Friday, September 28, 2007

Non-legal research starting point

Academic Search Premier is a great site for starting your non-legal research. This is available through the Axinn Library Research Databases. There is so much here you cannot help but find something useful . . . or even fun!

For more detail on how to find great research databases, attend the 21st Century workshop - Paper Writing Research next Monday and Thursday. See Tuesday's post for details.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Thursday, September 27, 2007

A Quick Way To Decipher Legal Abbreviations

Do you have your notebook computer handy, and need quickly to check the meaning of a legal abbreviation? Then point your browser to the Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations. Simply type the abbreviation into the box, click "search", and the Index will offer you the following information: The preferred abbreviation, any alternative abbreviations, the full title that the abbreviation represents, and the jurisdiction of the country of the publication. Perhaps best of all, the Cardiff Index of Legal Abbreviations covers the legal publications of all countries, so it is very useful for deciphering foreign abbreviations.




Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

After the JD: Women in the Law

Just released last month is a report that sheds new light on the early careers, aspirations, and experiences of women entering the legal profession in the last few years. Women in the Profession: Findings from the First Wave of the After the JD Study, was published by NALP, the Association for Legal Career Professionals, and is available on their web site. Only one of several planned "after the JD monographs," it is based on data gathered from a representative sample of 4500 lawyers (both men and women) who were first admitted to the practice of law in 2000. This group was surveyed in 2002-2003 about their career choices, salaries, law school and workplace experiences, and their job satisfaction. They will be recontacted this year and in 2011 as part of a landmark longitudinal study by interdisciplinary scholars. Check out the NALP site for trends, statistics, and reliable current information about making a career in the law.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

21st Century Library: Paper Writing Research

Are you taking a paper course this semester or writing a note for a journal? If you already have chosen a topic, would you like some help gathering resources? If so, please attend the library's upcoming workshop exploring databases we have available both in the law school and via Axinn, the university's main library. There are many high quality resources available to you which you may not know about!! This workshop will introduce you to many of them, as well as touch upon the many "law and"-type resources available through Lexis and Westlaw.

Monday, Oct. 1st 10:10 am-11am; and

Thursday, Oct. 4th 3:10 pm-4pm

Lower Level Computer Lab. No sign up necessary, just come!







Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Monday, September 24, 2007

HeinOnline's new blog

Would you like to read the latest news about HeinOnline? Do you need research tips for HeinOnline resources? Then take a look at HeinOnline’s new blog. Hein says:

"This blog will offer insight to our newest products, notify customers of our latest interface enhancements, and share tips to help improve customers research experience."

Although the blog doesn’t have that much content yet, let’s hope that we can look to it in the future for all the latest in HeinOnline news.




Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Congresspedia

"Congresspedia is a collaboratively written 'citizens' encyclopedia on Congress,' designed to shine more light on the workings of the U.S. Congress." This is a wiki, which means that the information contained on Congresspedia should not necessarily be assumed to be 100% accurate. It is, however, free, and a good quick source for recent congressional news, including a preview of upcoming hearings, as well as short biographies of members of the U.S. House and Senate, including their committee assignments and fundraising statistics.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat