, and how to organize research. Participants will work through real examples and leave with strategies that can be used in practice.
This free program is being offered to library members only. Advance registration is required as space is limited. To register, email the library with your name and contact information.
Help Shape Our Programs
Cleaves Law Library is expanding its educational programming, and we’d love your input. Interested in teaching a CLE at Cleaves? Have an idea for a workshop or a speaker? Let us know.
Look at what we’re planning for 2027 . . .
Pedal Through History
Spring 2027
Learn about Maine’s legal history during a guided bicycle tour of historic landmarks and long-lost sites that shaped Maine’s legal landscape. Along the way, we’ll talk about notable cases, influential figures, and fascinating stories from Maine’s legal past.
Get ready to shift gears and discover history from a whole new perspective.
The Gavel Games
Summer 2027
Join us for The Gavel Games—an evening of friendly competition where legal minds go head-to-head to claim trivia supremacy. Teams will be invited to test their knowledge across a variety of categories—including famous cases, court history, legal television and movies, Latin terms, and more.
Form your team, sharpen your wits, and prepare to answer the call of the gavel.
Haunted Courthouses
Fall 2027
We’ll explore the rich history of Maine’s courthouses before venturing into the unexplained tales that have become part of their legacy. Blending history and mystery, this unique evening is designed to inform and entertain—with perhaps a special guest or two.
Bring your curiosity—and a steady flashlight—as this event promises courthouse history with a chill.
Lunch and Learn
Dates to be announced
Make the most of your lunch break with these informal 15-minute sessions exploring legal research tools and resources. Just drop in!
Book Club
Dates to be announced
Join the Cleaves Law Library Book Club for compelling reads and friendly conversations. We’ll be kicking things off with a real page turner! Stay tuned for more details.
Speaker Series
Dates to be announced
The Cleaves Law Library Speaker Series will bring Maine’s legal history to life through engaging talks that take us beyond the pages. Join us throughout the year.
Cleaves Law Library is committed to making our events accessible to all visitors.
If you need an accommodation to participate, please contact us in advance so that we may make reasonable efforts to support your participation.
