Legal Website: Above the Law

If you are looking for legal news that goes beyond the dry and basic, Above the Law is the site for you. The site takes a look at current legal issues, institutions, and personalities from a behind-the-scenes point of view. Interesting topics include “Lawsuit of the Day,” “Bonuses” (which details what certain law firms are paying…or who they are laying off), and an entire section dedicated to law schools specifically.  The site also has a career center to help you no matter what stage you are in your legal profession, from pre-law to post graduation, as well as a page for job listings. 

http://abovethelaw.com/ 

Legal Website: Texas Young Lawyers Association

Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) is an organization that new attorneys in the state of Texas should look into joining.  One portion of their website that might be of interest while you are still a student is the Resources for Students.  This section includes scholarships, helpful articles, online booklets, and videos to not only get you through law school but help you transition into passing the bar and practicing law. 

http://www.tyla.org/

Legal Website: Texas State Bar Resources for New Lawyers

This is the time of year 3L law students start thinking about graduation, taking the bar, and finally becoming an attorney.  The Texas State Bar has an entire section of  its site dedicated to resources for lawyers. One section that will be of interest to new graduates  is the page of Resources for New Lawyers.  This page includes important compliance information new lawyers should be aware of as well as resources to help you out in whatever legal direction you choose to take--even if that direction is not in the field of law! 

Legal Website: Virtual Chase (via Justicia)

Virtual Chase is a product of Justicia specifically geared towards those in the profession of law librarianship and those interested in preforming legal research.  On this site you will find access to blogs, tweets, listservs and other resources created by and for law librarians.  Virtual Chase also links to a number of online resources for researching government, business, law, or general information. 

“WWNS?” or How Would Nina Totenberg Write an Answer to a Law Exam Question?

Jessica R. Alexander, J.D., M.L.S., Reference Librarian

I have been listening to Nina Totenberg’s National Public Radio analysis of Supreme Court arguments and outcomes for many years. I still remember exactly where I was when she broke the news on the Justice Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill controversey.  I marvel at how she has developed the extraordinary analytical skills applied to her broadcast segments and written analysis of complex issues before the Supreme Court. Law students preparing for exams might ask themselves the question? “WWNS?” Let’s examine her analysis over the years of cases before the Supreme Court involving first year and second year courses – family, constitutional, contracts, civil and criminal procedure, property, and torts. In order to research the cases to choose from, I utilized our Bloomberg database, BNA's US Law Week.  For in-depth analysis of lower federal courts and the Supreme Court, US Law Week is the go-to source. US Law Week is also a source for analysis and briefing of cases and issues that come before the lower federal courts as well as the Supreme Court. (While Bloomberg is available only to students, faculty and staff, access to United States Law Week is available to visitors.)

For examples, listen to these segments:

Civil Procedure –AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion,584 F.3d 849(2011 “Supreme Court Imposes Limits on Class Actions” Broadcast April 28, 2011 http://www.npr.org/2011/04/28/135785797/supreme-court-imposes-limits-on-class-actions

Case Opinion at Supreme Court - http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-893.pdf

Constitutional  – Arizona v. United States, 641 F.3d 249, 79 USLW 4279 (2012)
“Controversial Arizona Law Reaches Supreme Court,” Broadcast April 15, 2012 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/25/151281643/controversial-arizona-law-reaches-supreme-court
Case Opinion at Supreme Court - http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-182.pdf

Contracts – General Dynamics Corp. v. United States, 567 F. 3d 1340 (2011)
“Supreme Court Weighs Military Contract Dispute,” – Broadcast January 19, 2011
http://www.npr.org/2011/01/19/133035027/supreme-court-weighs-military-contract-dispute

Case Opinion at Supreme Court website: - http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-1298.pdf

Criminal Law and  Procedure – Missouri v. Frye, 133 S.Ct. 1399 (2012) “Supreme Court Rules on Plea Bargain Rights,” Broadcast March 22, 2012 http://www.npr.org/2012/03/22/149126033/supreme-court-rules-on-plea-bargain-rights
Case Opinion at Supreme Court http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/10-444.pdf

this case was just decided by the Supreme Court April 18y: Missouri v. McNeely, summary of opinion by Nina Totenberg Broadcast April 13, 2013 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/17/177666177/supreme-court-backs-warrants-for-blood-tests-in-dui-cases "Can Police Force Drunken Driving Suspects to Take Blood Test?” transcript January 9, 2013
Case Opinion at Supreme Court http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/11-1425_cb8e.pdf
written analysis of case during oral arbuments at
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/jan/09/can-police-force-drunken-driving-suspects-take-blo/

Family –Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, No. 12-399, “Emotions Run High as Supreme Court Hears Adoption Case,” Broadcast April 16, 2013http://www.npr.org/2013/04/16/177507503/supreme-court-case-tests-indian-child-welfare-act
Supreme Court docket, etc. at http://www.supremecourt.gov/Search.aspx?FileName=/docketfiles/12-399.htm

Torts – Millbrook v. United States, No. 10362, 477 Fed. Appx. 4‘Prisoner's Handwritten Petition Prompts Justices to Weigh Government Immunity,” Broadcast, February 19, 2013http://www.npr.org/2013/02/19/172103940/prisoners-handwritten-petition-prompts-justices-to-weigh-government-immunity
Case Opinion at Supreme Court http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/11-10362_2d9g.pdf

 Property - Lozeman v. City of  Riviera Beach, Florida, No. 11-626 “Supreme Court: Floating Home Still A Man's Castle,” Broadcast January 15, 2013
http://www.npr.org/2013/01/15/169452244/supreme-court-rules-that-houseboats-are-houses-not-boats
Case Opinion at Supreme Court http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/11-626_p8k0.pdf

Legal Website: Justicia

Justicia provides a wealth of legal information for both the lay person and attorneys.  Portions of the website are dedicated to information on a variety of specific areas of law including an overview, definitions, and web resources for the non-lawyer. The site also provides state, federal and (limited) international primary law.  One of the most helpful features of the website is the ability to ask legal questions directly to attorneys in specific areas of law. 

http://www.justia.com/

New Library Policy: 4th & 5th Floors of the Fred Parks Law Library Now "Ultra Quiet"

Starting April 1, 2013 the 4th and 5th floors of the Fred Parks Law Library will be designated as "Ultra Quiet" throughout the entire year.  This means that cell phones, pagers, and conversations are forbidden in  the study rooms, the book stacks, and at all the carrels and tables on these floors. The library asks that all noise and conversations be taken to another floor or into the stairwells. Exceptions to this rule will be made for class tours and reference assistance.