Legal Research

ABA launches search engine for law reviews/ journals & other repositiories

Posted on December 15, 2009
The ABA recently launched a search engine for over 300 law reviews/journals, repositories such as SSRN and bepress, and related publications such as Congressional Research Service reports. This is a search engine so the actual full text of some of the documents may not be available through this site...

The Future of First Year Associates

Posted on December 13, 2009
This WSJ Law Blog post summarizes a panel that discussed the future of the law business, part of that being the current model for new associates. A lawyer's education does not end with law school, but clients aren't always happy to pay for newer attorneys who are still learning the ropes...

John Jay Homestead Historic Site

Posted on December 12, 2009
Today is the birthday of our first U.S. Supreme Court Justice, John Jay. What most law students may not realize is that John Jay was as much a New York farmer as he was a lawyer, member of the Continental Congress, co-author of The Federalist, state and federal judge, diplomat, and Governor of New York...

Anti-legalese

Posted on December 11, 2009
It is not just your Legal Writing professors who insist that you write clearly. A judge in Minnesota has issued guidelines on reducing legalese in filings. Two of his rules - never use "and/or" and eliminate superfluous words such as "hereby" and "herein"...

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The First Opinion of the New U.S. Supreme Court Term?

Posted on December 10, 2009
?was delivered by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court's newest member. Read more here and here.Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Google Search Features

Posted on December 08, 2009
We all google. Most of us probably use google on a daily basis. But, have you ever taken the time to look at some of the tips that google provides? Just take a few moments to review Google Search Features to improve your search experience.Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Borrowing Period for Materials Held on Reserve

Posted on December 07, 2009
As you requested, to increase access to materials maintained on Reserve, ALL RESERVE ITEMS MAY BE BORROWED FOR THREE HOURS. Patrons may request one renewal.Shortened loan periods for high demand materials:Provide support to the needs of our studentsOptimize accessOffer intensive library use of reserve material for studentsClick here for additional information about the Library's borrowing/Circulation policies...

Study Break: Tweeting Gettysburg

Posted on December 06, 2009
As mentioned by The Chronicle of Higher Education, historical scholarship has taken on a whole new form. A group is now tweeting famous historical events as though they were occurring in real time today. They began with the Battle of Gettysburg.So, is historical tweeting a valuable teaching tool, or is it just an unusual way of using Twitter?Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Best 100 Blawgs

Posted on December 05, 2009
I like to prowl the Web thinking that I'm your favorite library cat (at least of the virtual variety), and that this is one of your favorite blogs. But taking a few minutes to discover a new favorite among the hundreds of legal blogs by attorneys and law professors, especially in subject or practice specialties and in career development, can enrich a law student's academic life and professional future...

Study Guides

Posted on December 04, 2009
Tis the season for study guides. On the Library's Research Guides web page we have a topical list of study guides available in the Law Library. You can also find this list in print in the Library's handout rack.Good luck with your studying and on exams!!!Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

U. S. Government Manual, 2009-10 Edition, Is Now Online

Posted on December 03, 2009
The official handbook of the federal government, the United States Government Manual ?provides comprehensive information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It also includes information on quasi-official agencies, international organizations in which the United States participates, and boards, commissions, and committees...

The Government Domain: A Handful of Classics

Posted on December 01, 2009
The Government Domain: A Handful of Classics by Peggy Garvin gives a good concise overview of some classic U.S. government websites. These are sites that she calls "classic" and that everyone should know. She links to the sites, provides a brief description and tells you the value of the particular site...

Helpful Policies During Exam Period

Posted on November 30, 2009
Extended Library exam hours began on Saturday, November 28. Our extended schedule is:EXAM PERIOD SCHEDULE - Saturday, November 28 - Thursday, December 17Monday - Friday 7:00 A.M. - 2:00 A.M.Saturday & Sunday 10:00 A.M. - 2:00 A.M.EXCEPTIONS:Thursday, December 17 -- 7 a...

Code Surfing

Posted on November 29, 2009
USCodeSurf is a website that supports natural language searching of the Legal Information Institute's version of the United States Code. While searching the U.S. Code with natural language technology does not rival browsing its index or Popular Name Table (if you do not know what the popular name table is, click on the link--seriously, you really should know what it is), USCodeSurf may be on to something with how it displays its search results...

Ballot Measures Database

Posted on November 28, 2009
Law students tracking public policy issues across the states for research papers often rely on the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and their superb web site. But they may not know that beyond 50-state surveys of state legislation on a wide range of topics, NCSL also has a Ballot Measures Database...

The Pardoning of the Turkey

Posted on November 25, 2009
Today, President Obama pardoned two turkeys -- Courage and Carolina. Both turkeys will live out their days "in peace and tranquility" at Disneyland. You can read the Remarks by the President on the Pardoning of the National Turkey on the Whitehouse website...

Blue Tips

Posted on November 24, 2009
Have trouble figuring out the Bluebook? This is not uncommon, but there is now some help in addition to the reference librarians. The Bluebook - Blue Tips is a compilation to Bluebook format in the following catagories:CasesCitation StructureCross-ReferencesMiscellanyPeriodicalsPunctuationQuotationsSignalsStatutesSubdivisionsThis is a place to look when there are no librarians around...

Research Resources: BNA Securities Regulation and Law Report

Posted on November 23, 2009
If you are looking for a current awareness resource about securities regulations, try BNA Securities Regulation and Law Report. This publication is a weekly report covering regulatory,legal and legislative developments affecting the regulation of securities and commodities at the federal and state level...

Copyright Watch

Posted on November 21, 2009
While prowling the web this week, I was led to Copyright Watch, a newly launched website created by copyright experts from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Electronic Information for Libraries and other international groups. The focus of Copyright Watch is global, as it aims to be a comprehensive, up-to-date and user friendly online repository of national copyright laws and developments...

Talking Turkey (day)

Posted on November 20, 2009
Amazingly, Thanksgiving is nearly upon us. In between menu planning and feasting on leftovers (yes, virtual cats love turkey dinner), if you want to come to the Library we will be open next week during the hours listed below. Right after Thanksgiving, and I mean RIGHT after Thanksgiving the Library will start our exam period schedule and will be open for extended hours...

Finland Makes Broadband Internet Access A Legal Right

Posted on November 19, 2009
It is interesting to follow the creation of new legal rights as they appear around the world. One such new right is Finland?s government?s decision to make access to a one megabyte broadband Internet connection a legal right for its citizens. Read more about this story here...

Search for Legal Opinions using Google Scholar

Posted on November 18, 2009
Google Scholar has added full text searching of caselaw and legal journals. Just go to scholar.google.com and choose the "Legal Opinions and Journals" radio button. You can also use the advanced search feature to limit your search by jurisdiction.In addition to the text of the case, Google Scholar offers a nice looking "How Cited" feature that shows how the case has been cited and provides a list of citing cases and related documents...

ABA Legal Technology Resource Center

Posted on November 17, 2009
You are comfortable with your computer, phone and other tech devices, but legal technology may be something you don't really think about. Technology is technology, right? Well, yes and no. There is software and applications that are developed specifically for law firm needs (e-discovery) and there are those pesky legal implications for what you may or may not be doing online...

Research Resources: Electronic Commerce & Law Report (BNA)

Posted on November 16, 2009
If you would like to get national and global perspectives on the digital economy with news of trends and developments, try Electronic Commerce & Law Report. Electronic Commerce & Law Report (BNA) features comprehensive coverage of the major legal issues surrounding digital communications content, transactions, and infrastructure, on federal, state, and international levels...

New York Criminal Law Research Can Be Easy

Posted on November 15, 2009
Sometimes trial attorneys do not like doing legal research. And all criminal lawyers are trial attorneys.That is why some criminal lawyers should be glad to know that, often, no intensive research is required to find very good explanations of New York's criminal statutes...

New Google Digital Book Settlement

Posted on November 15, 2009
For Google-watchers and those interested in copyright, antitrust law, and the legal controversy over the use of millions of books that Google has scanned and digitized from library collections, the latest news is that the parties met yesterday's federal court deadline to file an amended settlement...

It's Friday the 13th

Posted on November 13, 2009
And if you are very fortunate, this Friday the 13th you will cross paths with a black cat.But why is it some of you humans think that Friday the 13th is unlucky - a condition known at "paraskevidekatriaphobics"? (I'll have to save the derivation of that for another posting)...

Environmental Protection Agency?s Enforcement and Compliance History Online

Posted on November 12, 2009
The Environmental Protection Agency?s (EPA) Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) offers rapid, integrated searches of EPA and state data for more than 800,000 regulated facilities.ECHO integrates inspection, violation, and enforcement information for the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and hazardous waste laws...

Jotwell

Posted on November 11, 2009
Jotwell is The Journal of Things We Like (Lots). It's mission is to create a space for academics to critique and discuss recent legal scholarship. With the huge amount of law reviews and journals being published, it hopes to help identify recent developments in in several scholarly fields...

New biography of Justice Scalia

Posted on November 10, 2009
Whatever else one may think of Justice Scalia, he is memorable, but until now he has not been the subject of a biography. Released by bookstores today is "American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia" by Joan Biskupic...

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