Hearsay http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/ News from the Westminster Law Library en-us tbaker@law.du.edu tbaker@law.du.edu Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:50:44 MST Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:50:44 MST 15 copyright (c) 2008 Hearsay BlogFusion 4.0 - www.blogfusion.com Hearsay http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/files/BFlogo.gif http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/ 88 31 News from the Westminster Law Library Foreign & Int'l. Legal Research Specialist http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=78 For those of you who may not have heard, our FCIL Librarian, Sergio Stone, left us to establish the FCIL position at Stanford University’s Law Library. In the meantime, you can direct your foreign, comparative, and international law research questions to Joan Policastri, our Foreign & International Legal Research Specialist. She has scheduled office hours twice a week, is available by appointment, and can answer questions submitted by email. Here are the details…

Foreign and International Law Reference - Fall 2008 Hours and Availability

Rm. 130D
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
And by appointment.
You may also send questions by email.
jpolicastri@law.du.edu
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]]> eshay@law.du.edu (Esti Shay) Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:31:25 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=78#comments 3am-ish reference help http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=49 AskColorado, a 24-7 online reference service.  This service is staffed by Colorado librarians during normal business hours and by a tutoring service at night.  Legal questions beyond their capabilities are forwarded to DU law librarians and may incur a 24-hr delay, so this service is best for brief factual questions and general search assistance.
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]]> eshay@law.du.edu (Esti Shay) Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=49#comments Writing Tip of the Week: Prefer the Active Voice http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=76
  • Passive Voice: The ball was hit by the boy.
  • Active Voice: The boy hit the ball.
Because the reader’s eye naturally seeks out “who did what to whom,” active voice is easier to understand, and it is usually more concise. Use the active voice unless you have a good reason for doing otherwise.  You can spot passive voice in your writing by looking for some form of the verb “to be.” You will also often see the preposition “by.”
  • Passive voice:  It can be determined that the rule is violated by prosecutors when they fail to research adequately. (17 words)
  • Active voice: Prosecutors violate the rule when they fail to research adequately. (10 words)
In some forms of passive voice (“truncated” passive voice), the writer fails to name the actor, so the reader must fill in the blank.
  • Passive voice: Every week, all confidential material was shredded and discarded. (Who shredded and discarded the material?)
  • Active voice: Every week, the company shredded and discarded all confidential material.
For further information on passive voice, see Anne Enquist & Laurel Currie Oates, Just Writing 73-78 (2d ed. 2005).
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]]> writingclinic@law.du.edu (Writing Clinic) Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:29:16 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=76#comments Recycling at DU http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=51 LEED certified building.  Make sure you review the recycling guidelines that were e-mailed to the DU community last month -- everyone has a responsibility to create a sustainable campus.

Just a few of the law school's "green" features:
  • Designed to use 40-percent less energy than a comparable conventional building
  • Each floor has an area to recycle glass, paper and plastics
  • Showers are available for students, faculty and staff who walk or ride their bikes
  • Building materials contain a high percentage of post-consumer recycled materials, including structural steel, copper roof, carpeting and acoustic tiles, resulting in more than 50-percent of all construction wastes being diverted from landfills and recycled
  • Natural groundwater is collected and recycled for landscape irrigation, reducing the building’s use of treated city water. Native plants and special irrigation technology have resulted in result in 70-percent less water used for landscaping
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]]> eshay@law.du.edu (Esti Shay) Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=51#comments What if the law library doesn't have it? http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=52
  1. Prospector - Combined catalog of 23 Colorado and Wyoming libraries, including Penrose Library across the street.
  2. Colorado Supreme Court Library - Downtown at Broadway & E 14th Ave; open to the public.
  3. Worldcat - Worldwide catalog of thousands of libraries; displays a list of the nearest libraries that have the item, whether the nearest library is in Greeley, Utah or London.  If you find it here, fill out an Interlibrary Loan request form.
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]]> eshay@law.du.edu (Esti Shay) Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=52#comments Library Subject Guides http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=75 See online Subject Guides compiled by librarians to assist students with research projects and promote library holdings. A typical subject guide may feature citations and call numbers to legal materials such as treatises, law journals, loose-leaf services, directories, and more. Go to the library's website, and under "Research" on the left frame, click More > Subject Guides . 

Subject guide categories include:
  • Colorado
  • Court Rules and Practice
  • Employment
  • Foreign and International Research
  • Legal Research & Writing
  • Legislative History
  • Loose-leaf Services
  • Other Legal Research Sources
  • Primary Authority (Statutes, Cases & Regulations)
Find paper copies of all subject guides in display spindles on Levels 1 and 3 of the library.
 
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]]> sgreen@law.du.edu (Sheila Green) Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:59:19 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=75#comments CasemakerX http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=64 CasemakerX is a new legal research database for students that includes cases, statutes, court rules, AG opinions, journal articles, etc. It is also a social networking tool which allows you the option to create a profile, post your resume and connect with other students. Many bar associations, including Colorado, provide free access to Casemaker to their members.

To receive your own password, go to the Databases / Indexes section of the Law Library’s homepage and click on CasemakerX. You will be asked to enter your name and BannerID number to verify that you are a DU Law student, faculty or staff member and then you will be given instructions on how to log in and create your profile. You can skip the profile and just use the legal research aspects of the system if that’s what you prefer.


 

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]]> pwelling@law.du.edu (Patty Wellinger) Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=64#comments Practice CD-ROMS now on Reserve http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=72 catalog to see if the CD-ROM has been moved to reserve or reported missing, or ask for assistance at the reference desk.  CD-ROMs may be checked out for 24 hours at a time.
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]]> eshay@law.du.edu (Esti Shay) Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=72#comments Use Plain English http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=73

FROM THE LEGAL WRITING CLINIC

WRITING TIP OF THE WEEK:  USE PLAIN ENGLISH

Beginning legal writers sometimes make the mistake of using “legalese” to make their writing sound more “lawyerly.”  But complex or archaic words and unnecessary Latin phrases only make your writing hard to understand. Use simple, standard English unless you have a good reason for doing otherwise.

  • Example:  At this point in time immediately subsequent to the termination of the aforesaid altercation on the above described premises, the defendant-appellant removed himself from the aforementioned locus and repaired to a situs on the premises immediately adjacent thereto.
  • Translation:  Right after the fight, the defendant went next door.
  • Example:  It behooves us to note that, prior to said accident, said plaintiff was domiciled with his wife.
  • Translation:  Before the accident, the plaintiff lived with his wife. 

Of course, some Latin phrases are terms of art for lawyers.  For more information on plain English, including a list of Latin words and phrases that are generally acceptable in legal writing, see Anne Enquist & Laurel Currie Oates, Just Writing 137-47 (2d ed. 2005).

 

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]]> writingclinic@law.du.edu (Writing Clinic) Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:22:49 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=73#comments Academic Achievement Program - resource database http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=47 Academic Achievement Program (AAP) office has a library of study materials on first year subjects, study skills and how to succeed in law school, located in room 455H.  Search the database of AAP's books, CDs and flashcards, plus similar materials from Westminster Law Library, all available for check-out to DU law students.

New - check out status!
We've added the check-out status to the AAP library items, so now you can see which resources are available right at the moment you find it in the database!
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]]> eshay@law.du.edu (Esti Shay) Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=47#comments CDC Staff Changes http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=60 We were very sorry to say good-bye to Kimberley Cronin who left in May to join the law firm of Messner & Reeves.  We wish her the best of luck and anticipate that she will be back on campus as a participant in one of our job search programs!

New Career Consultant

We are pleased to announce that Hannah Wanebo joined our office in July. Hannah received her B.A. in Chemistry from Colorado College in 1999 and her J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2005. While in law school, Hannah was on the Dean’s List for four consecutive semesters and received the William O. DeSouchet Award for excellence in trial advocacy.

After graduation, Hannah clerked for Judge Daniel C. Hale of the Boulder District Court. The following year, she clerked for Justice Nathan B. Coats of the Colorado Supreme Court. Following these clerkships, she joined Kamlet Shepherd & Reichert, LLP as an associate in Corporate and Securities, where she represented clients ranging from small start-up companies to multi-billion dollar entities.

As a former teacher, Hannah is excited to be back in academia, where she will have the opportunity to share her experience and enthusiasm with students and alumni of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. She can be reached at 303-871-6463 in the Career Development Suite 223.

To learn more about our entire staff, please see our staff profiles.

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]]> careerdevelopmentcenter@law.du.edu (Career Development Center) Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=60#comments Where do I start? http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=48
  • Tutorials - on the basics of legal research, international, EU and federal research, plus a link to CALI tutorials
  • Subject Guides - on Colorado law, federal law, legislative history, foreign & international, finding a job, court rules, legal writing & citation, forms, appellate advocacy, environmental law, bankruptcy law, tax and disability law
  • Web Research Links - collection of legal information websites collected by the library staff; comprehensive legal info sites, forms, jobs, legal organizations, federal & state, natural resources, foreign & international sites, and on specific areas of law: administrative, bankruptcy, constitutional, criminal, health, intellectual property, family, natural resources, tax, securities, human rights, environmental, gaming
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]]> eshay@law.du.edu (Esti Shay) Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=48#comments CDC Fall Workshop Preview http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=59 We are busy preparing a full calendar of speakers and workshops for the winter semester and will have it on Hearsay shortly.  These will showcase discussions with local attorneys practicing in specialties such areas as litigation, international law, trust & estates, title industry, real estate, commercial, labor and employment, sports and entertainment, settings such as in-firm, in-house, solo practice, and contract work.  You’ll have the opportunity to talk with attorneys from the offices of the Colorado Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, Colorado Public Defender, District Attorneys’ offices, FBI, Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Presidential Management Fellowship Program and more. 

Watch for detailed information in CDC emails, on our CDC home page and on this blog in the next few days! 

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]]> careerdevelopmentcenter@law.du.edu (Career Development Center) Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=59#comments Welcome back from the CDC http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=58 We hope everyone had a productive, yet relaxing and fun, summer. We’d like to share with you some important news and reminders as you begin the semester.

Start your job search on day one

Check out the Career Development Center website for complete information on conducting your job search.   Read tips from the perspective of a 1L, 2L or 3L  in Chapter 1: Career Strategies of the CDC Handbook.

We can assist you with drafting a polished professional resume and cover letter and provide you with contacts through our Alumni Career Network (ACN).  These alumni and friends of the law school have graciously volunteered to discuss their practice areas with students and answer any questions you have about the practice of law. Make an appointment by calling 303-871-6124, email careerdevelopmentcenter@law.du.edu or stopping by to see us in Suite 223.

First year law students are prohibited from meeting privately with individual career consultants until November 1st, as mandated by the National Association of Legal Professionals (NALP). However, you may attend our workshops and speaker programs before November 1st.

Our general office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Our extended hours are:

  • Tuesday 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM by appointment only (during session)
  • Wednesday 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM by appointment only (during session)
  • Thursday  4:30 PM – 6:00 PM by appointment only
  • Saturday 8:30 AM – 12 Noon by appointment only (during session)

Myth of Meritocracy

While it’s important to strive to do your best in law school, keep in mind the following survey of partners at the top 250 law firms in the United States published by the NALP:

  • 52% did not go to a “top ten” law school
  • 74% did not graduate with honors
  • 80% were not on law review
  • 86% did not carry out a judicial clerkship
  • 91% were not Order of Coif (a.k.a.Order of St. Ives)
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]]> careerdevelopmentcenter@law.du.edu (Career Development Center) Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=58#comments Welcome Back! http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=66

Subscribe - RSS

Subscribe to our complete content (RSS feed listed under Links, lower right) or select some of our Categories (see the sidebars on the left for subscription options).


Update: By the way, did you know you can subscribe to us on Facebook too? (8/22)
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]]> eshay@law.du.edu (Esti Shay) Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=66#comments Reference Hours - resume evenings & weekends http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=62 Reference Desk resumes normal school term hours, which includes evenings and weekends:

Monday - Thursday: 9am - 8pm

Friday: 9am - 6pm

Saturday - Sunday: 10am - 6pm

Comments (0)
]]> eshay@law.du.edu (Esti Shay) Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=62#comments Presidential Politics Come to Denver http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=63 The presidential race is heating up as Denver welcomes the Democratic National Convention to town August 25-28, 2008. Presumptive nominee, Senator Barack Obama, will be accepting the Democratic nomination for President on August 28th at Invesco Field at Mile High.

 

This is not the first time that Denver has hosted the Democratic National Convention. Check out some photos and local history from the 1908 Convention from the When History Happens website. Historic political cartoons from the National Archive add a humorous twist to the political process.

 

The 2008 Republican National Convention  is being held September 1-4 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Senator John McCain is expected to accept his party’s nomination and begin the final countdown to the general elections on November 4, 2008.

 

It’s not too late to volunteer at the Democratic National Convention if you want more of a hands-on look at the political process in action. Otherwise, take a look at one of the library’s recent acquisitions on election law:

           

1)      America Votes! A Guide to Modern Election Law & Voting Rights, edited by Benjamin Griffith, 2008, KF4886.A86

2)       The Constitution of Electoral Speech Law: the Supreme Court & Freedom of Speech in Campaign Elections, by Brian K. Pinaire, 2008, KF4778.P56

 

Follow all of the election news on CNN’s Election Center 2008 or in the Denver Post.

 

See Cornell's Legal Information Institute for more background on election law including relevant cases and statutes, and don’t forget to vote! The deadline to register in Colorado for the November 4, 2008 general election is October 6, 2008. Go to the Secretary of State website to register, find a polling place or verify that you are already in the system.

 

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]]> pwelling@law.du.edu (Patty Wellinger) Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=63#comments Orientation Handout http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=57 1Ls! Misplace your library handout from orientation?  Download a copy!

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]]> sbowers@law.du.edu (Stacey Bowers) Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=57#comments Important Reminder from the Dept. of Justice http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=61 September 2, 2008, is the new deadline for the US Department of Justice Attorney General's Honors Program and Summer Law Intern Program. The DOJ is advertising more opportunities, new hiring offices, and earlier offers. For details and application information, see www.usdoj.gov/oarm.

A representative from the DOJ will be at DU Law for a presentation to students on Wednesday, August 27, from Noon-1:00 pm.  Room location will be announced.

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]]> careerdevelopmentcenter@law.du.edu (Career Development Center) Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:01:42 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=61#comments On-Campus Interviews - Important Dates! http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=56 OCI and career-related programs will be offered during the first two weeks of the semester.  Be sure to check your student e-mail frequently for employer information, changes/additions, and interview information.  Please check the CDC website, weekly digest, Student Affairs calendar, or the hallway calendar when you return to school for specific information regarding the schedule and locations of all of our fall programs.

Whether you plan to participate in OCI or not, these programs/events will help everyone conduct an effective job search:
  • August 14, 11:59pm: Last day to upload application materials for OCI (no exceptions to this deadline)
  • August 18: First day of classes; OCI Employers will have access to Applications
  • August 20: "How to Work a Career Fair, Expo, or Reception"; Noon & 4:30pm
  • August 21: Employer Expo and Reception; 4:00-7:00pm in the Forum
  • August 25: LexisNexis Career WebCourse Training - "Using LexisNexis to Prepare for Job Search and Interviews"; Noon & 4:30pm
  • August 26: Interview Strategies Workshop; Noon & 4:30pm
  • August 27 & 28: Mock Interview Days (sign up in the CDC during the first week of school)
  • September 2: OCI Interviews begin
REMEMBER: Although OCI is a visible activity on campus during the Fall, it is just one of the many vehicles that can be used in your job search.  Securing a position involves a multi-faceted approach, one in which the Career Development Center (CDC) can assist you.  We will be presenting a number of programs during the Fall and Spring semesters designed to help you in your career search, regardless of whether you participate in OCI.

Fall 2008 OCI Student Site

To obtain the user name and password for the OCI page, please contact the CDC at 303-871-6124 or stop by Suite 223.
Comments (1)
(adware - [URL] on 06-Sep-08) Nice site.
Thanks, webmaster.

]]> careerdevelopmentcenter@law.du.edu (Career Development Center) Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:42:46 MST http://law.du.edu/library/hearsay/blog/index.cfm?CommentID=56#comments