Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Catalog Upgrade: Remote Access Changes

The Westminster Law Library catalog has been undergoing some upgrades.  Much of what you see looks the same, but there are several new features.  The most important difference is how authentication is done when you log into your patron record or use the proxy server for off-campus access to databases.  All students, faculty and staff will now need to log in using their DU ID and passcode. The passcode is the password that you set up to use when logging into DU’s WebCentral system. Law firms, law alumni and other card holders will continue to log in the old way with their name and library barcode.

Some other changes are not as noticeable.  You can now view your search history and run previous searches or searches that you have saved as “Preferred”. You can set up your account preferences so that you receive notices from the library via email or postal mail. You can also create lists of records, save them and view them later.

More changes are coming in the months ahead as we provide an additional search interface called Summon which allows for faceted search results. Stay tuned for details!

Written by Theresa Baker, Web Developer and  Patty Wellinger, Reference Services Coordinator

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Printed Case-Finding Resources


Update the following cancelled and discontinued reporters and digests with LexisNexis Academic or Westlaw public terminals on Level 3. 

DIGESTS:
American Digest System, Eleventh Decennial Digest (Part 3), 2004-2007. (West).  Subscriptions to subsequent Decennials and General Digest were cancelled by Westminster Law Library in 2006 and removed from library. 

Atlantic Digest (West). Subscription cancelled in 2003 by Westminster Law Library and removed from library.  

North Eastern Digest (West). Discontinued by West in 1970 and removed from library. 

North Western Digest (West). Subscription cancelled in 2003 by Westminster Law Library and removed from library.  

South Eastern Digest (West). Subscription cancelled in 2003 by Westminster Law Library and removed from library. 

South Western Digest (West). Discontinued by West in 1958 and removed from library.
 
Southern Digest (West). Discontinued by West in 1988 and removed from library.  

United States Supreme Court Digest (West). Subscription cancelled in 2010 by Westminster Law Library. Level 3 KF 101.1.W45.

REPORTERS:
Atlantic Reporter 2d, 1988-2007 (West). Subscription cancelled in 2007 by Westminster Law Library. Level 3 KF 135 .A7 A82 (2d edition).

California Reporter 3d, 2003-2006 (West). Subscription cancelled in 2005 by Westminster Law Library. Level 3 KF 135 .C3 C33 (3d edition). 

Colorado Court of Appeals Reports, 1891-1905; 1912-1915; 1970-1980 (Bradford). Discontinued by Bradford in 1980. Level 3 KFC 1848 .A2.  

Colorado Reports, 1964 to 1980 (Courtright). Discontinued by Courtright in 1980. Level 3 KFC 1845 .A2. 

Federal Claims Reporter, 1992-2010 (West). Subscription cancelled in 2010 by Westminster Law Library. Level 3 KF 125 .C5 U52.

Federal Supplement 2d, 1998-2010 (West). Subscription cancelled in 2010 by Westminster Law Library. Level 3 KF 120.F422 (2d edition).

New York Supplement 2d, 1988-2006 (West). Subscription cancelled in 2006 by Westminster Law Library. Level 3 KF 135 .N4 N42 (2d edition).

North Eastern Reporter 2d, 1988-2007 (West). Subscription cancelled in 2007 by Westminster Law Library. Level 3 KF 135 .N6 N62 (2d edition). 

North Western Reporter 2d, 1988-2007 (West). Subscription cancelled in 2007 by Westminster Law Library. Level 3 KF 135 .N7 N62 (2d edition).  

South Eastern Reporter 2d, 1988-2007 (West). Subscription cancelled in 2007 by Westminster Law Library. Level 3 KF 135 .S6 S62 (2d edition). 

South Western Reporter 2d, 1999-2007 (West). Subscription cancelled in 2007 by Westminster Law Library. Level 3 KF 135 .S7 S63 (2d edition). 

Southern Reporter 2d, 1988-2007 (West). Subscription cancelled in 2007 by Westminster Law Library. Level 3 KF 135 .S8 S662 (2d edition).

Review Reporters and Digests libguide (http://libguides.law.du.edu/reporters-digests) which explains the role of cases, reporters, and digests in federal and state jurisdiction and includes Colorado. This libguide also provides research tips for using these resources.

Written By Sheila Green, Reference Librarian

Friday, February 24, 2012

February CO Bar Exam

The Colorado Bar Exam will be offered February 28-29, 2012 at the Colorado Convention Center. For more information on computer usage, uploading your answer files and requesting a seating change, see the Colorado Board of Law Examiner's website.  Good luck to all of our students who are sitting for the exam!

The May Admission Ceremony for those who pass the February 2012 bar exam will be held on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 3:30pm at Boettcher Concert Hall.

Written by Patty Wellinger, Reference  Services Coordinator





Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Changes to CO Court Rules


Colorado Supreme Court Amends Court Rules

While the Colorado legislature changes the Colorado Revised Statutes on an annual basis, the Colorado Supreme Court makes changes to Colorado court rules of procedure year round.  These rule changes will not show up in the republished current print version of the Colorado rules and should be double checked in the online versions and print pocket parts for accuracy.  The official rules are on the Colorado Supreme Court website at: http://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Supreme_Court/Index.cfm .  Under the heading “Administration” click on “Adopted and Proposed Rule Changes”.  Then choose the year (2011) for both the changes effective 01/01/2012 (Rule Change 2011-18) and 07/01/2012 (Rule Change 2011-19).  The February 1, 2012 Rule 1 amendment set forth below clarifies when the time rules are effective.

The most significant changes are the procedural time calculations for filings with the courts.  These changes adopt “the rule of seven”, which simplifies the old determination for what happens when deadlines fall on weekends and eliminates the old three day mailing rules.  However, there are additional substantive changes in the court rules for: Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure; Colorado Appellate Rules; Colorado Rules of Probate Procedure; Colorado Rules of Criminal Procedure; Colorado Rules of Juvenile Procedure; Colorado Municipal Court Rules of Procedure; Colorado Rules for Magistrates; and the Water Court time periods for Applications for Water Rights.  One example is the rules governing admission to the bar, and the new UBE exam.

Colorado State Judicial has begun amending forms to comply with the new civil procedure rules effective January 1, 2012.  http://www.courts.state.co.us/Forms/Index.cfm

RULE CHANGE 2012(01)
COLORADO RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
Rule 1. Scope of Rules
(a) [NO CHANGE]
(b) Effective Date. xxxxxxxxxxx Amendments of these rules shall be effective on the date established by the Supreme Court at the time of their adoption, and thereafter all laws in conflict therewith shall be of no further force or effect. Unless otherwise stated by the Supreme Court as being applicable only to actions brought after the effective date of an amendment, they govern all proceedings in actions brought after they take effect and also all further proceedings in actions then pending, except to the extent that in the opinion of the court their application in a particular action pending when the rules take effect would not be feasible or would work injustice, in which event the former procedure applies.
(c) [NO CHANGE]
Amended and Adopted by the Court, En Banc, February 1, 2012, nunc pro tunc January 1, 2012, effective immediately. By the Court: Nancy E. Rice, Justice, Colorado Supreme Court

Written by Catharine Cott, Reference Librarian

Friday, February 17, 2012

Lawmaker's New Website


The Second Regular Session of the Sixty-eighth Colorado General Assembly convened on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, and is scheduled to adjourn sine die (http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/s049.htm) on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.Explore the new layout and organization features of Colorado General Assembly’s official website (http://www.leg.state.co.us/):

SESSION INFORMATION , Audio and Video Broadcasts, 2012 Regular Session, House or Senate > Bills and Fiscal NotesCalendar, JournalsResolutions/Memorials , Status Sheet , Update Bill Summaries ,Committees , Prior Sessions, and Interim, Year-Round, and Select Committees.
CONTACT INFORMATION , Legislative Directory (Pink Book), House or Senate, Directory, and Legislator Home Pages, and District Maps.
SERVICE AGENCIES , Legislative Council, Office of Legislative Legal Services, Office of the State Auditor, Joint Budget Committee, and Intranet (password protected).
GENERAL LEGISLATIVE INFORMATIONHow a Bill Becomes a Law, Legislative Deadlines Schedule, Interim, Year-Round, and Select Committees, Ballot Issues, House and Senate Rules, Social Calendar, Press Credentials, Open Records Policy and Requests, Rules  Regulations of Executive Agencies, and Disclaimer/Privacy Policy.
STATUTES AND SESSION LAWS and Colorado Revised Statutes and Constitution, Session Laws, and Bill Digests.
STATE CAPITOL BUILDING , Public Wi-Fi, Capitol Tour, Capitol Security Protocols, and Legislative Complex Advisory.
LEGISLATIVE REPORTS AND REQUIREMENTS, Transparency Online Project, RFP for Cost-of-Living Study, Senate Bill 06-090 Arrestee Immigration Reporting, and Report on Referendum C Revenue and Spending - FYs 2005-06 through FY 2008-09.

Follow progress of new House bills introduced in the current session: SESSION INFORMATION, House ,Status Sheet. Track new Senate bills at SESSION INFORMATION, Senate , Status Sheet. Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS) (http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/olls/) produces updated bill summaries after a bill passes the first chamber (House or Senate) and before the first committee meeting in the second chamber (House or Senate.) See SESSION INFORMATION > House or Senate, Updated Bill Summaries.

Written By Sheila Green, Reference Librarian

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Law Librarianship

Interested in exploring a career as a law librarian? Our new research guide on Law Librarianship can help you discover more about the profession and job opportunities. It can be a great way to use your legal training in an alternative career.

Most places that employ a group of lawyers, also have law librarians. Possibilities include state and federal courts, agencies and legislatures.Some states have county or state law libraries and every law school has an academic law library. Larger firms and corporations also hire librarians. Each of these types of libraries will determine what type of patrons you serve and the resources that are most useful.

The guide also links to salary surveys, educational requirements, grant and scholarship opportunities and resources for professional development.  If you might be interested in exploring law librarianship as a career option, check out the guide and then come talk to one of the law librarians at the Westminster Law Library. We are happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Written by Patty Wellinger, Reference Services Coordinator





Friday, February 10, 2012

Public Westlaw Printers: How to Save & Print Documents


All Westminster Law Library (WLL) patrons, including SCOL alumni, area attorneys, DU main campus students, and public patrons, have free access to the two Westlaw Public Access Computers (PAC) currently located on Level 3 of the WLL, on the far south end.  While the databases are much more limited than the law student’s password protected Westlaw, you can research all state and federal cases and statutes, plus some Colorado practice materials.  Simply double click on the Westlaw icon on the desktop to open the program, scroll down to accept the terms of use, and choose the Westlaw databases that you wish to search.  

You will need to purchase a print/copy card at the Level 2 Circulation Desk if you want to print any research results on the LawDuplex4x50 printer.  You cannot email your research results; use the LexisNexis Academic database from the WLL homepage for that option.  

Research results can be printed or saved in one of two ways to a flash drive.  The first is as an html document and the second is as an Adobe PDF file that you have created in the same way as if to print.  For html open your case/statute and click anywhere on the document.  To print an html document click on the print icon in the upper right corner (not red), then choose html (not PDF) and click print.  In order to save as an html document, click on the print icon and then select html (not PDF).  Put your flash drive in and go to the drop down menu “File” , “Save page as” , click on “Save in” E (or whatever drive your flash drive is showing up as) ,“Save as Type” , “Web Page Complete”, then name your document and save.  

To create an Adobe PDF document to either print or save to a flash drive, click the print icon (without red) at the top right of your document, then on the screen which opens choose PDF (not html) on the dropdown menu.  You can then choose to Keycite (the equivalent of Shepherds in LexisNexis Academic) the direct history to ensure that your case or statute is still good law.  To find additional sources which cite your authority, choose Keycite citing references for a list of cases which also tell you the Westlaw topic and key number for the headnote in which you are interested for your research.  Select full text or other request and then ok.  Your ability to either print or save occurs at this point.  

Your document appears in PDF format on the next screen.  In order to print, click the print icon in the top left corner, and a narrow window should appear for you to enter your name or initials to identify your print jobs on the printer itself.  Click print on the next menu and your document is sent and held by the printer on any level for two hours.  You do not get charged for sending the document to the printer, only if you print your document before it disappears.

In order to save the document to your flash drive, put your flash drive in and go to the drop down menu “File”, “Save page as” , click on “Save in” E (or whatever drive your flash drive is showing up as) , “Save as Type”,  “PDF” (or Word, etc.), then name your document and save.   

Printing and saving your search results can be frustrating because of glitches in the popup blockers.  If you go through the entire process to print your document as a PDF, but do not see a narrow window across the screen where you can enter your name to identify the print job, it is a popup blocker problem.  At the top of the page select the drop down menu “Tools”, “Options” and then “Content”.  This window will provide a method to make exceptions to the popup blocker.  Make sure “Block popup windows” is checked.  Check to see whether both the addresses print.westlaw.com and web2.westlaw.com appear in the bottom half of the screen.  If they are not there, type in one of them in "Address of Website" and click allow, which will move it to the lower half of the screen.  Repeat for the other address if missing, and click ok.  Retry your print job.

Written By Catharine Cott, Reference Librarian

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Digital Law Practice Course


Logo for TDLP
Welcome to the blog home for the Topics in Digital Law Practice course.
Register for the course.

Course registrants, please take our pre-course survey.
CALI OFFERS FREE ONLINE COURSE: TOPICS IN DIGITAL LAW PRACTICE
BEGINS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012 AT 2PM ET
—–
The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) is offering a FREE online course called Topics in Digital Law Practice starting Friday, February 10, 2012 at 2pm ET.
This course is designed to provide an overview of the changes that are occurring in the practice of law today, especially with respect to technology. It will introduce law students for real-world situations that they will encounter in the job market and point law professors to new avenues to cover in their courses.

The course will run for one hour a week for nine weeks and will feature a different guest speaker each week. Each class will be delivered via webcast and will have a 30 minute lecture presentation followed by a question & answer period and an online, interactive homework assignment for all course students to complete. There will be no formal assessment like midterms or a final exam.
The audience for this seminar is primarily law students and law faculty who will be given priority. Anyone else can join the course for one or all of the sessions.
If you can’t attend live for a class or two, that’s fine. The presentations will be recorded and posted to this course blog.

The Seminar is FREE to all registered attendees.

ABOUT CALI
The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit consortium of over 200 US law schools. Non-US law schools, law firms, business schools, paralegal programs and individuals can also join CALI to support its mission. More information about CALI memberships is here… http://www.cali.org/faq/8054.

REGISTRATION
Register for the course.

SCHEDULE
Below is the schedule for the course. We are still confirming some speakers.

Week 1
Friday, February 10, 2012 2pm-3pm EST
The Virtual Law Office
Stephanie Kimbro
Attorney and Technology Consultant
www.virtuallawpractice.org
Twitter @stephkimbro

Week 2
Friday, February 17, 2012 2pm-3pm EST
Document Automation
Marc Lauritsen
Attorney and Document Automation Expert
http://www.capstonepractice.com/marc.htm
Twitter @marclauritsen

Week 3
Friday, February 24, 2012 2pm-3pm EST
Technology in the Courts
Jim McMillian
Principle Court Technology Consultant
National Center for the State Courts (http://www.ncsc.org)

Week 4
Friday, March 2, 2012 2pm-3pm EST
Unbundling Legal Service Delivery
Richard Granat
President of SmartLegalForms, Inc. and DirectLaw, Inc.
http://www.elawyeringredux.com/promo/about/
Twitter @rgranat

Week 5
Friday, March 9, 2012 2pm-3pm EST
Free Legal Research Tools
Sarah Glassmeyer
Director of Content Development / Law Librarian
CALI
http://sarahglassmeyer.com/
Twitter @sglassmeyer

Week 6
Friday, March 16, 2012 2pm-3pm EDT
Contract Standardization
Kingsley Martin
President, kiiac.com, www.contractstandards.com/

Week 7
Friday, March 23, 2012 2pm-3pm EDT
Online Legal Forms in Legal Aid
Ronald W. Staudt
Professor of Law
Chicago-Kent College of Law
http://www.kentlaw.edu/faculty/rstaudt/

Week 8
Friday, March 30, 2012 2pm-3pm EDT
Unauthorized Practice of Law in the 21st Century
William Hornsby
Staff Counsel at American Bar Association

Week 9
Friday, April 6, 2012 2pm-3pm EDT
Social Media for Lawyers
Ernest Svenson
Attorney at Law
www.ernietheattorney.net
Twitter @ernieattorney

I will be your host and moderator for the course.
Questions, comments, ideas, suggestions? Contact me at the email address below…
John Mayer
jma...@cali.org
Executive Director
Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction / CALI
Twitter @johnpmayer
www.cali.org

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Updating Colorado Criminal Jury Instructions

Think of jury instructions as guidelines given by judges to juries prior to deliberation. Researchers are also interested in jury instructions because they outline law which provides elements for establishing liability or guilt and include citations to related cases and statutes. In this state, the Colorado Supreme Court is responsible for generating criminal jury instructions.

The court delegates updating duties to the Supreme Court Model Criminal Jury Instructions Committee where researchers may find links to interim revisions with full text of updates and corresponding legal citations. The 2008 revisions are:

Table of Contents
Preface
Ch. A: General Directions
Ch. B: Jury Orientation
Ch. C: General Instructions
Ch. D: Evidentiary Instructions
Ch. E: Concluding General Instructions
Ch. F: Definitions
Ch. G1: Culpability
Ch. G2: Inchoate Offenses: Attempt and Conspiracy
Ch. H: Affirmative Defenses
Ch. I: Sanity
Ch. J: General Interrogatory Form and Verdict Form
Ch. 3-1: Homicide and Related Offenses
Ch. 3-2: Assault and Related Offenses
Ch. 3-3: Kidnapping and Related Offenses
Ch. 3-4: Unlawful Sexual Behavior
Ch. 4-1: Arson
Ch. 4-2: Burglary
Ch. 4-3: Robbery
Ch. 4-4: Theft
Ch. 4-5: Trespass and Criminal Mischief
Ch. 5: Offense Involving Fraud and Forgery
Ch. 6: Incest, Child Abuse and Wrongs to Children
Ch. 6.5: Crimes At-Risk Adults and Juveniles
Ch. 7-7: Sexual Conduct in Penal Institutions
Ch. 8-1: Accessory
Ch. 8-2: Escape and Offenses Relating to Custody
Ch. 9-1: Stalking (Public Peace and Order)
Ch. 12: Offenses Relating to Firearms and Weapons
Ch. 18: Offenses Relating to Controlled Substances
Ch. 42: Motor Vehicles and Traffic

West publishes both civil and criminal jury instructions in separate volumes. See:
Colorado Jury Instructions, Civil
Colorado Jury Instructions, Criminal , click Access 2008 revisions and updates.

Online researchers can use Westlaw (fee-based) from the Library's website, see link. Once you have logged on to the dababase, go to CO-JICRIM (Colorado Jury Instructions – Criminal) or CO-JICIV (Colorado Jury Instructions – Civil) databases.

Written by Sheila Green, Reference Librarian