Pro se, say what?

With the economy on shaky ground and the recent rash of foreclosures and credit issues, pro se litigants are on the rise. According to Noeleen G. Walder of the New York Law Journal as many as 95% of litigants in foreclosure cases are unrepresented and as many as 99% are unrepresented in consumer credit cases. Those are high numbers and for attorneys that means a host of programs are springing up to help provide legal advice and pro bono counsel to underserved populations.

The Denver Bar Association website lists 16 different county wide pro bono programs serving the state and Metro Volunteer Lawyers makes a goal out of recruiting attorneys who can provide services to pro se litigants. Law students at DU must complete up to 50 hours of uncompensated public interest work during their law school career as a prerequisite to graduation and DU offers a variety of ways to do that other than the organizations listed above. If you are interested in getting some experience and helping those in need, contact Lindsey Webb, Esq., Director of Public Interest, (303) 871.6585, lwebb@law.du.edu , for a detailed listing of programs that assist pro se litigants.

References:

American Bar Association

Law.com

Written by Kimberley Dickey, Law Librarian Fellow

Legal Citation

Yay, Uniform Systems of Legal Citation!!

Let’s be honest, it’s pretty difficult to make legal citations sound exciting. After toiling at this blog post for far longer than I’d like to admit, I had almost given up on trying to make this topic anything more than merely informative . . . but then it hit me: where would we be without uniform citation systems? It would be a world of chaos and disorder! (Chaos and disorder is exciting!)

I mean without uniform rules for legal citation we would be running around like crazy people -- wasting a lot of time trying to locate the most basic of legal resources. I can just picture the tantrums and meltdowns now, and, boy, it is NOT a pretty thing to behold!

So, lets spend a moment basking in the glory of The Bluebook and The ALWD Citation Manual!

Now keep in mind, even though new editions of these manuals come out somewhat regularly, they also publish rule changes and clarifications online as well:

The Bluebook

The ALWD Citation Manual

Some people will also want to opt for the online version of the Bluebook. It’s a wild and crazy (and searchable) thing!

If you would like help getting familiar with using Bluebook or ALWD click here for a LexisNexis interactive tutorial, or here for a list of CALI Lessons.

Now don’t forget, each jurisdiction can have it’s own preferred system of citation. Click here for a website with a table outlining the different state-specific practices. When you get to the main website, select “Cross Reference Tables” and then select “Table: State Specific Practices”.

If you need information on how to cite international law or foreign law documents, click here for a link to some useful resources.

If you have any other citation questions please, feel free to come by the Westminster Law Library Reference Desk on the 3rd floor of the library and we would be more than happy to help.


Written by Jennifer Chang, Law Librarian Fellow

New Titles in Library

The Westminster Law Library added some new titles to our collection in November. You can see a list of all items or search by subject. Fill out our online form to have the list of new titles emailed to you on a regular basis.

National Indian Law Library

The National Indian Law Library (NILL) is a public law library devoted to federal Indian and tribal law. It serves both the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) and the public.

“NILL serves the public by developing and making accessible a unique and valuable collection of Indian law resources and assisting people with their Indian law-related information needs. The library proudly serves all members of the general public including individuals and organizations working on behalf of Native Americans” .

The goal of the National Indian Law Library is to achieve “Justice Through Knowledge”. David Selden, NILL Law Librarian, and his small staff divide their time trying to achieve this goal by providing research support to the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), support to the public, and answering questions from outside Colorado via their website. NILL is utilized by other organizations and people throughout the United States, as NILL is the only library with an extensive Indian Law collection to be found in the United States. Access to librarians can be gained through the website along with information pertaining to Indian Law. Check out this wonderful site.

For additional resources, including a comprehensive guide on researching Native American Law, please see the Web Research Links > Topical > Indian Law section of the Law Library's homepage.

Written by Jennifer Hayden, Law Librarian Fellow

Victim's Rights

The Westminster Law Library is pleased to announce the release of a new online research guide on Victim's Rights. This guide is part of a special series of legal research guides designed for the public as part of the Colorado Law Project, so you will notice that it looks a little different than our other guides.

Starting a Business Research Guide

The Westminster Law Library is pleased to announce the release of a new online research guide on Starting a Business. This guide is part of a special series of legal research guides designed for the public as part of the Colorado Law Project, so you will notice that it looks a little different than our other guides.

Exam Taking Tips for Law Students

Before the exam:

1. Deal with your stress. While it may seem like a good idea to put workouts on hold, consider instead making time for (a few) activities that help you release stress. This will help you keep your wits about you in the exam room.

2. Review past exams. Often law professors will make past exams available to students; consider checking them out if they would help calm your nerves or make you feel more prepared. If an answer key isn’t provided, consider asking a few colleagues to issue spot the exam and compare results.

3. Consider a study group. Would one help or hurt your studying? Your answer may be different for different courses or different semesters.

4. Create a schedule of what to study when during the month leading up to exams. Try to stick to your schedule to ensure adequate preparation time for each course.

During the exam:

1. Plan! When you first receive an exam, it is usually helpful to outline your response. IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is often a good way to approach an essay, as it will help you organize your thoughts and ensure concise responses.

2. Manage your time. If there are three essays, be sure you don’t burn ¾ of your time on the first question. If you are taking a multiple choice exam, recall the LSAT and give yourself a predetermined amount of time for each question. If you finish early, go back to any answers you are unsure of.

3. Read the prompt at least twice. Because issue spotting is key to being able to write a good essay, read the prompt twice before planning to ensure you have spotted everything you can.

4. Keep your answers to yourself after the exam. While it may be tempting to leave the exam and compare your answers with your 5 closest friends, doing so may leave you feeling as if you have answered questions incorrectly when you have not. This feeling may distract you as you deal with your remaining exams.

Written by Kathryn Michaels, Law Librarian Fellow