Happy Holidays!

The library will be closed December 22  through January 1 and will re-open on January 2. 

The law library staff wishes everyone a safe, restful and restorative holiday break!

The Library is Changing

Starting with this school year, the library will be using more electronic resources and phasing out duplicate materials in print.   Electronic access has so many advantages (easy to search, can access any time) that keeping a print duplicate is becoming our VHS tape.

What does this really mean?

1. We will be removing materials from the library shelves.  Anything that would need updates (i.e. pocket parts) is a liability when we end an update subscription.  You might see library staff filling up big carts and taking the books away.  Don't worry, we'll try not to disturb your studying.
2. If you need to find something the library catalog is your best tool.   Westlaw is not our only resource.   If we removed a print option you should be able to find the electronic version through CLICnet.    Ask a Reference Librarian for help if you need it.
3. Some key materials, although they are available in electronic format, are still available in the library.  We want you to learn how to use digests, reporters, and other reference materials in more than one format.  At least for now, you may still end up in a job with an organization that can't afford the same comprehensive access to online legal materials.   Unfortunately not everything is online, and legal materials are rarely free.
4. The library will still be a great place to study, meet with friends and get help with assignments.

Keep an eye on the library web site for information about using our electronic resources and contact us if you need assistance.

Law School Exams

Exams are looming on the horizon. No need to panic--the law library has your back! Here are some ways we can help:

Looking at essay exams that your professors have given in the past is a great way to get prepared for the day it is just you and your Blue book (or Exam Soft)! Taking a professor’s prior exam is a great way to time yourself to be sure you don’t run short of time during the upcoming exam. Taking the time to be sure you have answered the questions completely is also a good way to review for an exam.  You can find exams online on the Hamline Law Library web site.  The law library also has print copies of exams from 1978 – 2001 in the Reference Section of the library; KF 292.H35 A24. Ask a librarian if you need help locating them.

There are plenty of books that will give you tips and pointers on how to excel at exam taking. Find them by going to the law library home page and entering the key words “law school exams.” You may limit your search to books found in the Hamline Law Library.

Don’t forget that law students can reserve study rooms—a great way to get your study group together for those review sessions! Check at the Circulation desk for sign-up sheet and eligibility requirements. Food and drink are allowed in the study rooms—if you bring in food, we ask that you be considerate of the people using the study room after you. If there is a spill, let someone on the library staff know so we can have it cleaned up. Thanks!

During the exam period, the law library provides you with extended study hours. This semester we will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 2 a.m., December 2 - 16 for your studying convenience.

Good luck with your studies. If you have any questions, feel free to ask a librarian!

Check Out New Books

Come to the law library to check out these new books that have been added to the collection.

Cases and materials on trade secret law / by Elizabeth A. Rowe, Sharon K. Sandeen.              KF3197 .R69 2012 

From Amazon: "The general organization of the casebook follows a logical analytical approach to understanding trade secret law, with the chapters progressing from proving the essential elements of a trade secret claim to defensive tactics and remedies, managing trade secrets, and criminal actions. It also addresses employment, management, and international issues."

The end of the pipeline : a journey of recognition for African Americans entering the legal profession / Dorothy H. Evensen                                                                                                KF299.A35 E94 2012  

From Amazon: "

This book had its beginnings in a simple question: How have some African-American attorneys, recently admitted to the bar, successfully navigated what research suggests is a very precarious pipeline to the legal profession? The response to this question entailed a journey that spanned some three years, over fifty informants, and a dozen or so researchers and scholars who study the intersections of education, race, and efforts to achieve social equity. The resulting work generalizes from the stories collected and constructs a substantive theory of success built around a phenomenon called ''working recognition.'' This concept describes both the recognition experienced in various forms by our study's participants and the recognition they transformed into strategic activities aimed at overcoming academic, economic, and social obstacles encountered in their personal pipelines. We found that it was through such activity that they ultimately attained recognition as lawyers and entered the profession of law. As a way of situating the study within scholarship in higher and legal education, the book further presents essays from noted scholars who respond to the study's thematic findings comparing and contrasting them to related research and practices. Finally, we consider the policy implications that derive from our extant project, particularly policies that relate to future pipeline interventions."

 

 The science of persuasion : a litigator's guide to juror decision-making                        KF8972 .B73 2011   

 

From Amazon: "

This is your guide to the way jurors make decisions, and how you can use that knowledge to convince them that your story of a case is the correct version. The author--who holds a Ph.D in psychology, for which he researched persuasion and juror decision-making--walks you though every stage of the trial and offers information on what jurors are thinking when, and how to influence them in the most effective ways."

 

Film and multimedia and  law.                                                                                                                 KF4298 .A15 H69 2012

 

From West: "This work provides a detailed legal guide for lawyers and non-lawyers encompassing legal issues surrounding filmmaking. It covers copyright, trademark, and all other intellectual property issues that may be encountered, such as legal issues surrounding scriptwriting, idea submission, defamation, right to privacy/publicity, and fair use in copyright. It explains the complex legal principles and illustrates them with compelling legal decisions that are illustrative and entertaining to read. Over 1,000 case citations are included. It also discusses the practical limitations imposed by intellectual property."

 

 

Weekend 1Ls can WIN!

...a $5 Starbucks card for answering the following two-part question from yesterday's lecture:

The secondary source you would consult if you were looking for an article about a "cutting edge" legal issue is.........? What is one way you could find such an article..........?

Send your answer by email to bkallusky01@hamline.edu by 5 p.m. on Monday, October 1. Include your name!

Did You Know...Legal Encyclopedias.....

are a great place to start your research? They can give you broad information about a legal topic you are researching and point you to leading cases in that area of law.

OK. This is a test. The first weekday 1L who emails me after 3 p.m. on Monday September 24 but before 9 a.m. September 25 with the correct answer to the question, "When using an encyclopedia, what part of the set do you consult first?" will win a $5 Starbucks gift card. Email your answer to bkallusky01@hamline.edu  along with your name, LRW section letter and name of your Professor. Good luck!

Check Out These New Books in the Library

Check out these books that have been recently added to the law library's collection. 

Cases and materials on trade secret law by Elizabeth A. Rowe, and Hamline Law School Professor Sharon K. Sandeen.                                                                KF3197 .R69 2012

From Amazon:

This, the first casebook in the United States devoted exclusively to trade secret law, is challenging yet user-friendly to students in order to facilitate their reading and understanding of the material. This casebook is designed to be used by law students (and business students) with no prior background in intellectual property law. The authors have made conscious and thoughtful decisions about the way in which the information throughout the casebook is presented and organized. The general organization of the casebook follows a logical analytical approach to understanding trade secret law, with the chapters progressing from proving the essential elements of a trade secret claim to defensive tactics and remedies, managing trade secrets, and criminal actions. It also addresses employment, management, and international issues.

 

The art & science of trial advocacy by  L. Timothy Perrin     KF8915 .P474 2011

From Amazon: 
The Art and Science of Trial Advocacy, Second Edition guides the reader through the trial process, suggesting techniques and strategies for each stage of the trial process - pretrial, trial, and post-trial motions; jury selection; opening statements; direct and cross-examination; and closing arguments. Included are illustrative transcripts explaining how to use the various techniques in an actual case, detailed guidance on the effective use of expert witnesses, and practical direction on the incorporation of exhibits and demonstrative evidence into case presentations. The book discusses basic principles of effective communication and persuasion, including the importance of the advocate's credibility and examples of how to develop case presentations that maximize the persuasive impact on judges and juries. The appendix includes the Federal Rules of Evidence.
Additionally, the new Second Edition:
• Recognizes how the rapid development of technology and its use in the courtroom has changed the way trials are conducted and the way lawyers present evidence and argue to the jury.
• Discusses the use of technology in the courtroom.
• Includes materials describing the technology now available to trial lawyers as they prepare and present evidence; and
• Provides "Tech Tips" on how technology might be used to enhance advocacy at various points of the trial.
Also included with the Second Edition are on-line resources to assist the aspiring

Comprehensive law practice : law as a healing profession by Susan Swaim Daicoff.                                                                                       KF9084 .D35 2011 

From Amazon: 

Since about 1990, disciplines have emerged in every substantive area of the law to transform law into a positive force in the lives of those it touches. These disciplines converge in the ''comprehensive law movement.'' Comprehensive Law Practice overviews the entire movement and provides training materials for lawyers, judges, mediators, and law students who want to be at the forefront of practicing law in these new forms.