Picture source

Hello everyone! You're almost done with the semester! You can do it! Get through these last few weeks and then enjoy the holidays!

The Law Library has several changes to our hours in the next few weeks, so here's an update:

As always, be sure to check our website for the most current hours!

Could this be the future of the book? An interactive enviroment with touch screen computers? Would these be helpful with studying or writing scholarly articles? Would these be helpful with sharing ideas and networking? What are the copyright/intellectual property implications? Oh the pondering... Happy Wednesday!

The Future of the Book. from IDEO on Vimeo.

Picture source: AudioCaseFiles & CALI

This week your friendly librarians will be at the Knowledge Bars in Building D and on the 3rd floor of the tower, available to show you how to register for AudioCaseFiles and CALI.

AudioCaseFiles is a service that provides legal multimedia, and is now part of the Courtroom View Network (CVN) Law School portal. You can listen to your assigned cases with audio opinions from AudioCaseFiles and view trial advocacy training clips from the Video Training Library (VTL). Make sure to create your free account using your law school provided email address in order to get unlimited access to the audio and video content.

Students can use AudioCaseFiles to search for audio opinions by course subject or by their casebook title, download MP3 files of their assigned cases and learn on the go! Also, students can visit the VTL for specific clips of attorneys executing litigation techniques and skills. Watch and learn how to effectively deliver your opening statement with PowerPoints or to see how to cross examine a hostile witness.

Here’s how to register for AudioCaseFiles:

1.     Go to http://lawschool.courtroomview.com/register

2.     Choose our school in the drop down menu and then complete the registration form. You must use your law school email address!

3.     You will receive a verification email. Click the link to complete the registration.

The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit consortium of law schools that researches and develops computer-mediated legal instruction and supports institutions and individuals using technology and distance learning in legal education. Basically CALI provides lessons to help you study specific topics.  

We recommend the CALI lesson on Plagiarism, especially after reading this article from the ABA Journal. For 1Ls specifically, we’d recommend the 1L- First Year Lesson Topics list. This list can give you a good starting point of CALI lessons relevant for your first year.    

Here’s how to register for CALI:

1.     Go to http://www.cali.org/user/register

2.     Follow the steps for filling out the form. Please use your law school email address!

3.     Enter the authorization code provided to you at orientation. If you do not have this code, please call the Law Library reference desk at (602) 682-6898 to obtain the code. CALI is only for current students and faculty.

Be sure to check out these invaluable resources to help with your studies! And as always, contact the Law Library if you have any questions!

The latest edition of The Bluebook has arrived to the course reserves collection in the library! This edition is different from the 18th edition in three main ways. First, the Bluepages, which are frequently used by practitioners and law clerks, have been greatly expanded. Second, a number of rules found in the white pages have been revamped. For example, the biggest change is Rule 18 which gives guidance to citing internet sources. Lastly, the tables have been revised and updated. View the Preface to the Nineteenth Edition here.

There are seven copies of the new edition on reserve and they circulate for 2 hours.

Happy Bluebooking!

Picture source: MorgueFile

Often we struggle with focusing on a single task... which could be any number of things, including studying!

The New York Times recently had an article about people who are hooked on gadgets and technology. In addition to the article were two quick and revealing interactive tests to determine your focus and task juggling ability. These tests are part of the NY Times technology series, "This is Your Brain on Gadgets" from The Learning Network Blog.

Click here to test your focus.

Click here to test how fast you juggle tasks.

Another good tip for studying or to get back on focus with any task is to take a 15 minute walk. A study of students shows that activity breaks improve concentration. Do some jumping jacks while you read this post from the Scholastic Administrator blog.

Picture source: MorgueFile