Legal Research
Ross-Blakley Law Library Blog 
Key legal-education, research, practice, and law-library news, including but not limited to items of particular interest to Maricopa County and Arizona.
Post Frequency: 0.9/day Last Entry: November 18, 2009 at 13:01:04 Recent Entries: 320
By Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
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Changes to the Arizona Bar Exam
Posted on November 18, 2009The Arizona Bar has decided to use Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) questions on the bar examination beginning this February 2010. The Law Library has some MEE study materials on reserve. We have MEE Questions and Analyses from 2001 to 2008. The most recent edition is expected to arrive in December...
Why Does Law School Cost So Much?
Posted on November 17, 2009The Chronicle of Higher Education has an interesting article about the increasing cost of attending law school. The reason may surprise you!
Google Makes Free Caselaw Search Available in Scholar
Posted on November 17, 2009Google is now enabling people to find and read full text legal opinions from U.S. federal and state district, appellate and supreme courts using Google Scholar. The following sources are included in the Google Scholar database. 1 US 1 (pre 1776-) 1 F 2d 1 (1924-) F Supp Cases US State Cases (1950-) For more information take a look at Google Makes [...
ABA?s Student Lawyer Magazine
Posted on November 17, 2009There are many great articles in the November issue of Student Lawyer the publication of the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association (ABA). There is an article on how to “Create a Roadmap” for your career during difficult times...
Should Twittering Be Allowed in the Courtroom?
Posted on November 11, 2009At least one judge says it should not. In United States v Shelnutt, a Georgia Federal Court ruled that banning ‘tweeting’ does not restrict freedom of the press. Read the article from law.com here.
Fast and Furious Health Care Reform News!
Posted on November 10, 2009The NY Times Health Care Reform News The Wall Street Journal Health-Care Overhaul NPR Health Forbes Pharma & Health Phoenix Business Journal Health Care News Bizjournals Health Care News MSNBC Health Care News POLITICO Health Care Harris Interactive Health Care News Yahoo! Health Care News FoxNews...
Veteran?s Day Library and Reference Hours
Posted on November 10, 2009There are slight changes to our hours tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11th. Because of Veteran’s Day the library will be open from 8:00 a.m. to Midnight. There will be a reference librarian available from Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Westlaw Passwords
Posted on November 02, 2009Westlaw has new format requirements for your sign-on user name and password. Between today and January 31, 2010, you will need to change your Westlaw user name and password according to their new “OnePass” requirements. You will be prompted to make these changes when you sign on using your current sign-on information...
Sandra Day O?Connor Exhibit
Posted on October 27, 2009An exhibit about the life of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor has opened at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park. The exhibit is called “Sandra Day O’Connor - A Citizen for All Seasons” and is a joint project between the O’Connor House and the Arizona Historical Society...
What?s the law regarding haunted houses?
Posted on October 27, 2009Many states have stigmatized property laws that deal with disclosure of information to potential buyers about incidents that occurred on the property. Murders, suicides, and in some states even ghosts and haunted houses fall into this category. Stambovsky v...
Missing Something?
Posted on October 21, 2009The Law Library has a lost & found located at the Circulation desk. Some items that you can always find in our lost & found include books, sunglasses, clothing, jump drives, and the occasional electronic device. Please stop by the Circulation desk if something comes up missing.
High School Groups in the Library
Posted on October 19, 2009This Wednesday, October 21st, the law library is hosting high school students from two local schools. The students will be touring the library and then working on a research assignment in the reading room. Some of the tables in the core will be reserved for them and there will be library materials on them for [...
Greatest Legal Movies
Posted on October 13, 2009For those of you who have some extra time on your hands this week, you may be interested to know that the Law Library has several law-themed movies available for checkout. Many of them were chosen from the ABAs list of the 25 greatest legal movies. Some of the popular titles are: To Kill A Mockingbird My Cousin Vinny A Few [...
Keeping Up to Date
Posted on October 07, 2009Keeping track of developments in an area of law can seem like a daunting task. But both Lexis and Westlaw have capabilities to help you keep track of current developments in the law of your choice. On Westlaw you can create alerts called Westclips. You can create a Westclip by clicking on the “Add Search to Westclip” [...
What?s New at the Law Library?
Posted on October 06, 2009Check out some of the new books now available at the Law Library.
U.S. Supreme Court Now in Session
Posted on October 05, 2009Today is the first Monday in October and marks the day the U.S. Supreme Court goes back to work. If you want to keep track of the court, using any of the sources listed in last weeks Fast and Furious post will do the trick. Another excellent source is BNA’s Supreme Court Today...
Shush?This is a Library!
Posted on October 02, 2009The Law Library staff has received a number of complaints from law students concerning the level of noise in the Law Library. The Law Library serves as a quiet place to study. Please respect those around you by keeping noise to a minimum. If you would like to study in a group, please take advantage [...
Fast and Furious United States Supreme Court!
Posted on October 01, 2009Supreme Court of the United States Cornell University Law School Legal Information Institute The U.S. Courts Oyez FindLaw U.S. Supreme Court Opinions Justia Supreme Court Center The Supreme Court Historical Society American Bar Association (ABA)
Federal Digital System Updates
Posted on September 29, 2009From the GPO… The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) is pleased to announce that the List of CFR Sections Affected, Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, and Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents collections have been authenticated with digital signatures and are currently available on the Federal Digital System (FDsys) at: http://www...
Felony Stupidity in Facebook Use
Posted on September 28, 2009Who would have thought keeping in contact with your Facebook friends could get you in such trouble. Hats off to the Law Librarian Blog for this post. Felony Stupidity in Facebook Use
Federal Digital System Tutorials
Posted on September 22, 2009The Government Printing Office now has brief tutorials to guide you in researching the Federal Digital System (FDsys). FDsys is a repository of information from the U.S. Congress and Federal agencies. The tutorials show how to perform searches and browse government publications within FDsys...
The FLU at ASU
Posted on September 22, 2009Information about the swine flu and precautions are available here. Please, if you are sick don’t come to school or the library. Also, Get your seasonal flu shot Wash your hands frequently Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve and don’t return to school or the library until at least 24 hours after your fever has passed.
Citators 101: Why, What, When, How
Posted on September 17, 2009Why: Citators are used for a couple of reasons. They are used first to check to see whether a case or statute is still good law. Secondly, a citator is used to find other sources (primary and secondary) that have cited to a particular authority. What: LexisNexis has Shepard’s online version and Westlaw has KeyCite...
Fast and Furious Constitution Day 2009!!
Posted on September 16, 2009Constitution Day 2009, is Thursday, September 17th. The following are some of the best online, free resources on the United States Constitution and Constitution Day: The National Constitution Center The National Archives The Avalon Project, Yale Law School The U...
Constitution Day 2009: Thursday, September 17th
Posted on September 15, 2009Constitution Day is coming up. There is a plan underway for a public reading of the constitution on Thursday beginning at 11:30 a.m. It will take place on the stage between Hayden Library and the Memorial Union. For more information about the reading watch Library Minute: Constitution Day...
OCI Season
Posted on September 15, 2009On campus interviews have begun, and many law students may be wondering how the economy will effect their job prospects and opportunities. Read this article from The National Law Journal for some insight on what to expect this OCI season.
Has Behavior in Congress Always Been Civil in the Past?
Posted on September 10, 2009To learn about a famous act of uncivil behavior on the floor of the U.S. Congress, please take a look at the LexisNexis Congressional Story of the Month: Reasoned Discourse vs. Uncivil Behavior.
The West DIGEST System
Posted on September 08, 2009One of the most often asked questions this time of year is about digests and how to use them. The digest system is designed by West Publishing. West organizes the law into over 400 subjects and assigns those subjects ?topic numbers.? Within those topics are subtopics which West has assigned key numbers...
Labor Day Hours
Posted on September 04, 2009The Law Library will be open on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, from 8 am - midnight.
Everything You Want to Know About a Treatise But Are Afraid to Ask
Posted on September 03, 2009The following past blog entries may be especially helpful to our first year students. What is a Treatise? ?What is a Treatise?? The Sequel or Why use a Treatise?
RSS Feeds and Email from the Law Library of Congress
Posted on September 02, 2009The Law Library of Congress is offering two new RSS feeds from Thomas. There is the House Floor Today and the Senate Floor Today. There is also the option of subscribing via email. To see a list of feeds and updates available from the Law Library of Congress click on the following link: http://www...
Study Rooms
Posted on September 01, 2009To help provide a quiet atmosphere for you to study, the Ross-Blakley Law Library has several study rooms that are available only for law students. You may reserve a room in person at the circulation desk, by calling 965-6144, or you may reserve one online...
First Year Advice
Posted on August 25, 2009As you begin your law school career, you will most likely be on the receiving end of many tips, suggestions, and words of advice on how to survive your first year. And without fail…here is some more! The TaxProf Blog has posted loads of advice for first year law students...
Exercises you can do in the Library
Posted on August 21, 2009As you sit in the library doing mental aerobics you might be encouraging “library spread.” What’s good for your grades and brain is definitely not so great for your waist or thighs. Take a break and look at an awesome list of 50 Exercises you can do at the Library (Without Looking Foolish) sent to us by Suzane Smith...
Fast and Furious Best Library Stuff for First Year Law Students!
Posted on August 20, 2009The Circulation Desk The Librarians Information Technology Services The Study Skills Collection The Online Library Catalog Library Research Guides The Law Library Website The Ross Blakley Law Library FACEBOOK page The Ross Blakley Law Library BLOG!!!
We are on Facebook!
Posted on August 19, 2009The Ross Blakley Law Library is now on Facebook! Please become a fan!
Resources for First Year Law Students
Posted on August 18, 2009Welcome first year law students! The Law Library staff would like you to have positive and productive first year of law school. To this end, we have created a guide to introduce you to resources and services we have developed especially for you and other helpful resources to help you have a successful law school [...
?How to Read a Legal Opinion?
Posted on August 14, 2009There is a great article about “How to Read a Legal Opinion” by Orin S. Kerr that was published in The Green Bag Journal in 2007. The article is perfect for new law students or students that have questions about how to read opinions but are afraid to ask! The parts of an opinion are [...
Justice Sotomayor?s Oath of Office
Posted on August 07, 2009Judge Sonia Sotomayor will be sworn in as the newest Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court on Saturday. She will become the first hispanic justice as well as only the 3rd woman to be on the highest court, following Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg...
Law School: Starting Soon!
Posted on August 04, 2009As the summer winds down and you prepare to enter law school gear up by reading some books on how to have a successful law school experience. The law library has many books for you to read including the ones listed below. Click on the links to see their library location...
Intersession Hours
Posted on August 04, 2009Intersession hours begin Friday, August 7 and end Wednesday, August 19. Law Library hours will be: Monday - Saturday 8 am - 5 pm Sunday Closed Monday, August 17 8am - 6pm Tuesday, August 18 8am - 6pm Wednesday, August 19 8am - Midnight
How to Start a Law Firm
Posted on July 22, 2009Here are some articles, advice and checklists about how to start a solo or small firm. Just click on the links. How to Start Your Own Law Firm Start and Run a Law Firm: ABA Resources AttorneyCafe.com: Useful Readings Just Do It, Successful Solo Says MyShingle...
Lunar Landing 40th Anniversary
Posted on July 21, 2009This week marks the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11’s mission to the moon. 40 years ago footage of the moonwalk aired on TV, however, the picture quality was not the best. Recently, Nasa engineeres have restored some of the video footage making the picture sharper and more clear...
Law Kitties of the Week
Posted on July 15, 2009Library staff Mitchell Davidson’s new furry friends!
Fast and Furious Law Student Info on the Web!
Posted on July 14, 2009FindLaw Law Student Center HG.org Law Student Center ABA Law Student Division JD2B The Online Bar The Frugal Law Student ILRG Law Student Services MegaLaw Law Student Center Westlaw Student Resources Top 100 Twitter Feeds for Law Students
Zimmerman?s Research Guide
Posted on July 09, 2009Zimmerman’s Research Guide is an online encyclopedia created by law librarian Andrew Zimmerman. The guide is an accumulation of legal research information and tips that Zimmerman and his colleagues have collected over many years. Use it as you would any secondary source...
Librarians Just Want to Have Fun!
Posted on July 08, 2009After completing the Night Run for the Arts 5K in May, Kerry Skinner, Sara Lipich, and Serene Rock hydrate and catch their breath!
The Declaration of Independence
Posted on July 02, 2009It is almost time for the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence in the Levine household. Every 4th of July in memory has been marked by this momentous occasion. Complaints and sighs by the kids have gradually waned over the years and have gradually been replaced by genuine interest in government and the scholars [...
Congress remembers Michael Jackson
Posted on July 02, 2009The United States House of Representatives observed a moment of silence in memory of Michael Jackson. The commemoration was lead by Representatives Diane Watson and Jesse Jackson, Jr. You can read the transcript of the moment’s introduction in the Congressional Record dated June 26, 2009.
United States v. Bernard L. Madoff
Posted on July 02, 2009The Department of Justice has a page devoted to the Bernard Madoff case. The page includes links to court documents in the case, from the criminal complaint to the transcript of Mr. Madoff’s sentencing which took place June 29, 2009.
Casemaker vs. Fastcase
Posted on July 01, 2009If you ever wondered about the differences between Casemaker and Fastcase, Robert Ambrogi has done all the work for you. On the Law and Technology News website Mr. Ambrogi compares the two legal research services. He used both and contrasted their similarities, differences and faults...
Fourth of July Holiday Hours
Posted on June 29, 2009The Law Library will be closed on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
Supreme Court rules in Ricci v. DeStefano
Posted on June 29, 2009The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Ricci v. DeStefano. The decision may have broad political implications for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Sotomayor since she sat on the panel that previously decided in favor of the City of New Haven, Connecticut...
CRS Report on Judge Sotomayor
Posted on June 26, 2009In today’s edition of The National Law Journal, columnist Tony Mouro summarizes a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) on the opinions of Judge Sotomayor. You can read his article and the entire 55 page CRS report online.
Safford Unified School District #1 v. Redding
Posted on June 25, 2009The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today on a case that originated in Arizona. The court held that the 4th amendment rights of 13 year old student Savana Redding were violated when she was subjected to a strip search at school. However, the court also held that the school administrators were not liable for violating those rights...
Princess is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on June 24, 200910 1/2 year old Princess is our Law Dog of the Week Princess lives in Cave Creek with her parents, Lynn and Tom, friends of Reference Librarian Amy Levine. Apparently, she had a “ruff” night studying for the bar.
Arizona Lawmakers Agree to Put on Ballot a Proposed Ban on Affirmative-Action Preferences
Posted on June 23, 2009Arizona is set to become the first state in which a proposed ban on affirmative-action preferences will be put on the ballot by the legislature, rather than through petitions submitted by voters. Read the article.
Fast and Furious Online Federal Legal Research!
Posted on June 09, 2009U.S. Code Federal Rules U.S. Supreme Court Opinions U.S. Court Links U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Opinions U.S. District Court, District of Arizona Opinions The Federal Register Code of Federal Regulations The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) Executive Orders
Government Channels on YouTube
Posted on June 08, 2009The U.S. government has a YouTube channel. On the main page there are links to other agencies and organizations including The White House, NASA, the Department of State, the EPA, and many, many more. I selected the “Reference and General Government” under the Playlist heading and was able to find the speech President Obama made [...
Studying for the Bar?
Posted on June 03, 2009The Law Library has some books that can help you do your best: Don’t Stress the Bar Exam The Bar Exam in a Nutshell Pass the Bar! Follow the links for the catalog record and call number for these items. These books are located in the Study Skills section of the Law Library, which contains several other books that may [...
Sotomayor Reversal Rates
Posted on June 03, 2009Tony Mauro wrote an interesting piece on the reversal rate of decisions by U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Critics of Sotomayor have brought the spotlight on the 5 of 232 opinions that Sotomayor has written that have been reviewed by the U...
Fast & Furious Online AZ Legal Research!
Posted on June 02, 2009Arizona Revised Statutes Arizona Current Court Rules Arizona Supreme Court Opinions Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One Opinions Arizona Court of Appeals, Division Two Opinions Arizona Administrative Code Arizona Adminstrative Register Arizona Attorney General Opinions Arizona Governor’s Executive Orders Arizona Judicial Branch Arizona State Bar
LegalTrac: Searching by Subject
Posted on June 01, 2009LegalTrac is a great database to use when you are looking for articles in legal publications. It includes citations to law reviews, legal newspapers, bar association journals and international law journals. According to the publisher there are presently about 875 publications included on LegalTrac...
Judge Sonia Sotomayor Information
Posted on May 28, 2009The Law Library of Congress has a new page of information on federal appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor, nominee for the US Supreme Court. The site includes links to articles, books, cases, government documents and web resources. You can reach the page by clicking on the following link: http://www...
Obama Nominates New Supreme Court Justice
Posted on May 26, 2009President Obama has nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace Justice Souter on the US Supreme Court. Read his remarks from this morning.
Let the Law Library Help You Prepare for the Bar Exam
Posted on May 21, 2009You’ve taken your last law school exam, turned in the final papers and graduation is over. What a relief! But wait, there’s more: THE BAR EXAM! The staff of the Law Library has prepared many helpful tools to help you study for the Bar Exam...
50 Best Blogs for Law Librarians (and other legal researchers)
Posted on May 19, 2009The folks behind Online University Lowdown have put together a great list of websites for those of us that do legal research. The 50 sites mentioned are divided into 3 categories; blogs from university law libraries, law librarians, and general legal research blogs...
Resources for Summer Associates
Posted on May 19, 2009The Law Library staff has created a Resources for Summer Associates webpage which brings together resources to help you with research questions that might arise during your summer employment. Anytime you have questions about any aspect of legal research or using the library, please feel free to contact the Reference Librarians at ASK A LIBRARIAN...
Wayback Machine
Posted on May 12, 2009Have you ever tried to look at a web site but couldn’t because the site was down, either temporarily or permanently? Have you tried to locate information on a website only to find out that the information has been removed? Are you out of luck? Not necessarily...
Librarians Just Want to Have Fun!
Posted on May 07, 2009Reference Librarian Alison Ewing and her puppy Monty had some fun on Cinco de Mayo!
Summer Use of Westlaw, LexisNexis, Loislaw, and CALI
Posted on May 07, 2009Westlaw : You will have continued use of your Westlaw password during the summer for certain permissible uses. Permissible uses include the following: Enrolled in a law school class Law Review or Journal work Moot Court work Project for a Professor Unpaid, non-profit public interest externship/internship Pro Bono work required for graduation Bar Exam Study (graduating 3Ls only ? graduate extension program) You must request an [...
Free Sources for Federal Regulations and Statutes
Posted on May 06, 2009Law students – you won’t always have “free” access to Westlaw and Lexis, so it’s a good idea to know a bit about free web sites for legal research. What should you use if you’re looking for federal regulations and statutes? The best site for federal regulations is the eCFR from the Government Printing Office at [...
One Week Countdown
Posted on May 06, 2009Best of luck to everyone on their finals and congratulations to all of our graduates! You have all worked hard this semester and the last week of exams is finally upon us. On Wednesday May 13th the library will be open from 7am to 5pm, so be sure to come say so long to all your [...
Snake of the Week
Posted on May 05, 2009Western Diamondback Rattlesnake A visitor in the Cave Creek back yard of reference librarian Amy Levine. And some people have chipmunks…
Points to Remember as a Summer Associate
Posted on May 04, 2009Below is a list of points to keep in mind when you are working this summer. Not only do these apply in a good economy but in a tough one they matter even more. Make it a good summer! Know the firm’s Lexis and Westlaw billing policies so you aren’t the one who gets in trouble [...
Westlaw Financial Crisis Databases
Posted on April 30, 2009Westlaw has numerous databases which deal with the financial crisis. Below is a list of them. The list may not be exhaustive as the Westlaw editors revise the databases. Please check on Westlaw for more information about them. Scope and content can be found by clicking on the information icon following the database name on Westlaw...
Helpful Exam Time Study Tools and Services
Posted on April 29, 2009As exam time approaches, we would like to remind you about the following helpful study tools and services available from the Law Library. Extended Hours Beginning this week and continuing through finals, the Law Library will extend its hours on Friday and Saturday to remain open until midnight...
Swine Flu information
Posted on April 28, 2009If you are watching the developing outbreak of swine flu, here are a few relieable websites to find flu information: Arizona Department of Health Services U.S.Department of Health and Human Services Medline Plus The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Some of the best and often heard advice is to cover your nose or mouth when you sneeze or cough [...
Library Hours During Finals
Posted on April 28, 2009Beginning this week and continuing through finals, the Law Library will extend its hours on Friday and Saturday to remain open until midnight. The building hours for the remainder of the semester will be: Monday, April 27 - Wednesday, May 13 Monday - Friday: 7 am - midnight Saturday: 8 am - midnight Sunday: 10 am - midnight Wednesday, May 13: 7 [...
Westlaw Key Number Digest: Update
Posted on April 27, 2009The Key Number Digest on Westlaw has been updated. The topic of Criminal Law was expanded and new key numbers were added. Other topics that were revised are: Automobiles, Innkeepers, Insurance, Negligence, and Sentencing and Punishment. The good news is that Westlaw users can search by using new or old key numbers...
Above the Law?s First Annual Law Revue Video Contest Winner
Posted on April 24, 2009Enjoy courtesy of the Law Librarian Blog. Con Luv from the 2009 Virginia Law Libel Show
We won the ?Peeps in Law? 2009!!
Posted on April 24, 2009For the full story go to the ABA’s website.
We won the ?Peeps in Law? ?09!!
Posted on April 21, 2009For the full story go to the ABA’s website.
Earth Day 2009
Posted on April 21, 2009Don’t forget! Wednesday April 22 is Earth Day. Make an extra effort to do something green and check out these Earth Day events at ASU!
Haiku Contest Winners!
Posted on April 17, 2009Congratulations to Serene Rock and Alex Botsios, winners of the Law Library Haiku Contest! We received so many great poems, it was difficult to choose just two, but we think you’ll agree that their haikus are clearly winners. Where is your Sun Card? Lost! Home! In my other pants...
National Librarian?s Day
Posted on April 16, 2009April 16 is National Librarian’s Day! Here at the Law Library we get asked a wide variety of questions. Most are law-related, but once in a while we get asked something like, “How do you cook a turkey?” Here are a few other staff favorites: Why doesn’t my Westlaw password work in Lexis? Can I subpoena a book? How much [...
Staff Book Recommendations
Posted on April 15, 2009Today the American Library Association (ALA) releases its list of the “Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2008.” You can view this and other lists of banned and challenged books at the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom’s Banned Books web site...
National Library Worker?s Day
Posted on April 14, 2009Today is National Library Worker’s Day! This day is set aside to recognize the contributions of library workers everywhere, and is celebrated each year on the Tuesday of National Library Week. At the Ross-Blakley Law Library, our Access Services employees connect patrons with materials, information and services, while the Reference department tackles tough research questions...
National Library Week
Posted on April 13, 2009It’s National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians, and library workers across the nation. First observed in 1958, National Library Week is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and is celebrated each April...
Study Room Reservations
Posted on April 07, 2009With final exams approaching, the Ross-Blakley Law Library would like to remind you that you may reserve a study room for up to one week in advance. This is particularly helpful if you are trying to coordinate a group study session. You may reserve a room in person at the circulation desk, by calling 965-6144, [...
Getting Control of Exam Studying
Posted on April 02, 2009Another useful article from the Law School Academic Support Blog. Getting Control of Exam Studying
How to Save Money on Research
Posted on March 27, 2009The March issue of Law Practice magazine has an excellent article on free and inexpensive websites for legal research, “10 Ways to Stretch Your Research Dollars: How to Get the Facts on a Dime.” The article is available on the ABA’s website, or you can borrow recent issues of the magazine at the law library’s [...
Indian Legal Research CLE Program
Posted on March 25, 2009Join librarians Beth DiFelice and Alison Ewing, and Professor Tamara Herrera on Friday May 1st, for “Unlocking the Secrets to Researching Indian Law.” Hone your research skills and save countless research hours in this important area of law...
A New Way To Take Notes
Posted on March 24, 2009A free website called EtherPad allows you to share notes and collaborate with a friend during class. Each person can view the other’s notes in real time and make changes to the document. Using EtherPad can be helpful if you missed something your professor said, or if you want to play hangman during class...
Trial By Google
Posted on March 18, 2009A recent article from the New York Times discusses the implications of jurors using technology to seek outside information during trials. As Jurors Turn to Web, Mistrials Are Popping Up.
Spring Break Fun
Posted on March 13, 2009From the Onion: Year Of Law School Now Mandatory For Nation’s 25-Year-Olds
Virtual Law Firms
Posted on March 10, 2009The recession has impacted nearly every field of work, and the law community is no exception. Out of work attorneys are finding they need to be fairly creative to survive. The Washington Post yesterday had an article that’s created a lot of buzz about one lawyer who started his own virtual firm, where he conducts most [...
Legal Research Workshops
Posted on February 24, 2009The schedule for this week’s Legal Research Workshops is below: Cases and Court Rules Tuesday, February 24th, Room 118 Cost Effective Research Thursday, February 26th, Room 118 Friday, February 27th, Room 118 All workshops are held on the day they are scheduled from noon to 1:00 p...
Featured Law Library Book
Posted on February 24, 2009Straight from the stacks…this month’s featured Law Library book is… The Legal Career Guide: from Law Student to Lawyer This book is a great resource for law students or recent graduates in any stage of career planning or job searching...
Studying Options for Night Owls
Posted on February 20, 2009Does your brain function better after the sun goes down? Do you sometimes need the peace and quiet of a library during the wee hours of the night? There are a couple of all night study options available to you. The Law Library has an all night study room...
Advice for 1Ls
Posted on February 19, 2009The Law School Academic Support Blog has a good post this week about how your studies should be progressing as your second semester moves forward. What Should Be Happening at this Time in the Semester
Congressional Research Service reports
Posted on February 18, 2009The Congressional Research Service (CRS), in the Library of Congress, provides research services for Congressional committees and members of Congress. CRS reports are known for their depth and quality, and they can be excellent resources for legislative history or policy research...
Greatest Legal Movies
Posted on February 17, 2009The Law Library recently added 50 new DVDs to its media collection. The movies were chosen by the ABA Journal as the 25 greatest legal movies ever made. Also included are movies that received honorable mentions. The titles cover a wide range of movie genres and include classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men as well as Chicago, Legally Blonde, and The People [...
Legal Research Workshops this week
Posted on February 16, 2009The following is the Legal Research Workshop schedule for this week. We hope to see many of you there! Regulations Tuesday, Feb. 17 Room 118 Thursday, Feb. 19 Room 118 Cases and Court Rules Friday, Feb. 20 Room 118 (again Feb. 24) Remember, all workshops are held from noon to 1 p...
President?s Day Hours
Posted on February 13, 2009The Law Library will be open regular hours on Monday, February 16th, President’s Day. The Law Library will be open from 7:00 a.m. to Midnight.
Fastcase is a Benefit to Arizona Bar Members
Posted on February 12, 2009For those of you who are State Bar of Arizona members or soon will be, you should know that the State Bar of Arizona purchased Fastcase as a benefit to all Bar members. It is available on the State Bar website. You can save thousands of dollars on legal research costs by taking advantage of this free [...
Legal Research Needed to Show Good Faith
Posted on February 11, 2009An in-house lawyer?s failure to adequately research whether an employee was covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) cost his company more than $80,000 in the case of Brown v. Nutrition Management Services Co. The trial judge found that without evidence the company or its attorney had researched the requirements of the FMLA [...
From the New Acquisitions List
Posted on February 10, 2009Below is a selection of new books added to the library collection this month. To see a complete listing of new books, please check out the library?s New Acquisitions page. Fifty unique legal paths / by Ursula Furi-Perry. E-discovery : twenty questions and answers / John M...
Legal Research Workshops this week
Posted on February 09, 2009The Legal Research workshop series continues this week. There is one more chance to attend the Secondary Sources and Practice Materials workshop that was held last week. Also, the Statutes workshop will be held on Thursday and repeated on Friday. Below is this weeks schedule...
The Next Semester
Posted on February 06, 2009For those of you lamenting last semester, you might want to read The Next Semester by Barbara Glesner Fines, Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. She has some very helpful and constructive tips so this semester can be more successful...
HeinOnline Helps You Find the Most Cited Legal Scholarship
Posted on February 05, 2009HeinOnline has a citation analysis tool which allows you to view the most cited law review articles in a digital environment. From the HeinOnline WebBlog: For example, when you run a search for “Right to Privacy” across the titles in the Law Journal Library in HeinOnline, you will be able to determine how many times each result has been “cited [...
Abraham Lincoln
Posted on February 03, 2009February 12th is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln; he was born 200 years ago this month. Before Lincoln was President, he held many occupations, including flatboatman, storekeeper, and finally he became a lawyer. Interestingly, he did not formally attend law school but after much studying he completed several certifications and an examination to obtain his license [...
Secondary Sources and Practice Materials Workshop
Posted on February 02, 2009The Fundamentals of Legal Research workshop series starts this week. The first workshop is on secondary sources and practice materials. The workshop is held tomorrow Tuesday, February 3rd and repeated next Tuesday, February 10th. Both sessions are held from noon until 1:00 p...
Dean Berman subject of Arizona Attorney article
Posted on February 02, 2009Dean Paul Schiff Berman was interviewed by Tim Eigo of Arizona Attorney. The interview is reported in the February issue. It?s an interesting and engaging article where the dean discusses both his own life and his deanship. In particular, he talks about his academic life in law school and what he has done since graduation...
Westlaw FormFinder
Posted on January 30, 2009At one time or another we all go on a form hunt. Westlaw now gives us hunters another place to search. The database is called ?FormFinder?. Right now it is highlighted in yellow text at the top of the Westlaw page. The database contains forms, PDF forms, clauses and checklists obtained from other Westlaw databases from other national and [...
Westlaw Tabs
Posted on January 28, 2009Westlaw has increased the number of tabs that you can set from 6 to 50! All you have to do is click on the ?Add a Tab? link on the right side of any Westlaw page. The resulting page is the ?My Tabs? page which lists the tabs that have been previously set and gives you the option [...
Indian Law Research Portal
Posted on January 27, 2009This resource is the newest addition to the law library’s collection of Research Portals. The Indian Law Portal links to electronic and print resources and brings together in one place many legal and interdisciplinary resources. The portal also provides some unique resources created specifically for American Indian Law researchers...
Westlaw Browser Blocking
Posted on January 26, 2009Be aware that starting soon Westlaw users cannot use Web browsers earlier than: Internet Explorer 6.0 All Netscape Versions Firefox 1.5 Safari 2.0 Because the earlier versions are not supported by the companies that created them, they are not receiving security updates...
Tiko is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on January 26, 2009Our first Law Dog of the semester is Tiko, who belongs to Margaret Hill, an ASU Law 2L. Margaret says: “Tiko” is my dog’s name. He is a three year old Shiba Inu. Probably the oldest breed in Japan Shiba’s are hunting dogs indigenous to dense, low forests...
New Bar Exam Resource Guide
Posted on January 23, 2009The Ross-Blakley Law Library has put together a Bar Exam Resource Guide to assist you in preparing to take the Bar Exam. This resource guide highlights important information and services for Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law students as they prepare to take the bar examination in Arizona or elsewhere...
Jessup and Moot Court competition collections on HeinOnline
Posted on January 22, 2009Among Heinonline?s outstanding collection of databases, there are 2 that law students might find particularly interesting. The databases are the National Moot Court Competition and the Philip C. Jessup Library. The National Moot Court Competition database includes current information and archives on the annual law student competition...
Fundamentals of Legal Research Workshops
Posted on January 21, 2009A workshop series on legal research is being offered again this spring semester by your reference librarians. There will be six different workshops, each being offered twice. The series is open to all law students regardless of year and all MLS and LLM students as well...
Zara is Law Cat of the Week
Posted on January 20, 2009Our first Law Cat of the semester is Zara, who belongs to Nancy Case, an ASU Law 1L. Nancy tells us: Zara and I met at the Arizona Humane Society where she insisted on coming home with me. We?ve been roommates ever since. Zara is not too keen on this whole law school thing as I am [...
New Online Study Room Reservation System
Posted on January 20, 2009The Ross-Blakley Law Library is pleased to announce another new service. You may now make reservations for study rooms online. The law library has group study rooms available for the exclusive use of Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law students, faculty, and college of law alumni studying for the state bar exam...
MLK Day Law Library Hours
Posted on January 16, 2009The Law Library will be open on Monday, January 19th from 8:00 am to Midnight. The Law Library will be open on Saturday January 17th from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and CLOSED on Sunday, January 18th.
Congratulations to 3L Brian L. Lewis!
Posted on January 06, 2009His article, Anthony O. “Tony” Jones: A Series of Lucky Occurances, appears in the January 2009 issue of the Arizona Attorney, the official publication of the State Bar of Arizona. The article is a profile of one of the state’s pre-eminent bankruptcy lawyers...
The Three Stooges as Early Environmentalists
Posted on December 30, 2008I was doing some research for a new web page I am working on and found the following gem for those of you who enjoy the Three Stooges. The Humorous Origins of the Green Movement: The Three Stooges as Early Environmentalists. (48 Okla. L. Rev. 35, 1995)...
Winter Break Hours
Posted on December 16, 2008The Law Library will close at 8 pm on Wednesday, December 17. From Thursday, December 18 - Sunday, January 18, library hours will be: Monday - Saturday 8 am - 5 pm Sunday Closed Thursday, December 25 Closed Friday, December 26 Closed Thursday, January 1 Closed
Holiday Donation Drives Reminder
Posted on December 12, 2008The Law Library is sponsoring two holiday donations drives. You can drop off non-perishable food items for people and pets at the Circulation desk in the law library. Friends for Life Animal Sanctuary Donation Drive Sandra Day O?Connor College of Law Holiday Food Drive Thank you and Happy Holidays
Successful Exams Tip #3: Dealing with Test Anxiety
Posted on December 11, 2008You showed up to class, studied dilegently, wrote your outlines but when exam time comes around you’re a nervous wreck. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many students, especially first years, have test anxiety. A few tips to make exams less stressful can be found in the following article: Dealing with Text Anxiety
One Way to Lighten Up the Stress of Exams
Posted on December 11, 2008Law student Natalie Justiniano came dressed in her PJ’s prepared to spend the night studying in the law library. Pictured with law librarian Alison Ewing, Natalie is holding a free latte that Starbucks gave her because of her outfit!
Successful Exams Tip #2: Take Care of Yourself
Posted on December 10, 2008The last thing you need is to get sick during exam period. A few common sense tips can help keep you healthy: Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep. Sounds impossible but in the long run you will have more energy and better quality study time. Eat nutritious meals and keep away from the junk [...
Are You a Mac or a PC?
Posted on December 09, 2008Most of us identify with one or the other, sometimes with both. Apple computers are gaining popularity in the legal world, though. Law Practice Today has a new column about their usefulness in the field of law. Macs for Lawyers
Law Pet of the Semester
Posted on December 08, 2008The results are in. Jiggers is our first Law Pet of the Semester, with Snoopy and Bob tying for a close second. Click on the thumbnails below to see a larger photo and more information about each. Jiggers was Law Cat of the Week 10/12/08. Snoopy was Law Dog of the Week 11/09/08...
Friends for Life Animal Sanctuary Donation Drive
Posted on December 05, 2008Since so many of us at the Law School enjoy the company of our furry friends we thought it might be a nice idea to help animals less fortunate than our pets. Friends for Life Animal Sanctuary. This group is a member of the Alliance for Companion Animals...
Successful Exams Tip #1: Get Prepared
Posted on December 04, 2008The following web sites can help you prepare for exams. They are part of the Law Library’s Resources for First Year Law Student’s guide. Study Skills Collection Past Law School Exams CALI / CALI guide Jurist Law School Exams Guide CALI: Writing Better Law School Exams: The Importance of Structure Findlaw Outlines and Exams LexisNexis Study Aids Good Luck!
Sandra Day O?Connor College of Law Holiday Food Drive
Posted on December 03, 2008December 2nd through December 22nd To celebrate the holidays, the Ross-Blakley Law Library is helping the community by organizing a food drive. Please help us with our Holiday Food Drive by donating food or money to United Food Bank. There are three food bins set up at the College?one at the Library and [...
Helpful Exam Time Study Tools & Services
Posted on December 03, 2008As exam time approaches, we would like to remind you about the following helpful study tools and services the Law Library staff has produced to assist you in preparing for exams. Extended Hours The Law Library will be open the following extended hours during finals...
Study Break
Posted on December 02, 2008Are you a fan of the TV show “The Office”? Have you ever wondered how Micheal Scott still has a job or how Dunder Mifflin hasn’t been sued by every employee? What would you do if you were the legal counsel for this company? Find out the litigation values of the Dunder crew’s antics at [...
Vote for Law Pet of the Semester
Posted on December 01, 2008Law students, faculty and staff: Please help us choose our Law Pet of the Semester. Vote here. (You must enter your ASURITE username and password to connect to the voting page, but identifying information will not be submitted with your vote.) Voting will remain open until 11:59 pm on December 7, 2008...
Bob is Law Cat of the Week
Posted on November 30, 2008This week?s Law Cat is Bob, who belongs to Amy Melcher, an ASU Law 1L. As you can see from the picture below, Bob loves torts. Click on the picture above for a larger version. Bob is our last Law Pet of the Week for this semester. Come back tomorrow to learn how you can help us [...
A View from the Reference Desk
Posted on November 26, 2008Using “More Like This” or “More Like Selected Text” on LexisNexis The other day, I was helping a student look for articles on the fiduciary duty of mortgage brokers to their borrowers. We signed on to LexisNexis, narrowed our file down and typed in some keywords for our search...
Lawyers and Cranberries
Posted on November 25, 2008Did you know that a lawyer invented the classic jellied cranberry sauce ‘log’ produced by Ocean Spray? Marcus L. Urann, lawyer and co-founder of Ocean Spray, came up with the idea for canned jellied cranberry sauce as a way to use up excess cranberries...
Romeo is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on November 24, 2008This week’s Law Dog is Romeo Magruder. Janie Magruder, Associate Director of Communications at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, sent us Romy’s picture, as well as this update, “Mr. Romeo Goes to Washington,” to his previous entry on Nov...
Thanksgiving Library Hours
Posted on November 24, 2008The Law Library will be open the following hours during the week of Thanksgiving, November 24 - 30. Monday and Tuesday: 7 a.m. - midnight Wednesday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday: CLOSED Saturday: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. - midnight Happy Thanksgiving!
Civic Literacy
Posted on November 21, 2008How knowledgeable are you on American history, government, and economics? According to the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, more than half of Americans who took its test on civic literacy failed, and elected officials scored even lower than the general public...
Why You Should Back Up Your Work
Posted on November 20, 2008I am sure most of you have heard or read about first year ASU law student Alex Botsios’ recent altercation when a would be thief tried to rob him of his laptop which contained a semesters worth of work. If not, you can read an account here: Student Pummels Would-Be Robber...
Get Organized!! (with Westlaw)
Posted on November 19, 2008The Tabs feature on Westlaw is useful for organizing frequently used groups of databases. To add a Tab to your Welcome screen click on ?Add a Tab? in the upper right hand corner of the Welcome Screen. You can select an existing Westlaw Tab that contains many of the basic databases on various topics, types [...
Texting
Posted on November 18, 2008Jennifer Alvey from Word Solutions has an interesting post about how text messaging may improve your writing skills. http://wordsolutions.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/why-texting-and-twittering-are-great-for-lawyers/
Windsor is Law Cat of the Week
Posted on November 16, 2008This week’s Law Cat is Windsor, who belongs to a law-library staff member who wishes to remain anonymous. She says that “Windsor loves being inside boxes. As soon as he spots an empty one, he squeezes himself inside whether he fits or not!” Click on the picture above for a larger version...
For Non-Traditional Learners
Posted on November 14, 2008Do you think and learn visually? Do you retain information better when you listen to it? If so, you might like to read Two resources for non-read/write predominant learners from the Law School Academic Support Blog. Here is a link to the software the post mentions: Inspiration Software
Writing Is Not Just a Basic Skill
Posted on November 13, 2008The Chronicle of Higher Education has published an essay, Writing Is Not Just a Basic Skill, by Mark Richardson who is an assistant professor of writing and linguistics at Georgia Southern University. Thanks to the Legal Writing Prof Blog for this post...
Veterans Day Hours
Posted on November 10, 2008The Law Library will be open from 8 am - midnight on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11.
Snoopy is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on November 09, 2008This week’s Law Dog is Snoopy, who belongs to Kristi Miller, an ASU Law 1L. Kristi says: In February, I went to Verizon Wireless because my phone was broken and the salesman told me that he was moving and couldn’t keep his dog and asked me if I would like to adopt him...
Travel Tips
Posted on November 07, 2008Traveling over the holidays? Check out Lifehacker?s “Power Traveler?s Checklist”: Part One: Pre-Flight includes finding the best and cheapest tickets, getting the best seat on your flight, and preparing before your travel day. Part Two: Travel Day includes things to do before you leave the house, dressing comfortably and planning for the security check, making good [...
Tips for Law School Stress
Posted on November 06, 2008The Law School Academic Support Blog has a very good post today concerning stress management. As exams loom, it might be a good idea to give it a quick read. Helping Students Manage Stress
BLSA & the SBA Presents: Election 08? Express Yourself!!!
Posted on November 05, 2008ASU Law students, Professors, Faculty and Staff are invited to write your thoughts & feelings about the historical Presidential Election on a huge piece of cloth that will be a reminder of this time for years to come. Stop by the law school rotunda and be a part of history.
Judgment Day
Posted on November 04, 2008In today’s election we will vote for the president of the United States. We will also cast our vote for congressman and vote yes or no on propositions. Additionally, we will vote on whether or not to retain our state’s judges. But how do we know how we should vote for this? The Arizona Commission [...
Law Library staff Carlos Ross winner at ASU Academic Bowl finals
Posted on November 03, 2008For the second year in a row, Carlos Ross and the other CLAS teammates came out on top at the Academic Bowl Finals. Each winning teammate won a $4500 scholarship. Carlos has worked for the Law Library since Fall 2007. As a senior majoring in Japanese, Carlos will graduate and leave ASU in December to pursue employment with Walt Disney [...
Kimmy is Law Cat of the Week
Posted on November 02, 2008This week?s Law Cat is Kimmy, who belongs to Courtney Fern, an ASU Law 1L. Kimmy is a 2-year-old rag doll, shown here in her Halloween costume. Click on the picture above for a larger version. See a picture of Kimmy resting. Would your pets like to be Law Pet of the Week? Submit their photos to [...
Halloween Law Pets
Posted on October 31, 2008Some of us in the law library enjoy Halloween so much that we dress our pets up in costume. Click on the thumbnails and links below to see more pictures. Monty was Law Dog of the Week 7/27/08. See another picture of Monty. Maul was Law Cat of the Week 7/7/08...
Trick-or-Treat at the Supreme Court
Posted on October 30, 2008It happened three years ago on Halloween. The Supreme Court was hearing oral arguments when a suddenly a loud “pop” was heard in the courtroom. Was it a Halloween trick??? You can read about it by clicking on the link below or you can listen to the oral argument via Westlaw using Streaming Media Manager...
Stop Procrastinating Now
Posted on October 29, 2008If you have a procrastination habit, listen to Avoiding Procrastination, episode 16 of David Maister’s Career Development podcast series. Maister explains why procrastination is a challenge for many professionals and offers suggestions for controlling procrastination and getting things done...
GPS Devices Used As Evidence?
Posted on October 28, 2008Looks like navigational systems may soon be used for more than just directions. Check out what this article has to say about using them in the courtroom. GPS Device Might Drive Your Case Home
Sandy is Law Cat of the Week
Posted on October 26, 2008This week?s Law Cat is Sandy, who belongs to Rob and Kathy Farmer. Rob used to work in the law library at ASU and now lives in Montgomery, AL. Rob says: Sandy is almost 14 years old, but you?d never know it from looking at her. She?s logged a lot of air miles, having moved cross [...
Bluebook Citation Just Got a Little Easier
Posted on October 23, 2008CiteGenie is a Firefox add-on that creates real Bluebook pinpoint citations from material you highlight in Westlaw and other web sites. CiteGenie will create ciations in Bluebook, MLA, APA, Chicago, and Wikipedia formats. CiteGenie currently works in Firefox 1...
Westlaw?s Directory
Posted on October 22, 2008To conduct your Westlaw research as efficiently and economically as possible, you must choose the right database. Westlaw has thousands of databases, and the best database for your search may not be included in the options listed on the first screen. For example, the only database on the Law School default screen that includes cases from [...
LexisNexis Sources
Posted on October 22, 2008To conduct your LexisNexis research as efficiently and economically as possible, you must choose the right source to search. LexisNexis has thousands of sources, and the best source for your search may not be included in the options listed on the first screen...
From the New Acquisitions List
Posted on October 21, 2008Below is a selection of new books added to the library collection this month. To see a complete listing of new books, please check out the library’s New Acquisitions page. Mathematics and Democracy: Designing Better Voting and Fair-Division Procedures Smell Test: Stories and Advice on Lawyering War and Taxes
Getting Inside Your Professor?s Head
Posted on October 20, 2008If you want to know what interests your professor, how they stand on a particular issue, or just want to spend some time reading legal scholarship, please take some time to visit The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law Faculty Scholarship Repository...
Malcolm is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on October 19, 2008This week?s Law Dog is Malcolm, who belongs to Megan Scanlon, an ASU Law 1L. Megan tells us: We just adopted him from the Arizona Pug Adoption and Rescue Network on September 1. He is 2.5 years old. He likes when I study in my apartment because it means he can sit on my lap while [...
Predicting BigLaw Success
Posted on October 17, 2008From the ABA Journal Law News Now blog: a study of 1,300 associates at a top 25 law firm concluded that GPA and school rank were not the best predictors of success in practice. The study was commissioned by the mega firm to help combat attrition among associates...
A View from the Reference Desk
Posted on October 16, 2008DIGESTS One of the most often asked questions this time of year is about digests and how to use them. The digest system is designed by West Publishing. West organizes the law into over 400 subjects and assigns those subjects “topic numbers”...
Way to Go July Bar Exam Takers!
Posted on October 15, 2008The July 2008 Bar Exam results are in and hats off to the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law graduates. The pass rate was 93.1% for first time takers! A special congratulations goes to ASU’s own Jason Michael Porter who scored the highest in the state on the July 2008 exam...
Writing
Posted on October 15, 2008I recently discovered an excellent blog called Write to Done. Its twice-weekly articles are full of tips and advice about how to be a better writer. Although Write to Done does not focus on legal writing, many of its tips will help legal writers. For example: Trouble Sticking to Your Word Count? Try These Editing Tricks; [...
To Be A Felony Or Not To Be A Felony
Posted on October 14, 2008Earlier this month, University of Tennessee student David Kernell was charged with a felony for hacking into Sarah Palin’s private email account. The indictment has both attorneys and law professors questioning the legality of the charge. Professor Orin Kerr from the George Washington Law School argues that it is somewhat unfounded that the charge was raised from [...
The Effect of the Economic Crisis on Academia
Posted on October 14, 2008The Chronicle of Higher Education has created a webpage where it lists articles by date about the effect that the current economic crisis is having on academia. Go to the page by clicking on the following link: http://chronicle.com/indepth/economy/?utm_source=at&utm_medium=en...
The Future of the Supremes
Posted on October 14, 2008An interesting article on the effect a new president will have on the US Supreme Court was published today. Tony Mauro, of Legal Times, reports on what scholars in the fields of Affirmative Action, Abortion, and Church and State predict the effect would be when either Obama or McCain replace a supreme court justice...
Supreme Court?s Fading Influence?
Posted on October 13, 2008The New York Times American Exception series examines commonplace aspects of the American justice system that are virtually unique in the world. In a recent installment, Adam Liptak reports on the Supreme Court’s fading influence worldwide. Thanks to the Law Librarian Blog for this interesting post.
Jiggers is Law Cat of the Week
Posted on October 12, 2008This week?s Law Cat is Jiggers, who is 18 years old. She was 8 weeks old when she joined Ruth Carter?s family. Ruth (1L) says: During her life, she’s survived getting hit by a car, having a weird growth removed, getting locked under my neighbor’s house for a week, and at least 3 surgeries...
Chief Justice Roberts on Legal Research and Analysis
Posted on October 12, 2008John G. Roberts Jr., Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, spoke recently at Drake University Law School about how changes in technology have affected the way cases are decided. He recognized computer-assisted research as a powerful tool “for locating potentially relevant material,” but he went on to say: Finding the law is now not [...
Connecticut Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage
Posted on October 10, 2008Today the Supreme Court of Connecticut ruled in favor of the right to marry by same-sex couples. Links to the opinion and 3 dissenting opinions are available from the court’s cite at: http://www.jud.state.ct.us/external/supapp/aro.htm#Supreme. Scroll down to find the links for today’s ruling.
President Bush?s speech today on the economic crisis
Posted on October 10, 2008President Bush spoke today about the crisis in the American and world financial markets. He outlined the issues faced and the various parts of the plan to stabilize the economy. Read the full-text of the president’s speech at the Washington Times site: http://washingtontimes...
Reserving a Law Library Carrel
Posted on October 09, 2008The Law Library is now offering a reserved carrel service. Library carrels may be reserved by 2L, 3L and graduate law students working on major research or seminar projects. Reserved carrels are available to students who need to collect library materials to write a seminar paper, note, or thesis...
Westlaw or LexisNexis?
Posted on October 08, 2008In general, you can do comparable legal research on Westlaw and LexisNexis. They both have federal and state statutes, regulations, and cases. They both have secondary sources, although some books and periodicals are only available on one or the other...
LexisWeb searches Web for legal info
Posted on October 08, 2008Did you know that Lexis has a search engine? LexisWeb search results include ?important, legal-oriented Web content selected and validated by the LexisNexis editorial staff.? The results page also includes recommended LexisNexis sources. While it is in beta, LexisWeb searches are free, and you can view any Web results without a password...
Supreme Court goes back to work
Posted on October 06, 2008Today marks the opening day of the new United States Supreme Court session. Here are a few suggestions on ways you can keep track of the court. The U.S. Supreme Court?s own website is a fine resource for all matters pertaining to the court. FindLaw?s Supreme Court Center, is also good...
The End of Textbooks?
Posted on October 06, 2008That’s what some law schools are considering. With an increasing amount of books being digitized, students may not need to lug around those heavy textbooks much longer. Check out what this article has to say about the future of textbooks.
Ferdinand is Law Horse of the Week
Posted on October 05, 2008This week’s Law Horse is Ferdinand, a five-month-old Selle Francais colt. He belongs to Ana Carlson, a 3L, who previously sent us pictures of Madeline and Capri. Click on the picture above for a larger version. ASU law students, submit your pet photos for Law Pet of the Week before October 31, 2008, to be entered in our Law Pet of the [...
Westlaw Now Including Memorandum Decisions in AZ-CS
Posted on October 04, 2008This summer, Westlaw began adding memorandum decisions to its Arizona case databases. The information page for AZ-CS does not include any scope note that discloses the exact dates of the memo decisions, but a search in the AZ-CS file indicates that coverage begins in 2007...
Predicting Law School Success
Posted on October 03, 2008A recent article, by Leah M. Christensen, Associate Professor of Law at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, presents some intriguing results about a study which asked 157 law students to respond to a survey about their learning goals and motivations for learning in law school...
O?Connor Conference: the connection between a strong court system and the economy
Posted on October 03, 2008Tony Mauro of the New Times, wrote an article published today on Law.com, about a conference attended by retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, held at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC. The purpose of the conference was to promote the ideal of fair and independent courts...
Basic Tech Tips
Posted on October 02, 2008David Pogue, the N.Y. Times technology blogger, has compiled a list of Tech Tips for the Basic Computer User, “essential tech bits that you just assume everyone knows?but you’re wrong.” Check out the list to see how your tech savvy measures up.
Article by Amy Levine
Posted on October 02, 2008Congratulations to reference librarian Amy Levine, whose article, The Simple Answer to a Complex Question: How to plan effective programs for self-represented litigants, appears in the current issue of AALL Spectrum.
Morris L. Cohen Student Essay Contest
Posted on October 02, 2008The Legal History and Rare Books Section of the American Association of Law Libraries, in cooperation with Gale Cengage Learning, announces the first annual Morris L. Cohen Student Essay Competition. Currently enrolled students attending accredited graduate programs in library science, law, history, or related subjects are eligible to enter the competition...
Election Dates and Resources
Posted on October 01, 2008The general election is Nov. 4. To vote in Arizona, you must be registered by Oct. 6. How to Register to Vote in Arizona. You can request an early ballot from your County Recorder through Oct. 24. Arizona County Recorders and Election Offices. More information about the issues and candidates at 2008 General Election from the [...
Search Strategies ? Fast
Posted on October 01, 2008Would you like to know more about searching?in less than 3 minutes? Watch this video on Web Search Strategies in Plain English (length 2:50). This video is one of many videos by the folks at Common Craft, who create short videos that ?make complex ideas easy to understand...
Library Hours During Fall Break
Posted on September 30, 2008The Law Library will be open regular hours during Fall Break, October 6-10. Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m. - 12 a.m. Friday, 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. - 12 a.m. Enjoy your break!
?What is a Treatise?? The Sequel or Why use a Treatise?
Posted on September 29, 2008Why use a Treatise? To gain an in-depth overview of a single area of law. To start your research especially if you don?t know much about your subject. To find persuasive authority for a case. (Depending on the reputation of the author and the source, a treatise can be a persuasive authority in a court)...
Capri is Law Horse of the Week
Posted on September 28, 2008This week’s Law Horse is Capri, a 6-year-old thoroughbred mare who was rescued at the racetrack by Ana Carlson. Ana retrained Capri, and she is now a show horse in the Hunters. Click on the picture above for a larger version. ASU law students, submit your pet photos for Law Pet of the Week before October 31, 2008, to be entered [...
The Trouble with Law School
Posted on September 26, 2008Though the title may not sound inspiring, the commentary is. Read Los Angeles attorney Ellisen Turner’s article for some Friday inspiration. The Trouble with Law School
Let There Be Peace
Posted on September 25, 2008The Law Library staff has received a number of complaints from law students concerning the level of noise in the Law Library. The Law Library serves as a quiet place to study. Please respect those around you by keeping noise to a minimum. If you would like to study in a group, please take advantage of [...
Research Tip: Tax Portfolios
Posted on September 24, 2008Tax Management Portfolios are an excellent starting point for tax research. BNA publishes portfolios in the areas of federal income taxation, federal estate and gift taxation, foreign income, state tax, and accounting policy & practice. Each portfolio focuses on a narrow tax topic, providing a detailed analysis, sample worksheets, and references to primary and other [...
Ask Us!
Posted on September 24, 2008The reference librarians are here to help you with your research. Sometimes students apologize for ?interrupting? us in the reference office. We appreciate the courtesy, but librarians staff the reference office because we want to help you, so you are really not interrupting...
I Bet Your Civ. Pro. Book Doesn?t Look So Bad Now, Does It?
Posted on September 23, 2008The Harvard Library System is home to many rare and unusual books. Some books, however, are more unusual than others. An article from the Harvard Law Reporter describes many books in Harvard’s collection, including some law books, that are known to be bound in human skin...
What is a Treatise?
Posted on September 22, 2008What is a Treatise? A book. Or a series of books. But the unique characteristic is that a treatise is about one particular subject. So when you look in the law library?s treatise collection you will see treatises on all kinds of subjects. What makes a treatise a treatise not just a book? [...
Madeline is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on September 21, 2008This week’s Law Dog is Madeline, who belongs to Ana Carlson, class of 2009. Madeline is a 2-year-old Boston terrier, shown here reading and highlighting. Apparently she is very good at it. Click on the picture above for a larger version. ASU law students, submit your pet photos for Law Pet of the Week and enter them in our [...
How Not to Act in the Courtroom
Posted on September 19, 2008A People’s Court excerpt provides some Friday levity. How Not to Act in the Courtroom Have a nice weekend!
FAQ: Where can I find a law dictionary?
Posted on September 17, 2008If you are logged in to LexisNexis or Westlaw, you can quickly get a definition. On Westlaw, there is a Definitions search box in the left column on the Law School tab. Enter your term and Westlaw will retrieve all definitions of that term. You can also search the full text of Black’s Law Dictionary by [...
New Service for College of Law Alumni
Posted on September 16, 2008The Ross-Blakley Law Library is pleased to offer lifetime borrowing privileges to Sandra Day O?Connor College of Law Alumni. Recent graduates of the College of Law will have their student library accounts changed to Law Alumni accounts after graduation and will be able to borrow Law Library materials by presenting a photo ID at the [...
Legislative History Made Easy
Posted on September 15, 2008If you are doing legislative history research on a U.S. Public Law, the best place to start is with a compiled legislative history. As the name implies, a compiled legislative history brings together all the legislative documents related to a particular Law...
Firefox Add-ons for Efficient Researching
Posted on September 15, 2008A student brought this article to our attention: Benson Varghese, Become an Efficient Researcher: Top Twenty Firefox Add-ons that Make Firefox the Researcher’s Browser of Choice. The author, a third-year law student at the Texas Tech, reviews tools to help you efficiently find what you need and “save, organize, annotate, and cite your search results...
Michael is Law Cat of the Week
Posted on September 14, 2008This week’s Law Cat is Michael, who belongs to Meagan Pollnow, an ASU Law 1L. Michael is three years old and likes to take over Meagan’s desk while she is trying to read. Meagan says that he seems to like civil procedure the best. Michael’s brother Sam is afraid of the camera, but we hope he will [...
Another Phoenix Weather Phenomenon
Posted on September 12, 2008A huge dust storm rolled into the West Valley late yesterday, lowering visibility to near zero. Also called a “haboob,” dust storms are most common between May and September in Maricopa and Pima County. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, although brief, dust storms must be taken seriously because they cause blinding conditions on [...
Congratulations, Client Counseling Competitors
Posted on September 12, 2008Congratulations to Adam Reich and Callie Parkinson, who took 1st and 2nd place, respectively, in the Client Counseling Competition.
HeinOnline YouTube Channel
Posted on September 10, 2008HeinOnline has a YouTube Channel where you can find how-to videos for the various HeinOnline collections, general searching and navigating videos, as well as other useful tips and tricks for using the HeinOnline interface. Some of the videos include: Quick Start Guide to HeinOnline Searchable PDF’s in HeinOnline Subject Compilations of State Laws - Getting Started MyHein Bookmarking Tool Citations [...
FAQ: Where is ?Law Core?
Posted on September 10, 2008The library catalog says the books I need are located at “Law Core.” Where is that? “Law Core” is the area of tall shelves in the first-floor reading room. It is the location for many frequently used sets, such as regional and federal reporters, U...
Using Search Engines Better
Posted on September 09, 2008If you would like to learn more about how search engines work and how you can improve your Web search results, check out this 15-minute Flash video on Using Search Engines Better that I made for the Advanced Legal Research class.
Nacho is Law Cat of the Week
Posted on September 07, 2008This week’s Law Cat is Nacho, who belongs to Sarah Olson. Sarah is an ASU Law 1L. Nacho is shown here politely begging for a treat. Click on the picture above for a larger version. Do your pets have what it takes to be Law Pet of the Week? Submit their photos to nominate them.
What is Wikipedia good for?
Posted on September 06, 2008As a general rule, you may use encyclopedias to find authoritative sources, but you should not quote or cite an encyclopedia. A recent case highlights the dangers of relying on Wikipedia. In Badasa v. Mukasey, an asylum case, the Department of Homeland Security supported its argument by referencing a Wikipedia article, and the Immigration Judge relied upon [...
Save Some Time with the Law Library?s Book Retrieval Service
Posted on September 04, 2008Do you want one less thing on your to do list? The Law Library can help. We offer a free book retrieval service to College of Law students, faculty, and staff. Law Library staff will retrieve materials from any library on the Tempe campus, including the Law Library...
What Was That Last Night?!?
Posted on August 29, 2008The sky surely put on a show for us last night! Streaks and bolts of lightning, thunder, heavy rains, and fast moving winds are typical during monsoon season in Arizona. New to Arizona? Don’t fret, monsoon storms offer a much needed break from the intense heat of our summer days, but they are usually best [...
What is Wex?
Posted on August 28, 2008Wex is a product of the Legal Information Institute. The Legal Information Institute (LII) is a research and electronic publishing activity of the Cornell Law School. WEX is a collaboratively-edited legal dictionary and encyclopedia. It is intended for a broad audience of people and can be a helpful starting point to learn about the different [...
Welcome Back!
Posted on August 25, 2008The Law Library staff welcomes you to a new semester. We hope you had a relaxing summer. To help you get back into the swing of things we would like to remind you of some of the services we have created especially for you. The links below have information about services that will help you have a productive law school experience...
Foster and Barney are Law Dogs of the Week
Posted on August 25, 2008This week’s Law Dogs are Barney and Foster, who belong to Rob and Kathy Farmer. Barney is a 3/4 champion redbone coon hound & 1/4 boxer. Foster is a Heinz-57 mixed breed puppy, who looks like a hyena. She was found as a stray “on the mean streets of Montgomery,” across from the law firm [...
Five Indispensable Tips for Law Students and New Lawyers
Posted on August 21, 2008In a guest post on Notes from the (Legal) Underground, Matt Homann, offers Five Indispensable Tips for Law Students and New Lawyers. Homann is an Illinois lawyer, a part-time Pretrial teacher at Wash U., and author of the [non]billable hour. Good advice from someone who has experience and unique and innovative ideas about legal practice...
Don?t Get Caught in the Rain! or Who are You Calling, Stupid!
Posted on August 21, 2008For those students who are new to the state of Arizona, you may be under the misconception that it never rains in the desert. Well, not only does it rain in Arizona, it monsoons! Monsoons are such a big part of our summers that we have a law which penalizes drivers for not knowing how [...
An Interesting Read: The Importance of Being Honest
Posted on August 21, 2008Steven Lubet has written The Importance of Being Honest: How Lying, Secrecy, and Hyposcrisy Collide with the Trust in Law. Lubet is a law professor at Northwestern. Lubet’s book provides short chapters that deal with the issue of honesty in the practice of law...
Resources for First Year Law Students
Posted on August 17, 2008Welcome first year law students! The Law Library staff would like you to have positive and productive first year of law school. To this end, we have created a guide to introduce you to resources and services we have developed especially for you and other helpful resources to help you have a successful law school experience...
Law Kittens of the Week
Posted on August 17, 2008This week’s Law Cats live with Kathy and Rob Farmer in Montgomery, AL. The two kittens shown here and two more orphaned kittens were found last month under a bush in the front yard. Since they’re trying to find permanent homes for the kittens, Rob and Kathy haven’t named them...
Katie is Law Cat of the Week
Posted on August 10, 2008This week’s Law Cat is Katie. Katie belongs to Mitchell Davidson, who works in the law library’s technical services department. Mitchell says that although Katie can appear to be very sweet, she is a tough negotiator and usually takes her place at the front of the food line...
Resources for First Year Law Students
Posted on August 05, 2008Welcome first year law students! The Law Library staff would like you to have positive and productive first year of law school. To this end, we have created a guide to introduce you to resources and services we have developed especially for you and other helpful resources to help you have a successful law school experience...
Law Cat and Dog of the Week
Posted on August 03, 2008This week we have special guest Law Cat and Law Dog, Althea and Berkeley. They belong to Deb Quentel, who is the Director of Curriculum Development and General Counsel for CALI. Deb says that Berkeley has a little trouble understanding just how large he is, but Althea is very tolerant...
Do innocent people need lawyers?
Posted on August 02, 2008If you think that innocent people don’t need lawyers when they talk to the police about a crime, check out these videos on Boing Boing, especially the video of Officer Bruch about how officers interview suspects. Hat tip to Concurring Opinions.
Still waiting for your check?
Posted on July 31, 2008If you still haven’t received your federal income tax refund or stimulus check, try out the Where’s My Refund? online tools at IRS.gov. It has general information about both refunds and stimulus payments, as well as forms you can submit to find out the status of your checks...
Monty is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on July 27, 2008This week’s Law Dog is Monty, who belongs to Alison Ewing. Alison is the law library’s evening and weekend reference librarian during the school year. Monty sent us the following greetings a few weeks ago: Happy 4th of July from Montana! My name is Montgomery (Monty for short) and my Mom promises never to dress me [...
Jurimetrics vol. 48, no.2
Posted on July 24, 2008The latest issue of Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology is out. It is a symposium issue on “Law and the New Era of Personalized Medicine,” with a foreword by Prof. Gary Marchant and four articles by attorneys who were charter enrollees in the LLM in Biotechnology and Genomics at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor [...
Star is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on July 20, 2008This week’s Law Dog is Star, who belongs to Carrie Henteleff. Carrie supervises access services in the law library. Carrie says: Star is a 6-year-old Australian Cattle Dog mix and she loves to ‘herd’ her family. When she thinks the kids are in danger, she will run around them in circles, nipping at their heels! Click on the [...
Maul and Deci are Law Cats of the Week
Posted on July 07, 2008This week’s law cats are Maul and Baby Girl, who belong to Kerry Skinner, the law library’s acquisitions and serials librarian. Kerry says: Deci (AKA “Baby Girl”) and Maul were born in late June, 1998 on the Mesa Community College roof...
Max is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on June 30, 2008This week’s law dog is Max, who belongs to Sara Lipich, the law library’s administrative secretary. Sara says: He’s an only child (his choice). He’s a mixed breed shelter dog (I call him a “Maxwellian Shepherd”). We rescued each other nearly 8 years ago...
Summer Associates: Writing
Posted on June 05, 2008There is a short but sweet article on how summer associates can improve their legal writing skills available on Law.com today by Ross Guberman an adjunct professor at the George Washington University Law School. As a “writing trainer” the author provides numerous tips including reading your work aloud and what to do if writer’s block [...
New Aquisitions in the Law Library
Posted on June 02, 2008The law library’s new acquisitions for May included the following: Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges by Antonin Scalia and Bryan A. Garner, at KF8870 .S28 2008 in Law Treatises; Virtual Law: Navigating the Legal Landscape of Virtual Worlds by Benjamin Tyson Duranske, at KF390...
Dooley is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on May 28, 2008This week’s Law Dog is Dooley, who has lived with us for about a year and a half. Last weekend, Dooley passed his Canine Good Citizen test. Are your pets worthy of “Law Pet of the Week” status? Submit their photos to nominate them.
Persuasive Writing and Advocacy
Posted on May 08, 2008An important part of persuasion is knowing your audience. You can be more persuasive if you know how your audience expects you to write and speak. Two recently released resources reveal what U.S. Supreme Court Justices expect in court briefs and oral arguments...
Congratulations, Ted Wimsatt
Posted on April 24, 2008Congratulations to Ted Wimsatt, who received the 2008 John S. Armstrong Award for academic excellence and contributions to the law school. Wimsatt also received the Steven G. Lisa Award, given to an outstanding third-year law student with intellectual property interests...
Congratulations, Cohen Scholars
Posted on April 24, 2008The winners of the 2008 Cohen Professionalism Scholars competition were recently announced: First place: Meghan McCauley; Second place: Alison Atwater; and Runners-up: Amy M. Coughenour, Natalie Greaves, and Daniel A. Lewis. See the April 24 issue of Constructive Notice for more details...
9th Circuit Standards of Review
Posted on April 23, 2008The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has a comprehensive outline of 9th Circuit law on Standards of Review, which it makes available for free on its website. If you are writing a brief for a court in the 9th Circuit, this is a great place to begin your research on standard of [...
?and you thought your oral argument was nerve-wracking?!
Posted on April 21, 2008An article at Law.com today reports that Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts presided over the final round of a moot court competition at Columbia University School of Law. The Chief Justice along with 3 other federal appeals court judges heard the oral arguments and then offered the students advice...
New Book Retrieval Service
Posted on April 18, 2008Are you too busy, too tired, or overwhelmed by all that you have to do? Do you want one less thing on your to do list? The Law Library can help. We now offer a free book retrieval service to College of Law students, faculty, and staff. Law Library staff will retrieve materials from any library on the Tempe campus, [...
Resources for Summer Associates
Posted on April 15, 2008Soon summer will be here, and many of you will be working in law firms for the first time. Here are some resources to help you impress your employer with your legal-research skills. Download and listen to Berring’s Legal Research Podcast episodes on any legal-research topics that you need to review...
Study Skills Collection Contest
Posted on April 15, 2008By now you probably know the Law Library has a study skills collection which brings together an array of study aids to help you succeed in law school. Since finals are approaching, we thought you might be spending more time browsing the collection which is located in the Reserve Reading on the first floor of [...
Former clerks invited to appear before the US Supreme Court
Posted on April 14, 2008An interesting article by Tony Mauro of Legal Times appeared on law.com today. Two former clerks of the US Supreme Court will appear before the court to argue cases as amicus curiae on a pro bono basis. The Court invites attorneys to represent issues that have been abandoned by their parties or for other reasons do not have counsel...
Law Library of Congress: RSS feeds and Email updates
Posted on April 10, 2008You can sign up to receive updates via email or web feed from the Law Library of Congress. Go to the RSS and email page on the library website and choose which way you want to receive information. For example, if you want to receive updates about research reports from the LLOC via email you [...
It May Not Be This Easy To Get Out Of Your Final Exams?
Posted on April 09, 2008In January 2008, a judge in New Orleans complied with an attorney?s request to push back the start date of a trial so that he could attend the LSU/Ohio BCS national championship game. Attorneys on both sides held tickets for the game, and all counsel members were in agreement to move the trial date...
Congrats Mock Trial Competitors
Posted on April 08, 2008Congratulations to Tinna Otero, Ana Carlson, Ming Chung, and Amy Olivas, who took first place in the Phi Alpha Delta District 5 Mock Trial Competition in Las Vegas, NV on February 15 and 16. See the Feb. 25 issue of Constructive Notice.
Jurimetrics vol. 48, no.1
Posted on April 08, 2008The following articles are included in the latest issue of Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology: From Free Riders to Fairness: A Cooperative System for Organ Transplantation, by Christopher Tarver Robertson; Why a Conviction Should Not Be Based on a Single Piece of Evidence: A Proposal for Reform, by Boaz Sangero and Mordechai Halpert; Developments in [...
The Law Library of Congress: Online International Research Guides
Posted on April 08, 2008The Law Library of Congress has many research resources that you may find useful. One guide provides information about online legal resources. There is a useful alphabetical list of countries throughout the world. The list links the user to a page that contains additional links to the law, government and more general information about [...
Congrats, Oplinger Closing Argument competitors
Posted on April 08, 2008Congratulations to the winners of the 2008 Oplinger Closing Argument Competition: James Cool - 1st place Kristine Reich - 2nd/3rd place tie Ana Carlson - 2nd/3rd place tie Sarah Barrios - 4th place
Congrats, Arizona State Law Journal editors
Posted on April 08, 2008Congratulations to Eduardo Gonzalez, who was elected Editor-in-Chief of the Arizona State Law Journal for the 2008-2009 academic year. We also congratulate Kendall Wilson, Executive Managing Editor Jessica Maziarz, Senior Note & Comment Editor Brandon Batt, Senior Articles Editor Michael Tunink, Managing Editor Ashley Perea, Managing Editor Kate Pappas, Managing Editor Lindsey Gomez, Managing Editor Well done, students!
Congrats, Mediation Competitors
Posted on April 08, 2008Congratulations to Kristine Reich (3L) and Trish Stuhan (2L), who competed in the National Round of the ABA’s Representation in Mediation Competition in Seattle on April 2 and 3. Kristine and Trish advanced to the semi-final round and just missed making the national finals...
Studying for the Bar Exam this Summer?
Posted on April 07, 2008Some helpful resources to help you prepare for the Bar exam are available on the Law Library web site. Under the For Law Students link on the Law Library?s web site scroll down to the new Resources for Bar Exam Preparation heading. Included on the new site is the full text of past Arizona Bar Exams, a [...
Summer Research Help
Posted on April 07, 2008Have to do an Arizona or federal legislative history assignment, or maybe you can?t quite remember the names of all those secondary sources that are helpful for starting an assignment or you need the address for a really good legal Internet site? Don?t forget to use the Law Library?s website at http://www...
Resources for Summer Associates
Posted on April 07, 2008The Resources for Summer Associates webpage brings together resources to help you with research questions that might arise during your summer employment. Anytime you have questions about any aspect of legal research or using the library, please feel free to contact the Reference Librarians at ASK A LIBRARIAN.
Westlaw, Lexis, CALI & Loislaw Summer Access
Posted on April 07, 2008WESTLAW: You will have continued use of your Westlaw password during the summer (for educational purposes only). During the months of June and July you are allotted two hours of usage per month. To extend your Westlaw password beyond those two hours, fill out the summer extension access form at http://www...
Library Conference Room & Classroom Use
Posted on April 07, 2008Law student study groups can use the Law Library Conference Room and Classroom for studying during the final exam period but only when all the study rooms and law school classrooms are full. Please contact Estela Obregon to schedule these rooms at (480) 965-3112 or email her at Estela...
Helpful Exam Time Study Tools and Services
Posted on April 07, 2008As exam time approaches, we would like to remind you about the following helpful study tools and services available from the Law Library. Extended Hours The Law Library will be open the following extended hours during finals. Friday, April 25th and May 2nd 7:00 a...
State Bar of Arizona to Provide Free Legal Research With Fastcase
Posted on April 07, 2008The State Bar of Arizona has announced free access to the Fastcase legal research system as a membership benefit. The State Bar of Arizona is joining other state bars around the country to offer this service. Fastcase includes law from Arizona and all 50 states, as well as federal law, Boolean and natural language search [...
CALI Radio
Posted on April 04, 2008CALI Radio has downloadable podcasts on legal topics by law professors from law schools around the nation. You can download them to your computer or your IPOD. Just think you can listen to law professors while your at the gym or grocery shopping. As exam time approaches you may want to lend an ear to this podcast: Exam [...
CALI Can Help You Study for Exams
Posted on April 04, 2008The CALI Library of Lessons is a collection of over 600 interactive, computer-based lessons covering 32 legal education subject areas. Each lesson focuses on a specific aspect of a legal topic and contains dozens of practice questions. A general lesson on exam writing technique is available at Writing Better Law School Exams...
Spring Break Law Library Hours
Posted on March 04, 2008The Law Library will be open the following hours during spring break for your research and study pleasure. Friday, March 7th - Sunday March 16th Friday, March 7th 7:00am - 5:00pm Saturday, March 8th 8:00am - 5:00pm Sunday March 9th 10:00am - 10:00pm Monday-Thursday 8:00am - 10:00pm Friday, March 14th 8:00am - 5:00pm Saturday, March 15th 8:00am - 5:00pm Sunday, March 16th [...
February 2008 New Acquisitions List
Posted on February 25, 2008February 2008 New Acquisitions List The list of books the law library acquired in February is now available on the Law Library?s website. New titles include: Freedom for the Thought that We Hate: A Biography of the First Amendment by Anthony Lewis Economics of Law Practice in Arizona, 2007: Survey conducted by the Applied Statistics Laboratory State Bar of Arizona
Pet Photo Contest
Posted on February 15, 2008The ASU Student Animal Legal Defense Organization (SALDO) is having a pet photo contest. The deadline is February 17. Here’s the announcement: Got an adorable photo of your pet that everyone should see? Have a pet that is “so ugly, it’s cute?” Want to get your pet’s modeling career started? Bring us a picture of your pet [...
Printing Statutes on LexisNexis
Posted on February 13, 2008Yesterday I wrote about Printing Statutes on Westlaw. Today I will cover how to print, download, or email multiple sections using LexisNexis. LexisNexis gives you more flexibility in printing from its statutory codes. When doing research in a statutory code, it is always a good idea to go to the table of contents to see where [...
Printing Statutes on Westlaw
Posted on February 12, 2008When doing research in a statutory code, such as the U.S. Code or Arizona Revised Statutes, you will frequently want to print, email, or download a range of consecutive sections. Statutory codes divide laws into sections, organized by topic, and a single statutory section rarely stands alone...
Finding Statutes on LexisNexis
Posted on February 05, 2008Yesterday I wrote about Finding Statutes on Westlaw. Today I will cover some of the LexisNexis tools that can make it easier to find the statutes you need. LexisNexis segments Use the HEADING segment to search just the number and name of the topic under which a document has been organized...
Finding Statutes on Westlaw
Posted on February 04, 2008Trying to find statutes in a full-text database can be frustrating, but Westlaw and LexisNexis have a number of tools to help you find what you need. Today I will show you some of Westlaw’s tools. Tomorrow I will cover LexisNexis. Westlaw fields Use the caption field (CA) to search just the section number and [...
Candy Sue Is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on February 04, 2008This week’s Law Dog is Candy Sue, who has been a member of my family for almost four years. Last weekend Candy passed her Canine Good Citizen test. When reached for comment, Candy had this to say. Submit your ?Law Pet of the Week? photos.
Arizona traffic cameras
Posted on February 01, 2008The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has issued its latest Status Report, dated January 31, 2008 with a special issue dedicated to speed. Inside there is a report on the findings of a study on whether traffic cameras have contributed to the decrease in speeds along Arizona highways especially the Loop 101...
We LOVE HeinOnline!
Posted on January 23, 2008HeinOnline provides electronic access to many publications that are frequently used by legal researchers, and its page-image format combines the benefits of print and electronic formats. Publications include law journals, Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations, U...
Arizona Legislature Public Web Access
Posted on January 22, 2008Did you know the Arizona Legislature Web site allows you to view live and archived committee meetings and floor sessions within 24 hours? Computer users have been able to view live proceedings since the late 1990s. But for the first time, the web site will feature an archive of all proceedings...
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Posted on January 16, 2008Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorating the birthday and life of Dr. King born in Atlanta, Georgia, January 15th, 1929. He would have celebrated his 79th birthday this week. In memory of Dr. King and the impact he made on the world visit the websites below...
Wylee and Haylee Are Law Pets of the Week
Posted on January 16, 2008This week’s Law Cat is Wylee, who belongs to first-year law student Callie Parkinson. Wylee is shown here helping Callie study for finals. In the second photo, Wylee is joined by Callie’s dog, Haylee. See more pictures of Wylee and Haylee here, here, and here...
Become a Better Writer
Posted on January 15, 2008If you would like to improve your writing, here are some easy ways to get started: 1. Read ?How to Write: A Memorandum from a Curmudgeon,? chapter 1 of The Curmudgeon?s Guide to Practicing Law, by Mark Herrmann. 2. Check out CALI lessons on legal writing...
Fundamentals of Legal Research Workshop Series
Posted on January 14, 2008Do you need to improve your legal research skills? If so, we’d like to help. We’re offering all ASU law students (MLS and LLM students too!) the opportunity to participate in our Fundamentals of Legal Research workshop series. A bonus ? the workshops are free! Would you like to boast to your future employer that you [...
The Arizona State Legislature
Posted on January 14, 2008As well as all the ASU students returning for second semester, the Arizona Legislature returns for the start of the second session of the forty-eighth legislature today. Included on the legislature?s website is information about the Senate, the House, bills, committees, the Administrative Code and the Arizona Revised Statutes...
Law Library Essentials for Law Students
Posted on January 10, 2008The Law Library staff welcomes you to spring semester. We hope you had a fun and relaxing break. To help you get back into the swing of things we have created a web page of Law Library Essentials. This page contains information about hours, study rooms, online exams and much more to help you make the most of your Law [...
Yikes! I got my grades, what do I do now?
Posted on January 10, 2008For some guidance on how to make your second semester of law school more successful, take time to read the following articles. Learning from Experience: How to Interpret Your Exam Results and Plan Ahead from the Chicago-Kent College of Law Academic Support Program How to Change Second Semester: Reviewing Exams and Other Hints for Success from the St...
New Law Library Reserved Carrel Service
Posted on January 10, 2008The Law Library is pleased to offer our new reserved carrel service to MLS & LLM students, 2Ls & 3Ls engaged in research projects, and faculty research assistants. The link below will take you to the reserved carrel web site which outlines the reserved carrel policies and procedures...
Puppies Are Law Dogs of the Week
Posted on January 03, 2008Our first law dogs of the new year are these Siberian husky puppies born Dec. 18 at Orion Eckstrom’s home. Orion is a Technology Support Analyst Associate for the law school. Click on the picture above to see a larger version. See more puppy pictures here, here, here, here, and here...
New Year?s Resolutions?not again!
Posted on December 21, 2007The web is loaded with sites on new year’s resolutions. There are websites and articles that describe how anywhere from 70 to 90% of people who make resolutions break their resolve within a few weeks of January 1st! The fed has come up with some help...
Lily is Law Dog of the Week
Posted on December 20, 2007This week’s Law Dog of the Week was submitted by reference librarian Amy Levine, who says: This is Lily-pie Rose Levine aka The Queen of England. This photo shows her in her usual stance — protecting the palace from lizards. She is devoted to the cause of chasing and abusing the errant lizard that dares to [...
October/November 2007 New Acquisitions List
Posted on December 13, 2007The lists of books the law library acquired in October and November are now available on the Law Library’s website. New titles include: Bordering on Madness: An American Land Use Tale by Andrew F. Popper It’s Harder in Heels: Essays by Women Lawyers Achieving Work-Life Balance The Little Green Book of Golf Law: The Real Rules of the Game of [...
On a not so merry but important note?
Posted on December 13, 2007Peter Lattman posts an interesting question on the Wall Street Journal Law Blog today. He asks “Why are So Many Lawyers Depressed?”. In previous related posts on the WLJ Blog the questions “Are Lawyers Emotional Wrecks? and “Are Law Students Emotional Wrecks?” have been discussed...
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Is it libel to write blog posts and/or online reviews about a local business that defames one's reputation?
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