The Gould Law Library

Library Hours for Fall 2011 Final Exams

2011-11-09T13:26:00.003-05:00

The Gould Law Library will be open as a 24-hour study hall beginning on Sunday, November 20th until the last day of finals on Friday, December 23rd, with a few exceptions. The library will be closed on Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 24th) & will be open on Friday, November 25th, as a study hall (i.e., no library services will be available), from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. Also, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath, the library will close on Fridays at 3:00 pm and will reopen on Saturdays at 5:30 pm.

Library services (Circulation, Reference & Technical Services) will not be available during the extended hours, although a security guard will be on duty. Students using the library after midnight must sign in and out at the security desk.

The library (with the exception of the Circulation Desk, Reference Office, and enclosed study rooms) becomes a “silent study” area during the final exams period.

Social Science Research Network (SSRN)

2011-11-07T15:37:00.008-05:00

This post is a continuation of a series that I began last year regarding online legal research databases other than Lexis and Westlaw. The purpose of this series is to increase our law students’ awareness of other useful and cost-effective alternatives or additions to Westlaw and Lexis. Although 1Ls have only just received their training in Westlaw and Lexis, law students continue to receive extensive training on these two databases throughout their law school years. Many databases offer low cost alternatives to primary source materials, such as Fastcase* & Loislaw*, while other databases are excellent sources of secondary materials such as HeinOnline* and SSRN.

Whether you are conducting research for Law Review, your Advanced Legal Research requirement, or for a Professor, you will want to check SSRN for the most cutting edge research.

SSRN’s mission is “rapid worldwide dissemination of social science research.” SSRN contains the most current research papers; many of which have not yet been published in journals. Some of the disciplines covered by SSRN that may be of interest to our students include: accounting, economics & corporate goverance; cognitive science; social insurance; political science; and, of course, legal scholarship.

On SSRN you will find abtracts, working papers and downloadable PDFs of full-text articles. You can also add your own research paper to the network. SSRN’s elibrary is fully searchable or you can browse by topic and journal name.

Access to SSRN is free but you will be required to set up an account, entering your email as your username.

Also, check out SSRN’s iPhone/iPad app.

*Please see my previous blog posts.

Law School Survival Tips

2011-08-15T10:03:00.015-04:00

We at Gould Law Library are excited to welcome the 1L students who are beginning their law school journey at Touro Law Center this week. To aid you in your transition to law school, we have compiled a list of links to information that will help you navigate the first year of law school.

Both Westlaw and Lexis have guides to law school survival as well as outlines for first year courses. The Westlaw guide is entitled “Law School Life” and the Lexis guide is called “Get a Head Start on Law School.” Westlaw provides Black Letter Outlines and Lexis has Area of Law Outlines.

The American Bar Association has also published an informative law school survival guide, “How to Survive the First Year of Law School.”

Finally, a Study Guide for 1L Courses is posted on our website. It provides links to all of the study aids and treatises for 1L courses that are available at Gould Law Library.

We wish you the best of luck and much success in law school and your legal careers!

Bar Exam Study Aids

2011-07-08T09:29:00.007-04:00

It’s down to the final stretch for Bar Exam study. So at this juncture, I thought you might be interested in perusing our collection of Bar Exam Study Aids. Most of these study aids are in the Reserve Room, although a few can be found on the shelves in the main collection. I didn’t include everything we have, only the most current and appropriate. These are obviously no substitute for your current bar review course of study, but they may be of some interest.

Reserves:

Acing the Bar Exam: A Checklist Approach to Taking the Bar Exam by Suzanne Darrow-Kleinhaus

Strategies & Tactics for the Finz Multistate Method by Steven R. Finz

MBE Survival Kit by Jeff Adachi with Solomon Wollack

Emanuel Confidential for the MBE: For Your Final Preparation by Steven L. Emanuel

Scoring High on Bar Exam Essays by Mary Campbell Gallagher

Scoring High On Bar Exam Essays (videorecording) by Mary Campbell Gallagher & Co., Inc.

Multistate Performance Test (MPT): Core Concepts and Key Questions by T. Leigh Hearn

Emanuel Multistate Performance Test Review: Rigos Bar Review Series

Pieper Multistate Exam Book by J. Gardiner Pieper

Pass the Bar by Denise Riebe and Michael Hunter Schwartz

Multistate Bar Exam Review by James J Rigos

Strategies & Tactics for the MBE by Kimm Alayne Walton and Steven Emanuel

Main Collection:

The Bar Exam in a Nutshell by Suzanne Darrow-Kleinhaus

The Essential Rules for Bar Exam Success by Steven Friedland

The Zen of Passing the Bar Exam by Chad Noreuil

Bar Exam Study Hall Hours

2011-07-06T10:22:00.004-04:00

Beginning Sunday, July 10 through Tuesday July 26, Gould Law Library will be open as a 24-hour study hall, with the exception of Friday evening through Saturday evening, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath. During these two weeks, the library will close on Fridays at 7:00 p.m. and will reopen on Saturdays at 10:00 p.m. Library services will not be available during the overnight period, although a security guard will be on duty.

Apps for Legal Research & Bar Exam Prep

2011-06-23T16:21:00.006-04:00

Over the past few months, I’ve seen a plethora of posts about legal apps from iTunes. I thought I’d create a list of some of the most relevant apps for our law students. Some are free and some are rather pricey. This list is not exhaustive and I do not vouch for the accuracy or authoritativeness of these apps. They are just interesting…

Legal Research and Reference Apps:
WestlawNext
LexisNexis
FastCase
Black’ Law Dictionary
U.S. Government Apps
SSRN
New York Law Apps
Litigator

Bar Review and Law School Exam Study Aid Apps:
BarBri
Kaplan
Sum & Substance
MBE Timer

For a more comprehensive list of apps, including ones for Android, Blackberry and Palm, see the following:
Mobile Apps for Law ($49.99, special introductory rate of $25) is a directory of legal research and utility apps for all mobile devices.
The University of Akron Law School’s LibGuide, Mobile Apps for Law Students, features legal apps for iPhone/iPad and Android, as well as eBooks.
UCLA Law School’s LibGuide, Mobile Applications for Law Students and Lawyers, features legal and nonlegal apps for all mobile devices. It is very comprehensive and frequently updated.

Library Hours for Spring 2011 Final Exams

2011-04-22T10:41:00.005-04:00

The Library will be open as a study hall, beginning Wednesday, April 27, 2011(when the building reopens following the Passover/Spring Recess), and continuing through the final exam period which ends on Friday, May 20, 2011. In observance of the Jewish Sabbath, the library will close on Fridays at 7:00 p.m. and will reopen on Saturdays at 9:00 p.m. With this exception, the library will remain open 24 hours per day.

Students using the library after midnight must sign in and out at the security desk. Library services will not be available during the extended hours or overnight period, although a security guard will be on duty.

Also, the entire Library (except the Circulation Desk, the Reference Office, and enclosed study rooms) will become a "Silent Study" area during this time period in order to maximize quiet study space.

The Library Staff would like to offer their support and best wishes to our students!

National Library Week at Gould Law Library

2011-04-14T15:17:00.034-04:00

Since the theme of this year’s National Library Week (April 10 -16) is “Create Your Own Story @ Your Library” I thought it would be apropos to tell a story about our library – the story of our move from Huntington to Central Islip. I conducted an email interview with Kimberly Barbato, who worked at the library before, during and after the move. Kim supplied the following story:

Q: When did you start working at Gould Law Library?

A: May 25th, 2005

Q: Describe what the library was like when Touro Law Center was located in Huntington.
A: Prior to our move to Central Islip in January of 2007, Touro Law School was located at 300 Nassau Road in Huntington, N.Y. The law school was situated between Nassau Road and Woodhull Road in the former Toaz Intermediate School built in the 1930s. The northwest wing included the main entrance, reception, cafeteria, classrooms, bookstore and offices. The auditorium was located in the southwest corner of the school. The library occupied the east wing. The library consisted of two floors.

The first floor included the main reading room, the reserve room & reserve materials, the main collection, the reference offices & collection, technical service, a “New York Room” containing the New York materials collection, an adjoining “International Room” containing the international collection, and rooms 109 & 110 which contained the periodicals and printers.

On the second floor of the library were the state materials and statutes, the Judaica collection, 3 study rooms, a study “wing” (located in the bridge between the 2nd floor of the library and the school) which contained individual carrel desks, and the computer lab.

Q: When was the move & how difficult was it?

A: The move took place at the end of the fall semester of 2006. A company specializing in transporting library collections came in and moved our collection into the new building. As with all moves, it took some adjustment. We now had more room and needed to rearrange, straighten, & shift the collection to fit within the new stack space.

Q: How is the library different in Central Islip? What are the improvements?

A: We now have a larger, more state-of-the-art facility. It is because of this that we are able to consolidate our collection, accommodate students with more study space, soft-seating areas and study rooms (14 rooms, as opposed to three in the old building), as well as two larger computer labs including a SmartLab with state-of-the-art technology. Our Judaica collection is kept in a larger room with display cases and additional study space. The rare books collection also has its own room with separate air and temperature controls, display cases and study tables.

Passover Exhibit

2011-04-11T10:56:00.005-04:00

Come check out our new library exhibit, Celebrating the Customs and Traditions of Passover, created by Beth Mobley, Associate Director, Head of Collection Development and Special Collections Curator. This exhibit can be found in the display cases in the third floor atrium and the Judaica Room. It includes a variety of haggadot, as well as objects used for the Passover Seder . Books about Passover and the history of the Haggadah are displayed on the reference counter in the Judaica Room. For more information about this exhibit and the holiday of Passover, read this week’s Touro Times.

Check Out Sum and Substance CDs

2011-04-06T13:53:00.002-04:00

Just in time for final exam prep… Gould Law Library has recently acquired more than twenty CDs from the Sum and Substance audio series. These CDs are in the Reserve Room and can be checked out for 48 hours. Topics include: Bankruptcy; Civil Procedure; Commercial Paper; Contracts; Constitutional Law; Corporations; Criminal Law; Criminal Procedure; Evidence; Exam Skills: Essay Writing; Family Law; Federal Income Tax; How to Succeed in Law School; Legal Career Management; Legal Research; Professional responsibility; Property; Sale & Lease of Goods; Torts; Trust; Wills & Succession; and Wills & Trusts.

Fastcase

2011-04-06T13:20:00.011-04:00

Fastcase, an alternative legal research database, can be found on Gould Law Library’s Online Databases page. Fastcase provides comprehensive coverage of federal and state primary law, as well as access to federal filings, newspapers and legal forms. Fastcase offers many different ways to sort search results including by: relevance; case name; decision date; number of citations; jurisdiction and court hierarchy. These results can be sorted in the traditional list view or you can chose to see your search results displayed on a graph, called the Interactive Timeline (see photo below). The horizontal axis of the graph shows how the results occur over time and the vertical axis displays the relevance of the cases to your search query or may be changed to display results by court level. Cases are plotted as circles and information regarding the number of times each case has been cited by cases in your search results, as well as by cases in the entire database, and the summary of the cases is available by hovering over these circles.

Fastcase also has another innovative tool, available from the list view, called Forecite. Forecite identifies additional decisions that may be relevant for your issue, even if your search terms do not retrieve them. Forecite performs an integrated citation analysis on cases retrieved in your search result, locating additional cases that are frequently cited by these retrieved cases, and then suggests those additional cases to you. Further, Fastcase’s Authority Check provides a list of later cases that cite the retrieved cases.

Finally, you can also download Fastcase’s free legal research app for iPhone (or iPad), which won the American Association of Law Library’s (AALL) 2010 Best New Product of the of Year Award.

For more information about using Fastcase (and to see the Interactive Timeline in action), check out the tutorials at: http://www.fastcase.com/support/.

Digital Commons

2011-04-05T16:43:00.009-04:00

What is the Digital Commons, you ask? It is a digital repository which is a digital archive for Touro Law Center. From the Gould Law Library's home page you can click on the link or go to http://digitalcommons.tourolaw.edu/. From here you can look for articles written by your favorite professor or check out some student films from Professor Post’s class. If you click on SelectedWorks, you will see web pages for your Professors.

Remember, items are being uploaded every day, so please visit the DC early and often!

You don’t want to be the last one to know what has been posted on the DC!!

Loislaw

2011-03-02T10:11:00.013-05:00

Gould Law Library provides access to a comprehensive legal research database called Loislaw, published by Wolters Kluwer, which also publishes CCH. Unfortunately many law students, as well as attorneys, are unfamiliar with this database. Loislaw is a cost-effective legal research solution, as it offers an all-inclusive flat rate subscription. It is also quite user-friendly and intuitive. It contains a completely up-to-date Primary Law Collection, which includes case law, statutes, administrative regulations and court rules for all state and federal jurisdictions, as well as collections of public records, treatises and legal forms.

Loislaw also has two useful and innovative tools, GlobalCite and LawWatch. GlobalCite allows you to pull all of the citations out of a case or brief and read or print those cases and statutes. It also allows you to sort by document type or jurisdiction. All of the citations are hyperlinked to the full document at no cost, even if the documents are outside the subscription plan. GlobalCite also allows you to see all of the cases, statutes, and treatises that cite to the case that you are viewing. LawWatch allows you to save your research trail. You can choose simply to save it or you can have LawWatch continue to run that search automatically.

For a more detailed explanation of Loislaw, check out their tutorial at: http://image.loislaw.com/prosite/flash/gettingstarted/

Next month I will detail Fastcase, another legal research database available at Gould Law Library.

HeinOnline's YouTube Channel

2011-01-21T14:23:00.021-05:00

Every law student is familiar with Westlaw and LexisNexis, however, Gould Law Library has access to so many other databases that are excellent resources for legal research and scholarship. In an attempt to familiarize more people with these databases, the following article is the first in a series of posts that will profile these databases.

A database many law students are already acquainted with is HeinOnline. HeinOnline contains a tremendous assortment of law journals, government documents and historical legal documents. It is a great resource for legal research and analysis, as well as for compiling legislative histories. I recently discovered HeinOnline’s Channel on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/user/HeinOnline08.

Both beginners and experts will appreciate this website. Visitors can view more than 30 “how to” videos that will help them navigate HeinOnline and utilize all of the resources this database has to offer. For beginners, there are videos entitled “Quick Start Guide to HeinOnline” and “How to Find an Article in the Law Journal Library.” For advanced researchers there are videos entitled “Subject Compilations of State Laws” and “Cross-Library Searching for Legislative Histories.” This website also has videos detailing recent changes and enhancements to HeinOnline, such as, “Faceted Searching Available in the Law Journal Library” and “Browsing Legislative Histories by Public Law Number or Popular Name.”

Also, check out the HeinOnline wiki at http://heinonline.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page, which includes quick reference guides, training videos and FAQs.

In the next installment of this series, I will be profiling Loislaw.

Google Books Ngram Viewer

2010-12-21T14:13:00.024-05:00

Google Books NGram Viewer was launched last week. This tool allows you to search though Google’s corpus of books to see how frequently certain words or phrases appear during a specified time period. The results are displayed graphically and allow you to compare a few different words and phrases. For example: I entered: LP record (blue), compact disc (red), and iPod (green) between the years 1950 and 2008 from the corpus of English Fiction, and this result was returned:

Then I compared the mainly obsolete legal term demurrer (blue) with its replacement, motion to dismiss (for failure to state a claim) (red) between the years 1900 and 2008 from the corpus of American English. I received the following result:

I'm sure the possibilities of this are endless. Of course there are always caveats to a tool like this, such as different meanings for the same word and that pesky medial s (that is sometimes mistaken for an "f"). Nonetheless, it is amusing.

To try it go to: http://www.ngrams.googlelabs.com/
For more information on the Ngram Viewer go to: http://www.ngrams.googlelabs.com/info.

BNA Database Training- Tax and Accounting

2010-11-09T09:48:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 4pm in the library’s computer lab (L308) a webinar will be held on BNA’s Tax and Accounting database for students. If you are interested in heading into corporate, tax or a related area of law or just plain interested in the subject, this training is for you. Candy will be served. If you plan on attending, please RSVP to Leslie Wong at lwong@tourolaw.edu.

Study Hall Hours for Fall Semester 2010 Final Exams

2010-11-08T10:19:00.000-05:00

In preparation for fall semester final exams, the Gould Law Library will be open as a 24-hour study hall from Sunday, November 21 – Thursday, December 23 – except for Friday evening through Saturday evening, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath. The library will close on Fridays at 3:15 p.m. and will reopen on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. With this exception (and the Thanksgiving closing listed above), the library will remain open 24 hours a day. Students using the library after midnight must sign in and out at the security desk. Library services will not be available during the extended hours or overnight period, although a security guard will be on duty. The library (with the exception of the Circulation Desk, Reference Office, and enclosed study rooms) is a “quiet study” zone during the final exams period.
Library hours are subject to change. Please verify hours by calling the Circulation Desk at 631.761.7150, or by visiting the library’s web site at http://www.tourolaw.edu/LawLibrary/ and clicking on “Library Hours.”

Gould Law Library Online Survey

2010-11-08T10:18:00.000-05:00

Please take the Gould Law Library survey on Survey Monkey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HQG6BSW. The name of each student who completes the survey will be placed in a drawing. First prize is dinner for two at Carraba’s. Ten runner-up prizes will be awarded -- $5.00 gift certificates for Starbucks. The survey is brief – and your input is invaluable in helping us evaluate and improve library services. The survey will be online from Thursday, November 4 – Friday, November 19. Thanks for your help and participation!

New HeinOnline Intellectual Property Law Collection

2010-10-28T09:48:00.002-04:00

HeinOnline has recently introduced the Intellectual Property Law Collection. This new collection focuses on copyrights, patents and trademarks in the United States. It includes various materials including legislative histories, Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, Code of Federal Regulations Title 37, U.S. Code Titles 17 & 35, books, periodicals and more. Access and learn more about the Intellectual Property Law Collection at: http://www.heinonline.org/HOL/Welcome.

New U.S. Government Printing Office Federated Search Tool

2010-10-15T10:49:00.002-04:00

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) just released a federated search tool for retrieving U.S. Government Publications entitled MetaLib. Metalib simultaneously searches about 53 Federal Government databases and provides reports, articles, and citations while providing direct links to selected resources available online. Users can conduct basic, advanced, and expert searches with the ability to restrict broad topic areas. Access and learn about Metablib at: http://metalib.gpo.gov.

New HeinOnline Features and Enhancements

2010-10-14T12:53:00.001-04:00

HeinOnline has introduced some new features to its database that will make researching easier and faster. The New York Legal Research Library now has a chart which allows you to sort by Collection, Court, Year, Volume or Citation. They have also introduced a Google RSS feed to World Constitutions Illustrated Library which links to the latest news about the constitution for that country. Lastly, Faceted Searching Technology has been added to Title Lookup which will display publication search results grouped by Collection. Read and learn about these features at:
http://heinonline.blogspot.com/.

New Making of Modern Law: U.S. Supreme Court Records and Briefs, 1832-1978 Database

2010-10-08T09:50:00.002-04:00

The Making of Modern Law: U.S. Supreme Court Records and Briefs 1832-1978 database provides a comprehensive collection of records and briefs brought before the U.S. Supreme Court. It includes transcripts, applications for review, motions, petitions, supplements and other official papers. Access the database at: http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/SCRB?locID=tc_law.

Informative Visual History of the United States Supreme Court

2010-10-04T10:13:00.002-04:00

Timeplots recently published a visual history of the United States Supreme Court from 1789 to 2010. The poster contains biographical information on all of the justices with a visualization of the influence of U.S. presidents and their political parties on the Court. It also provides summaries of landmark cases with vote counts for each case as well. Access the full visual at:
http://timeplots.com/scotus/.

Interesting Graphic History of Classroom Technology

2010-09-29T09:28:00.002-04:00

The New York Times recently published a graphic history article on classroom technology. The article highlights the evolution of classroom technologies from the 1600's to the present. Read the full article at: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/09/19/magazine/classroom-technology.html.

New Justis and JustCite databases

2010-09-20T10:12:00.002-04:00

Justis
This database provides full text materials of UK, Irish and European Union case law dating back to 1163 and legislation from 1235.
http://www.justis.com/

JustCite
This database is a legal search engine and citator service that cross-references case law, legislation and journal articles dating from 1163.
http://www.justcite.com/

Informative Article for Law Students Interested in Working as Research Assistants

2010-09-12T15:57:00.002-04:00

Mark Wojcik, from the John Marshall Law School, recently published an article for law students who are interested in working as research assistants. The article discusses ten reasons why students should consider being a research assistant. It also provides advice on how to get research assistant jobs, how to do well in these positions and other essential career advice. The authors also recommend this article for faculty members when interviewing potential research assistant candidates. Read the full article at (must log in to SSRN): http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1265844.

Interesting Article on E-Books

2010-09-03T10:40:00.003-04:00

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article on e-books entitled "Should You Buy an E-Book?" The article discusses the booming business of e-books and its growth in the past few years. It also provides helpful tips for those interested in buying e-book readers. Read the full article at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703447004575449953277291226.html.

New CQ Press Electronic Library and Making of Modern Law Databases

2010-09-02T11:21:00.002-04:00

The Gould Law Library is now subscribing to the following databases:

CQ Press Electronic Library
The CQ Press Electronic Library provides reference resources for research in American government, politics, history, public policy, and current affairs. Access and learn about this database at: http://library.cqpress.com/.

Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources, 1620 – 1926
This database provides published records of the American colonies, documents published by state constitutional conventions, state codes, city charters, law dictionaries, digests and more. Access and learn about this database at: http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/nysl_me_touro?db=MMLP.

Making of Modern Law: Trials, 1600-1926
This database contains unofficially published accounts of trials, official trial documents, briefs, arguments, legislative and administrative proceedings as well as arbitrations from famous trials that shook society in America, the British Empire and the world. Access and learn about this database at: http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/nysl_me_touro?db=MMLT.

Guide to Legal Research on the Internet

2010-08-27T10:13:00.002-04:00

Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute and Justia have recently sponsored a helpful and instructive research guide entitled "Law Student Guide to Free Legal Research on the Internet." The guide is hosted by CALI and written by Sarah Glassmeyer, JD, MLS, of Valparaiso University School of Law. The guide was created to help law students navigate the overwhelming world of Internet legal resources and to assist legal research instructors in teaching law students on how to use those resources. In addition, there is a Law Student’s Guide to Free Legal Research on the Internet’s Blog, which provides information on upcoming and existing free legal research resources . Access the guide and blog at: http://freelaw.classcaster.net/.

Is the World Wide Web in decline?

2010-08-24T10:49:00.002-04:00

Wired magazine's September 2010 cover story examines whether the Web is dying in face of new technologies like apps. Apps are becoming increasingly popular with the advent of Iphone, Ipad and other smartphones. The cover story is very informative on the technical background of the web and apps. But most importantly discusses the challenges that face the Web and present several arguments on the future of the Web debate. Read the full cover story at: http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/08/ff_webrip/.

Informative Essay on Publishing Articles in Academic Publications

2010-08-19T18:31:00.001-04:00

An informative essay guide was recently released for law students who want to publish articles in academic publications. It is written by faculty members Nancy Levit, Lawrence D. MacLachlan and Allen Rostron from the University of Missouri at Kansas City - School of Law. The essay explains the how-to's for academic publication by law students that are not on law review but have written scholarly level papers for classes or seminars. It also highlights the publishing route for article submissions and provides a chart of the 194 law review policies (by law school) with respect to whether they will publish comments by students and additional information. Read the guide on SSRN at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1656395.

TWEN Training Sessions

2010-08-15T16:45:00.003-04:00

TWEN (The West Education Network) is used by many Touro Law Center faculty members for online course management. TWEN training is provided to incoming first-year law students during Orientation because some faculty members begin posting assignments and messages for their students on TWEN before classes begin.
Incoming first-year law students should attend one of the following sessions during Orientation. Pre-registration is not required. Please arrive in the Auditorium about five minutes before your session begins. Please bring your Library Orientation Packet because it contains the Westlaw password and supporting materials that you will be using to access TWEN. (You will receive this packet during the Law Library Introduction Session on Tuesday, August 17.)

Sessions will be held for the Day Division on:

Tuesday, August 17, 2:00-2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 18, 5:00-5:30 p.m

Sessions will be held for the Evening Division on:

Tuesday, August 17, 10:00-10:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 18, 5:00-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 18, 10:00-10:30 p.m

Gould Law Library Tour Schedule

2010-08-15T16:22:00.002-04:00

The Gould Law Library at Touro Law Center is offering library tours to interested first-year law students on Wednesday, August 18, 2010. Tour leaders will introduce students to the locations of frequently used legal research materials, such as New York cases and statutes, legal encyclopedias, and study guides. Also, students will learn the locations for basic library services such as reference assistance, materials checkout, computer printing, photocopying, and quiet study rooms. Tours will be held at 5:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and will be led by a member of our Reference Office team.

New HeinOnline Features and Enhancements

2010-08-11T13:21:00.002-04:00

HeinOnline has introduced some new features to its database that will make researching easier and faster. The features include "Did You Mean" which will correct misspelled words and display the alternative spelling for your term. They have also introduced title e-mail alerts which will update you when new content is added to the various database libraries. Lastly, HeinOnline has also added faceted searching to the Taxation & Economic Reform in America, Parts I & II, History of Bankruptcy: Taxation & Economic Reform in America, Part III, and the U.S. Federal Legislative History libraries. Faceted searching provides results from all of these libraries when you run a search in one library. Read and learn about these features at:
http://heinonline.blogspot.com/

Senate Confirms Elena Kagan for U.S. Supreme Court

2010-08-05T16:29:00.002-04:00

The Senate has just confirmed Elena Kagan as the Supreme Court's 112th justice by a vote of 63 to 37. Elena Kagan is the fourth woman named to the court and will serve with two current woman judges including Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. See New York Times article for more information on the confirmation:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/06/us/politics/06kagan.html?hp.

Interesting Article on Plagiarism in the Digital Age

2010-08-04T16:12:00.002-04:00

The New York Times recently published an interesting article on plagiarism for students in the digital age. The article discusses possible causes of plagiarism and other issues within the realm of digital materials on the Internet. Access the article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/education/02cheat.html.

New Federal Register 2.0 Website

2010-07-30T11:34:00.002-04:00

Federal Register 2.0 was recently launched on July 26, 2010 by the Office of the Federal Register and the Government Printing Office. Currently, it is a prototype website which was designed to be user friendly and easily accessible. The site has content divided into six major topics including money, world, business & industry, environment, science & technology, and health & public welfare. Federal Register 2.0 also has new search options by date, agency, topic etc, as well as RSS feeds and social networking tools. Learn more about Federal Register 2.0 at: http://www.federalregister.gov/.

New edition of "The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation"

2010-07-28T17:42:00.002-04:00

The nineteenth edition of "The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation" was recently released this summer. Copies are available at the bookstore and the Gould Law Library. The new edition retains the same basic approach to legal citation as previous editions but there a few changes to the rules. Pace Law Library has compiled an informative list of these changes. Access and learn more about these changes at:
http://pacelawlibrary.blogspot.com/2010/06/changes-in-19th-edition-of-bluebook.html.

New OmniFile Full Text Select Database

2010-07-23T13:30:00.002-04:00

The OmniFile Full Text Select database combines almost all of the subscribed WilsonWeb databases and has full text articles from over 2,700 publications. It also provides access to other WilsonWeb databases including Applied Science & Technology, Education, Humanities, Social Sciences, and more. Learn more about this database at: http://www.hwwilson.com/databases/omnifile_select.cfm.

New Lexis-Nexis Academic Database

2010-07-21T10:09:00.002-04:00

Lexis-Nexis Academic is a comprehensive database which provides access to full-text news, business and legal publications, as well as other sources. The database provides various search options and has updated stories in national and regional newspapers, wire services, broadcast transcripts, international news, and more. There is also a Company Dossier module that provides detailed company information and financial performance as well. Access and learn more about this database at http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic/.

Federal Government Offering Phone Apps

2010-07-08T13:23:00.002-04:00

The U.S. federal government is now offering a number of phone apps through their usa.gov website. The apps include product recalls, UV index, alternate fuel locator, postal service tools, Medlineplus, and more. There are even "customer" reviews available for certain phone apps. Learn more about the phone apps at: http://apps.usa.gov/.

Indlaw and TradeLawGuide Databases

2010-07-08T13:18:00.003-04:00

The Gould Law Library is now subscribing to the following databases:

Indlaw:
This database provides a comprehensive collection of Indian laws, legislation, cases, treaties, articles and more.

TradeLawGuide:
This database provides comprehensive access to World Trade Organization (WTO) law, including decisions, agreements, rules of interpretation, jurisprudence and more.

New Gale Eighteenth Century Collection Online Enhancements

2010-07-06T13:31:00.002-04:00

The Eighteenth Century Collection Online database was recently updated with new enhancements. The database has added 50,000 new titles, contextual essays, and a new updated user interface. Gale has also added new search options including cross-searchable content, keyword in context, expanded download and email options, citation generator and more. Click here to learn more about the enhancements or access the quick PDF overview at: http://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/facts/ECCO.pdf.

Three New Gale Databases

2010-07-01T10:59:00.002-04:00

The Gould Law Library is now subscribing to the following Gale databases:

Academic OneFile:
This database contains over 12,000 journals and reference sources, many of which are peer-reviewed and full text. It has extensive coverage of the law, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and more.

General OneFile:
This general periodical database contains over 12,000 periodicals, newspapers, reference books and multimedia sources, over half of which are full text. Subjects include law, humanities, education, environmental issues, technology, health care, politics and more.

Health Reference Center Academic:
This health database includes over 2,800 journals and magazines, many of which are full text. The database contains nursing and allied health journals, other medical journals, newsletters and consumer health magazines.

Supreme Court Extends Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms to State and Local Levels

2010-06-28T11:32:00.003-04:00

The Supreme Court just ruled in a 5-4 decision that Chicago's ban on handguns is unconstitutional, this decision will extend the Second Amendment's protections to the state and local levels. The Chicago ban on handguns raised several constitutional issues as it barred city residents from bearing arms for their own use. Read the article at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703964104575334701513109426.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEADNewsCollection

Informative Guide on Fair Use

2010-06-24T11:33:00.002-04:00

The Center for Social Media at American University recently released an informative guide on fair use and navigating copyright law for scholarly research. Although the guide is created for communications scholars, it was vetted by a committee of lawyers who provide an accurate synopsis of fair use, copyright and court interpretations involving copyright issues. Access the guide at: http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/fair-use/related-materials/codes/code-best-practices-fair-use-scholarly-research-communication.

Interesting Blog Entry on PACER Fees

2010-06-17T14:05:00.006-04:00

Steve Schultze, Associate Director of the Center for Information Technology Policy at Princeton, recently posted an interesting entry on the issue of PACER fees and the use of its revenues to finance other government programs. Currently, PACER charges $0.08 per page which applies to both pages of search results and documents you retrieve. PACER fees can be expensive to lawyers who frequently require PACER materials but also raises the issue of whether charging fees works against public access to proceedings. Read the entry and learn more about this issue at: http://managingmiracles.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-is-electronic-public-access-to.html.

New LawInfoChina database

2010-06-14T10:09:00.002-04:00

This database provides a comprehensive collection of English-language versions of relevant documents for Chinese law research. It has been tailored specifically to meet the legal research needs of foreigners and foreign organizations interested in Chinese law and other legal areas. The database provides access to Chinese laws, regulations, cases, treaties, law journals, legal news and more. Access and learn more about this database at: http://www.lawinfochina.com/.

Interesting and Helpful Visualizations on Legislative Processes

2010-06-11T11:01:00.002-04:00

The Sunlight Labs Design for America contest was recently held and dealt with amazing ways to view government and imagine new ways for government to serve citizens. The top winners provided excellent visualizations entitled "How a Bill Becomes Law" and "Guide to Senate Floor Procedures." To learn more about these and view other entries please visit:
http://sunlightlabs.com/blog/2010/design-america-winners/.

New enhancement on HeinOnline Law Journal Library Database

2010-06-10T10:46:00.002-04:00

The landing page of the HeinOnline Law Journal Library is now live and has been simplified to make searching journals faster and more efficient. The new page has several search features including a drop down menu with search options and search by citation. Find out more information on these enhancements at: http://heinonline.blogspot.com.

New Leadership Library database

2010-06-04T11:12:00.001-04:00

This unique database provides personnel contact and other background information of the institutional leadership of the United States, including U.S. and state governments, judicial, law and lobbying firms, news media, corporate, nonprofit organizations and more. Access and learn more about this database at: http://ldi.bvdep.com.

New VersusLaw database

2010-06-03T13:24:00.002-04:00

VersusLaw is a comprehensive database which provides fully searchable case law, legal decisions and legal opinions from state and federal appellate courts. It includes case law from the U.S. Supreme Court, federal circuit and district courts, tribal courts and limited foreign jurisdictions. It also provides case law from state appellate courts as well as state statutory resources.
Access and learn more about this database at: http://syndicate.versuslaw.com/research/wfrmSearch.aspx

Federal Judiciary Launches Enhanced Website

2010-05-28T14:45:00.001-04:00

The Federal Judiciary recently launched an enhanced website with a new redesigned PACER site as well. The Judiciary site incorporates new features including email delivery service, mulitmedia tools, widgets and read-aloud service. PACER offers new resources including user manuals, digital audio recordings online, and more. Learn about the new features and access the new websites at: http://www.uscourts.gov/Home.aspx.

New Index to Legal Periodicals Retrospective Database

2010-05-26T15:08:00.002-04:00

The Index to Legal Periodicals Retrospective database indexes over 750 legal periodicals published in the United States and other countries. The database covers dates from 1908 to1981. It covers annual surveys of the laws of a jurisdiction and federal courts, yearbooks, annual institutes, as well as annual reviews of the work in a given field or topic. Subject covered included Administrative Law, Antitrust Legislation, Banking, Constitutional Law, Domestic Relations, Environmental Protection, Estate Planning, Food, Drug & Cosmetic Law, International Law, Labor Law, Landlord/Tenant Decisions, Malpractice Suits and more. Access and learn more about this database at: http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/advancedsearch/advanced_search.jhtml;hwwilsonid=O0CVYIPHELNEJQA3DILCFGOADUNGIIV0?prod=#

Berkeley Electronic Press Law Journals

2010-05-21T14:21:00.002-04:00

The Gould Law Library at Touro Law Center is subscribing to Berkeley Electronic Press law journals. The peer-reviewed journals are available online and cover a range of legal issues and subjects. The journals available include: Asian Journal of Comparative Law, Global Jurist, International Commentary on Evidence, Issues in Legal Scholarship, The Law and Development Review, Law & Ethics of Human Rights, Muslim World Journal of Human Rights, Studies in Ethics, Law, and Technology, Theoretical Inquiries in Law, Review of Law & Economics, and Journal of Tort Law . Visit the "Library Databases" page to access and learn more about the journals: http://www.tourolaw.edu/library/onlinedatabases/.

Supreme Court Rules on Life Terms for Juveniles

2010-05-18T10:41:00.002-04:00

On May 17, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that juveniles may not be locked up in prison for life without the possibility of parole. By a 6-to-3 vote, the Supreme Court ruled that life imprisonment without parole in such cases violated the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. More information and full decision at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/us/politics/18court.html?ref=us.

President Obama Nominates Solicitor General Elena Kagan to U.S. Supreme Court

2010-05-14T12:47:00.002-04:00

On Monday May 10, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court. The HeinOnline Blog has created a special section on Elena Kagan which covers information on the nomination and career background. But HeinOnline has also compiled a number of law review articles authored by Kagan that can help provide information on her views and positions on issues ranging from freedom of speech to government policy making. Read the full article at http://www.heinonline.blogspot.com/.

Law Book Network

2010-05-12T19:04:00.002-04:00

Law Book Network is site that allows you to buy, sell, trade used law books worldwide for free! It serves the the law profession, legal academia and others by establishing a zero-cost online marketplace for used law books as well as other legal material and legal research materials of all formats. Learn more at http://www.lawbook.com/.

The Bruce K. Gould Book Award

2010-04-21T13:46:00.002-04:00

The Bruce K. Gould Book Award will be presented to Kenneth Gormley for The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr this evening, April 21st, 2010. Dean Gormley is the interim dean at Duquesne University School of Law as well as a nationally renowned expert on Watergate and special prosecutors.

The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr has become a national best seller since it's release in February of this year.

Evening Students: Research Tips for Summer Clerkships, Internships and Employment!

2010-04-13T09:21:00.003-04:00

On Monday April 19th Christine Morton and James Durham will be leading a session on free federal and NY legal research tips as well as cost cutting for Lexis and Westlaw and better utilizing Touro resources. Join them on the 19th from 5:20-6:00 pm in the Library's main computer lab!

Lunch with the Librarians- Today!

2010-04-12T11:27:00.001-04:00

Please join James Durham and Christine Morton for research tips for summer clerkships, internships and employment in room 307 from 12:30 to 1:30! The first 20 students to RSVP to James Durham (jdurham@tourolaw.edu) will receive a complementary lunch.

Spring Holiday Hours and Closings

2010-03-23T12:26:00.004-04:00

The Gould Law Library will have special holiday hoours and closing during spring break:

In observance of Passover, the Library will close at 2:45 pm on Monday March 29th and will be closed all day Tuesday and Wednesday March 30th and 31st. We will reopen to students, faculty and staff at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday April 1st. For all other visitors, we will open at 8:00 a.m. *

The library will again be closed on Sunday, April 4th, Monday April 5th and Tuesday, April 6th. The Library will reopen on April 7th at 7:00 a.m. for students faculty and staff and 8:00 a.m. for all other visitors. *

We would like to wish our students, faculty and staff a happy and healthy spring break and holiday season!

*Detailed access policies may be found at here.

New CALI software

2010-01-22T14:08:00.003-05:00

CALI recently released A2J Author, version 3. A2J Author assists legal aid attorneys and court personnel to create computer based, user friendly instructions and forms for use on the Internet. The interviews that are created with A2J Author are intended to enable self-represented litigants to complete court documents that can be filed with a court. A2J Author is currently used in 36 states, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, England, Australia, Canada and Singapore.
A2J Author is available for free to anyone using it for non-commercial purposes. This software can be downloaded at www.a2jauthor.org.

West OnePass

2010-01-22T14:07:00.001-05:00

Westlaw has extended the timeframe for students and faculty to update their account information, username and password. Westlaw users now have until May 31, 2010 to update their West OnePass account.

Winter Break Hours

2009-12-21T17:19:00.002-05:00

Touro Law Center and the Gould Law Library will be closed for winter break from Thursday, December 24, 2009 through Saturday, January 2, 2010.

Law Library Opens 24/6

2009-11-24T19:45:00.005-05:00

The Gould Law Library is open as a study hall 24/6, through Friday, December 18 (the last day of final exams). During this period the library will close Fridays at 3:00 p.m., then reopen Saturdays at 6:00 p.m., but otherwise will be open round-the-clock. The only exception will be Thanksgiving weekend, when the Library will close Wednesday, November 25 at 11:45 p.m., remain closed Thursday and Friday November 26 and 27, then reopen Saturday, November 28 at 7:00 p.m. Students using the library after midnight must sign in and out at the security desk. Library services will not be available during the overnight period, although a security guard will
be on duty.

The Library also will expand its “quiet zone” for finals. Effective Monday, November 23, the entire library (except for the circulation desk, the reference office, and enclosed study rooms) will become a quiet zone to maximize available study space. After exams, the soft seating area on the main floor will resume its status as a quiet conversation area, in accordance with student requests.

Drinks in enclosed containers and light snacks (such as candy and chips) are welcome in the library, but please enjoy other food (sandwiches, salads, hot meals) outside of the library. The library staff extends its support and best wishes to students as the final exam period approaches.

Google Scholar

2009-11-17T15:26:00.003-05:00

Google Scholar now has an Advanced Scholar search option which enables you to search for: patents; legal opinions and journals; United States federal court opinions; and most state court opinions.

Library to Open 24/6 for Final Exam Preparation

2009-11-16T13:22:00.004-05:00

The Gould Law Library will open as a study hall 24/6, beginning Sunday, November 22,through Friday, December 18 (the last day of final exams). During this period the library will close Fridays at 3:00 p.m.,then reopen Saturdays at 6:00 p.m., but otherwise will be open round-the-clock (though no library services will be available overnights). The only exception will be the Thanksgiving weekend, when the Library will close Wednesday, November 25 at 11:45p.m., remain closed Thursday and Friday November 26 and 27, then reopen Saturday, November 28 at 7:00 p.m.

Thanksgiving Schedule

2009-11-10T19:53:00.000-05:00

The Gould Law Library Thanksgiving Schedule

Wednesday, Nov. 25: Closes at 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 26: Closed
Friday, Nov. 27: Closed
Saturday, Nov. 28: Closed
Sunday, Nov. 29: Opens at 9:00 a.m.

Sunlight NY

2009-10-21T17:17:00.004-04:00

Project Sunlight was created in 2007 with the purpose of making New York State government information more readily available in a digital format. This year, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo unveiled Sunlight 2.0 which contains new data and a more user friendly format. Information currently available on this website includes: the 2009-2010 state budget; bill jackets; legislative information; campaign finance records; corporate information; and an interactive map of state local officials.

Legal Research Practice Exercises

2009-10-09T12:28:00.003-04:00

Are you a new legal researcher interested in practicing newly learned skills or a more seasoned law school student interested in reviewing/brushing up on you legal research skills?
Westlaw offers quick ten minute practice exercises on researching using American Law Reports (ALR), case law, key numbers, KeyCite, statutes, and secondary sources. To locate these exercises log onto Westlaw and under the Home tab, click on Westlaw training.

New CALI feature

2009-09-22T17:36:00.003-04:00

CALI has added a new feature to its website, CALI Puzzles. This new section contains crossword puzzles created by several law professors on various legal topics, including family law, torts, discovery and strict liability.

CALI Lessons for Graduated Students

2009-09-04T11:27:00.004-04:00

CALI has extended its lesson access to students for at least six months after graduation. Recently graduated students can continue to access CALI at cali.org with their law school login id.

Half-Hour Library Tours

2009-09-04T10:55:00.000-04:00

The reference staff is offering half-hour library tours to familiarize students with library services and the locations of important legal research sets. No registration is needed. Please arrive in the Reference Office five minutes early. The Reference Office is the glass-walled room located directly behind the Circulation Desk on the main floor of the Gould Law Library.

• Wed., Sept. 9, 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. (Roy Sturgeon)
• Wed., Sept. 9, 5:30 – 6:00 p.m. (Christopher Tucker)
• Thurs., Sept. 10, 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. (Roy Sturgeon)
• Thurs., Sept. 10, 5:30 – 6:00 p.m. (Christopher Tucker)

Fast Library Facts

2009-08-25T18:26:00.003-04:00

Welcome (back) to the Gould Law Library! The following are a few quick facts intended to (re)acclimate students to the library:
• Library hours can be located on the library’s webpage at http://www.tourolaw.edu/library/hours%20and%20calendar.asp• The Library has thirteen study rooms available by reservation through the Library Circulation Desk.
• The Library subscribes to a variety of online databases, including Westlaw, Lexis, JSTOR and HeinOnline, all of which can be accessed via http://www.tourolaw.edu/library/onlinedatabases/.
• Light snacks (chips, pretzels, candy) and beverages in spill-proof containers are permitted in the Library.
• For a complete description of Library policies and services please see the Library Guide.

Library Superhero Video

2009-08-18T20:30:00.003-04:00

James Durham, Head of Public Services for the Gould Law Library, has created a short video called “Library Superhero.” The video captures a first-year law student who faces the vast unknown… and a Library Superhero.

Employment Delays

2009-07-21T19:50:00.004-04:00

According to an article in yesterday's New York Law Journal, Weil, Gotshal & Manges will delay the start dates for some of its summer associates who receive employment offers this year until 2012. Associates who accept the deferment will receive a $75,000 stipend and health benefits and will be expected to complete 1,000 hours of public service.

Free PACER Dockets

2009-07-17T14:09:00.003-04:00

FreeCourtDockets.com is a new website that offers free access to dockets that originate from PACER. Currently, dockets from the following courts can be accessed: U.S. District Civil and Criminal Courts, U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, Federal Court of Claims and International Court of Trade, and the U.S. Supreme Court. (The Supreme Court's docket is available through the its own database as opposed to PACER.)

Updated Resource for US Supreme Court Nominee

2009-07-14T18:33:00.003-04:00

The Senate Committee hearing for U.S. Second Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayer's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court bench can be viewed via webcast at the U.S. Senate Committee on Judiciary website.

Library of Congress and Social Networking

2009-07-14T18:28:00.005-04:00

The Library of Congress has recently joined Facebook! You can also keep up-to-date with and follow the Library of Congress through Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and iTunesU.

New West Programs

2009-07-06T19:48:00.004-04:00

West recently announced two new programs that are aimed at supporting pro bono initiatives as well as supporting displaced attorneys seeking new employment or networking opprotunities.
Do Justice is a program that supports law firm pro bono initiatives by providing Westlaw access to firms engaging in pro bono work.
Between Cases is an online resource for unemployed lawyers that provides job search tools, legal education opportunities, and special Westlaw offers. Between Cases also offers displaced lawyers freee resources to engage in pro bono activities.

LexisNexis for Recent Grads

2009-06-29T19:44:00.002-04:00

LexisNexis has recently launched a new program which offers complimentary Lexis service to 2009 law school graduates engaging in public interest work. The program entitled LexisNexis Associates Serving Public Interest Research (ASPIRE) will provide qualifying law school graduates with access to federal and state caselaw, codes, regulations and law reviews through September 2010.
To join this program, go to www.lexisnexis.com/aspire.

Recent US Supreme Court decisions

2009-06-29T19:30:00.006-04:00

The U.S. Supreme Court concluded its 2008-2009 term today. The Court's final two decisions for this term were Cuomo, Attorney General of New York v. Clearing House Association and Ricci et al. v. DeStefano. The Cuomo case addressed whether several national banks violated New York's fair lending laws and the Ricci case dealt with an issue of discrimination within a firefighter

Extended Hours for Bar Exam Preparation

2009-06-08T14:47:00.002-04:00

Friday Study Hall in the Gould Law Library

To assist Touro students who are studying for July bar exams, the Gould Law Library will remain open as a study hall each Friday afternoon from 2:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. through Friday, July 24. As usual, circulation and reference services will close at 2:45 p.m. on Fridays, but a security guard will be available in the law school atrium. Happy studying!
The new hours are effective beginning on Friday, June 12, 2009 through Friday July, 24, 2009.

Resource for Supreme Court Nominee

2009-06-02T18:40:00.005-04:00

The Law Library of Congress recently launched a new legal resource containing information about Supreme Court nominee and current justice of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals Sonia Sotomayor. This site contains links to articles and books written by Judge Sotomayor; transcripts of her two confirmation hearings; and web resources pertaining to Judge Sotomayor.
The site can be accessed at http://www.loc.gov/law/find/sotomayor.php.

Summer Bar Study

2009-05-19T18:28:00.005-04:00

Many area law school libraries have restricted summer access for students from other law schools who are studying for the bar and several require that a pass be purchased to use the library.
A chart detailing the bar access policies of area law schools can be accessed here or through the library's homepage at http://www.tourolaw.edu/library.

Summer Library Hours

2009-05-18T20:11:00.000-04:00

Effective Thursday, May 21-Saturday, August 15, 2009 (for Touro Law
students, faculty and administration):
Sunday: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. *
Monday-Thursday: 7:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m. *
Friday: 7:00 a.m.-2:45 p.m.*
Saturday: closed.
* From 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. Monday-Friday, and from 11:45 p.m.-2:00 a.m.
Sunday through Thursday, the Library is open as a study hall. Circulation
and reference services are not available during these times.
The Library will be closed on the following dates: Sunday, May 24
(Commencement); Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day); Thursday, May 28
(Shavuot-closes at 2:45 p.m.); Friday, May 29 (Shavuot); and Friday, July 3
(Independence Day).
Updates to the library calendar, as well as visitor hours for Friends of the
Library and Alumni Association members, are available online at
http://www.tourolaw.edu/library/.

Library Survey

2009-05-04T15:13:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to third year student Kathryn Fieseler, who won a Starbucks giftcard by responding to the Library's Monthly Survey for April.

Library Monthly Survey

2009-04-20T18:08:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to student Lisa Brockington, the winner of a $5.00 Starbucks giftcard. Lisa won the giftcard by completing the Library's Monthly Survey for March.
To be eligible to win a $5.00 giftcard, you must complete the Library's monthly poll which can be accessed from the Library's webpage.

Library Extended Hours

2009-04-20T18:08:00.001-04:00

The Gould Law Library will be open as a study hall around the clock through Wednesday, May 20, except for Friday afternoon-Saturday evening. The Library will close Friday afternoons at 5:00 pm (in observance of the Jewish Sabbath), but will reopen Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm. Except for that closing period, the Library will remain open 24 hours a day. Students using the Library after midnight will be asked to sign in at the security desk. There will be no Library services available during the overnight period.

Legal Blogs

2009-04-13T18:16:00.003-04:00

Interested in searching for or reading blogs on legal topics?

The Library of Congress has compiled an online collection of legal blogs which can be searched by keyword, subject, name or title. This online collection covers legal topics such as: antitrust; civil procedure; constitutional law; criminal law; family law; intellectual property; legal ethics and tax.

Nassau Academy of Law Moot Court Competition

2009-04-13T18:08:00.002-04:00

Today's New York Law Journal reported that a team of Touro Law Center students won the Nassau Academy of Law Moot Court Competition. This was Touro's third straight victory at this competition.
Congratulations to the Touro team of Jessica Mannix, Scott B. MacLagan and coach Catherine Reyes on their success!

Library Surveys and Starbucks Giftcard

2009-04-07T18:53:00.002-04:00

In order to better serve the Touro community and to gather greater user feedback, each month the Library will be posting a short poll. Please take a few moments to complete February’s survey located on the Library’s webpage at http://www.tourolaw.edu/library/ in the column labeled About the Gould Law Library.

If you complete the survey, you will be entered into a drawing to win a $5 Starbucks giftcard.

New CALI Lessons

2009-04-06T16:14:00.002-04:00

CALI (The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction)has just posted new lessons on its website. The new lessons are in the following areas of law: Contracts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure, Legal Research, Professional Responsibility and Real Estate Law.

Westlaw and Lexis Summer Access

2009-04-03T10:14:00.001-04:00

Both Lexis and Westlaw limit students’ access to these databases during the summer. However, access may be extended during the summer months for students who are: taking summer courses; working as research assistants for professors; conducting research for law review or moot court; or involved in a non-profit organization. To extend a Westlaw password please go to: www.lawschool.westlaw.com. For Lexis, go to: www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool. Once logged on, both databases have banners on their homepages advertising summer access registration.

A Cookie with the Librarians: Research Skills for Summer Jobs and Clerkships

2009-03-27T11:20:00.000-04:00

Monday, April 6, from 2:30 - 3:20 p.m. in the FCR (Faculty Conference Room / located next to the cafeteria). Two librarian / lawyers, Christine Morton and James Durham, will provide cost-effective, in-depth research suggestions for your summer job or clerkship. The session will highlight free web sites for New York legal research, subscription databases available to you as a Touro student, and guidelines for using Lexis and Westlaw in an employment setting. Chocolate chip cookies and beverages are provided to the attendees. Please RSVP by email to JDurham@tourolaw.edu.

Library Opens 24/6

2009-03-27T09:10:00.001-04:00

Library Opens 24/6 for Final Exam Preparation
By James G. Durham, Head of Public Services

Beginning on Sunday, April 19 and ending on Wednesday, May 20 at 11:45 p.m., the Gould Law Library will be open as a study hall around the clock, except for Friday afternoon – Saturday evening. The Library will close on Friday afternoons at 5:00 p.m. (in observance of the Jewish Sabbath), but will reopen on Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. Except for that closing period, the Library will remain open 24 hours a day. Students using the Library after midnight will be asked to sign in at the security desk. There will be no Library services available during the overnight period. The library staff extends best wishes as our student body enters the final exams period.

Library Training: Using the Library’s Online Public Access Catalog for Legal Research

2009-03-23T15:30:00.001-04:00

The Gould Law Library has many useful resources which may be found using our Online Public Access Catalog (“OPAC”). Learning how to use this tool will allow students to more effectively and completely research legal topics and beyond- OPACs are now found in almost all libraries and information centers. On Monday March 30, at 2:30 learn more about the OPAC by stopping by room L308 (the library’s large computer lab). Christine Morton, Reference Librarian, will be giving a short presentation on how to use our catalog.

CALI

2009-02-26T11:11:00.008-05:00

CALI (the Center for Computer Assisted Legal Instruction) has posted five new lessons on its website. These lessons address the topics of criminal procedure, constitutional law and real estate transactions.
Also, the library still has copies of the 2008 CALI Lessons DVD. If you would like a copy, please stop by the Reference Office located on the first floor of the library.

Directory of Lawyer Licensing Databases

2009-02-19T13:27:00.005-05:00

A recent article published on llrx.com contains a state-by-state directory of lawyer licensing databases and telephone numbers. This directory is extremely useful for anyone who is looking to ascertain in which state(s) a lawyer is licensed to practice.
This article was published in January 2009 and is an update to an article originally published in December 2006.