Wednesday, January 4, 2012

FREE eBooks available for download from CALI

One of the books available is Civil Procedure by our own Professor Doug McFarland. There are others that are equally useful to Hamline students. Check them out!

Go to elangdell.cali.org to download new, free books for Civil Procedure, Bankruptcy, Securities, and Legal Citation in addition to the new 2012 versions of the Federal Rules of Evidence, Civil Procedure, and Criminal Procedure.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Check out these new books at the library

Check out some of the new books in the library. They can be found on the New Books shelves located by the copier on the main floor of the library.

Acting skills for lawyers / Laura Mathis KF8915 .M374 2011

For the lawyer, research and written communications are only half the battle. In this innovative book you’ll learn how to develop and use stage presence, use an actors voice and gestures, develop characters for different audiences, deliver effective speeches, adopt the role of talk-show host for depositions, improvise in unprepared situations, be the acting coach for your witness, use monologue skills in your closing arguments, and even take the perfect professional photo! Amazon

Anatomy of a trial : a handbook for young lawyers / by Paul Mark Sandler KF8915 .S24 2011

Anatomy of a Trial examines the key phases of jury trials (voir dire, opening statements, direct and cross-examination, and closing arguments) in the context of two particular cases, one criminal and the other civil. The criminal case involves highly complex subjects and law, and examines simplification and storytelling for the jury. The civil case illustrates the credibility of witnesses, and also showcases the critical importance of experts in trials of a technical nature. Amazon

Annotated model rules of professional conduct KF305.A44 A2 2011

The Annotated Model Rules of Professional Conduct is ABA's definitive resource for information about lawyer ethics. Each chapter includes a Rule and its Comment, a detailed discussion of the Rule's meaning, application and interpretation, with citations to more than 4,000 cases and ethics opinions, hundreds of law review articles, and the relevant sections of the Restatement (Third) of the Law Governing Lawyers. The information is carefully organized under numerous subheadings, making it easy to find specific information. Amazon

Basic legal research : tools and strategies / Amy E. Sloan KF240 .S66 2009 AT CIRC DESK

Basic Legal Research: Tools and Strategies, leads the field with:
• accessible, clear, step-by-step instruction on the basics of legal research
• a building-block approach that breaks the material into discrete, easily digested parts
• self-contained chapters on research sources that can easily adapt to a variety of teaching objectives
• organization within each chapter that allows professors to choose how much emphasis to place on print and electronic research
• helpful end-of-chapter checklists, clear examples, and summary charts that support comprehension and memory
• sample pages and examples of research sources throughout
• a preview of what students will encounter in practice Amazon

Job quest for lawyers : the essential guide to finding and landing the job you want / Sheila Nielsen KF297 .N54 2011

This book provides step-by-step guidance that finally makes networking inspiring instead of a chore. The "quest" motif applies to each stage of the job search. The book demystifies networking by including illustrations from the author's own experiences and from the stories of her clients that provide examples of the real world do's and don'ts of how to conduct a productive job search. Amazon

The last murder : the investigation, prosecution, and execution of Ted Bundy / George R. Dekle, Sr. HV6789 .D395 2011

The Last Murder: The Investigation, Prosecution, and Execution of Ted Bundy follows the facts and circumstances of Kim Leach's disappearance and the investigation and prosecution of Ted Bundy in rough chronological order, from Bundy's escape from a Colorado jail in 1977 to his execution at Florida State Prison in 1989. It provides an inside look at the intricacies and complications of this historic case that spanned many states and jurisdictions, documenting how unselfishness and dogged determination were key to solving the case. The story is told from the vantage point of one intimately involved in both the investigation and prosecution of the criminal, clearly showing how friction between agencies can impede the investigation and how cooperation can expedite a solution. The book emphasizes the important role played by circumstantial evidence and forensic science, explores the impact of pervasive publicity upon such an investigation, critiques the investigation and prosecution of Bundy, and offers suggestions on how—and how not—to deal with "celebrity killers" in the future. Amazon

Should you really be a lawyer? : the guide to smart career choices before, during & after law school / Deborah Schneider and Gary Belsky KF297 .S36 2010 AT CIRC DESK

Are you making the right decision to get into--or remain--in law? Whether you're a prospective law student, a current law student, or even a practicing lawyer, the decision to enter--or remain--in law ranks among the biggest career decisions you'll ever make. From the latest research on decision-making, authors Deborah Schneider and Gary Belsky have written a unique career-building guide that will help you evaluate and answer the most basic question facing you now: Should you really be a lawyer? Amazon

Writing shorter legal documents : strategies for faster and better editing / Sandra J. Oster KF250 .O848 2011

When you're on a deadline with the court and are over the maximum word count in your document, this book provides the fast, easy editing tricks you'll need. It’s a concise, practical handbook that explains how to quickly reduce the length of your legal documents. It's a collection of advice written to keep you within grammatical and court rules, for both length and construction, while preserving and even clarifying your argument Amazon

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Take a break already!

Finals have started and tension levels are high. While the free coffee and cookies offered by the library are keeping you awake and buzzing with energy, we librarians want to help with your stress levels too!

Even though you can't check out a therapy dog like the students at some other law school libraries, you can check out these sites to help you relax and destress in minutes!

Soothe Yourself with Sound
Rainy Mood: The website provides sounds of heavy rain, thunder, and chirping birds.
Relaxing Nature: Listen to Birds & Forest, Water & Waves, Rain, and Night.
GetRelaxed: Reduce your stress levels with a combination of tranquil sounds with visually appealing images.

Loosen Up with Laughter
Huffington Post Comedy: Specializing in "can't miss" comedy videos from Conan, Jimmy Fallon, SNL, The Daily Show, and the Colbert Report.
The Daily What: A fantastic aggregator of the best of the web.
Know Your Meme: A site dedicated to cataloging hilarious Internet content gems.
Unshelved: For your inner library geek - you know you have one!

Calm Down with Cuteness
Too Cute: Videos of three adorable litters of puppies and kittens.
Cute Overload: Get your daily dose of delightful

Do Nothing Delight
Do Nothing for 2 Minutes: This website is the ultimate challenge. Don't do anything for two minutes - don't check your email, Facebook, or even move your mouse. Just enjoy the relaxing sounds of the ocean. It's harder than you might think.

Catharsis
Devastating Explosions: The title says it all.

Studying for finals is important, but keep your sanity and take some time for you!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Need an article? Use "Journals @ Hamline"

You want to find an article and you have the citation - where do you look first?  It's very tempting to start with Westlaw, or even Lexis, but there is a simpler solution.

The Law Library has included all of the journals from major legal databases like Westlaw, Lexis, and HeinOnline in the "Journals @ Hamline" tool.  There are also many journals that we have electronic access to, due to a print subscription, whose links are included as well.   Basically everything that you can access as a Hamline student is available through this powerful tool.

To get started, go to our library home page and click on Journals @ Hamline in the Research box.




Search for the journal name.   Consider this citation:
Dan L. Burk & Julie E. Cohen, Fair Use Infrastructure for Rights Management Systems, 15 Harv. J.L. & Tech. 41 (2001)

Sometimes it is difficult to ascertain the name of the journal.   In this case, you can use the option to search for all words in the title (but not necessarily the exact title).

After clicking search, you will see the possible journals and where to access them. In this case, a single journal was found with my access options:

Since our citation is from 2001, we have many options.  If I wanted a PDF version of the article, to see it as though it was from the printed journal, I would pick the HeinOnline link.   You may also wish to access the article in Westlaw, Lexis and a few other platforms.  
If you still need help finding your article, check with a Librarian or put in a request via Interlibrary Loan.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Law School Nightmare

The freight train’s whistle blasts out of the darkness, jerking you away from your mental recitation of IRAC for your upcoming Civ Pro exam. You quickly glance behind you to see the train bearing down on you, rapidly closing the space between you and it; the vibration of the tracks from the thundering engines turns your legs to rubber. You run. Your heart races. Can you get off the trestle in time? Will you be forced to jump into the dark raging river beneath? Can you swim with your backpack full of law books? Will the suit you bought for your moot court appearance be ruined? Did you assume the risk? As the train whistle blares and you feel the heat of the engines on your back you take a step off the trestle. The weight of your backpack sends you headlong into the water and you...wake up! A nightmare. Ah, final exam season!

Don’t worry, the law library can help you ease the stress and be well prepared for exams. Here’s what can help:

Exam archive: The library has an archive of old exams. Hard copy exams from 1978 – 2002 are found in the reference collection on the first floor of the library (KF 292 .H35A24). Exams since 2002 are online. You can access the electronic archive through the Hamline Law Library’s website at lawlibrary.hamline.edu/ or http://lawlibrary.hamline.edu/content.php?pid=60281&sid=447196

Study aids: On reserve you will find study aids for almost any law school subject. In addition to books we have Sum and Substance CDs of all the major subject areas. Check at the Circulation Desk, or look for a specific Sum and Substance in CLICnet.

Study rooms: Reserve a study room at the Circulation Desk. Study rooms have a two hour limit on them. Check with Selva if you have any questions.

Late hours: Starting December 7 and continuing through December 20, the law library will be open until 2 a.m.

Coffee Cart: The law library staff provides free coffee and treats from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from Noon – 5 on Sundays during the final exam period (Dec. 7 – 20).

General peace and quiet: During finals, you can find a quiet space to study without too much trouble. Remember, the second floor of the library is a designated Quiet Zone—no talking, no cell phone use, no noise. On the first floor of the library, we ask that you be thoughtful of your fellow students and keep your conversations quiet and your cell phones turned off.


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Check out these new books

Come to the library and check out these and other new books that have been added to our collection:
Acting skills for lawyers / Laura Mathis. New Book Area KF8915 .M374 2011
“For the lawyer, research and written communications are only half the battle. In this innovative book you’ll learn how to develop and use stage presence, use an actor’s voice and gestures, develop different characters for different audiences, deliver effective speeches, adopt the role of talk-show host for depositions, improvise in unprepared situations, incorporate the skills of great storytellers, be the acting coach for your witness, use monologue skills in your closing arguments, and even take the perfect professional photo!” – publishers description
Job quest for lawyers : the essential guide to finding and landing the job you want / Sheila Nielsen. New Book Area KF297 .N54 2011
“Job Quest for Lawyers provides step-by-step guidance that finally makes networking inspiring instead of a chore. The "quest" motif applies to each stage of the job search, and is used to help readers understand how to create a positive and effective networking experience. The book demystifies networking by including illustrations from the author's own experiences and from the stories of her clients that provide examples of the real world do's and don'ts of how to conduct a productive job search. Unlike so many other career books, Job Quest for Lawyers is a process-focused book that is eminently applicable to attorneys at all phases of their careers, from new graduates to senior lawyers. Lawyers at all stages of practice will benefit from reading this book.” – publishers description
The lawyer-judge bias in the American legal system / Benjamin H. Barton. New Book Area KF8776 .B37 2011
“Virtually all American judges are former lawyers. This book argues that these lawyer-judges instinctively favor the legal profession in their decisions and that this bias has far-reaching and deleterious effects on American law. There are many reasons for this bias, some obvious and some subtle. Fundamentally, it occurs because - regardless of political affiliation, race, or gender - every American judge shares a single characteristic: a career as a lawyer. This shared background results in the lawyer-judge bias. The book begins with a theoretical explanation of why judges naturally favor the interests of the legal profession and follows with case law examples from diverse areas, including legal ethics, criminal procedure, constitutional law, torts, evidence, and the business of law. The book closes with a case study of the Enron fiasco, an argument that the lawyer-judge bias has contributed to the overweening complexity of American law, and suggests some possible solutions.” – publishers description
Should you really be a lawyer? : the guide to smart career choices before, during & after law school / Deborah Schneider and Gary Belsky KF297 .S36 2010 Available at Circulation Desk
“Schneider and Belsky's book is the first to help you decide whether to become a lawyer ... or whether to remain one ... and how to find the right career for you.” – publishers description
Writing shorter legal documents : strategies for faster and better editing / Sandra J. Oster New Book Area KF250 .O848 2011
“In a legal document, in accordance with federal, state, and local court rules, every letter and space is important. Writing Shorter Legal Documents is a concise, practical handbook that explains how to quickly, efficiently reduce the length of your legal documents. It's a collection of advice written to keep you within grammatical and court rules, for both length and construction, while preserving and even clarifying your argument.
The author, a lawyer with a Ph.D in linguistics, has divided 35 precise strategies into five chapters:
--An Approach to Shorten Legal Documents
--Revising Terminology
--Revising Lists, Phrases, and Sentences
--Changing the Appearance of Text on the Page
--Cutting Content
When you're on a deadline with the court and are over the maximum word count in your document, this book provides the fast, easy editing tricks you'll need.” – publishers description

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Google’s Getting Fresh with You

On November 3, Google announced an algorithm update that will force more recent (“fresher”) content toward the top of search result lists. According to Google, this change will alter 6 to 10 percent of searches to the extent that an average use will notice the difference. For trending topics, content you see “might only be minutes old.” For recurring events, such as annual conferences, the results for the current or upcoming occurrence of the event should appear at the top of search results. When comparison shopping using Google, you should see results for the latest product models at the top of the list. Possible drawbacks include pushing highly valuable but less frequently updated content downward in the search results list. For example, government, educational and nonprofit websites updated weekly might lose real estate to commercial websites updated much more frequently. However, Google maintains, "This change better determines the level of freshness needed for each query and promotes fresher results accordingly." For more discussion, check the Google Blog or Government Computer News.