Law Librarianship Commons^™

Using Westlaw And Lexis: The Many Ways In, Joshua Levine

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Researching the law depends on finding connections between information. No case or statute exists in a vacuum. The primary advantage of using Westlaw and Lexis is that they point out, on a high level, the connections between individual resources. It is disappointing how often students use natural language search terms or basic AI queries to find all their answers. Within the limitations of class time, it is essential to teach our students as much as possible how pieces of information are connected on these platforms.

Making The Most Of Limited Time, Joshua Levine

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One of the biggest challenges I have encountered as an advanced legal research instructor is getting everything accomplished that I want to during a class session. The most time I have ever had to get through a class session is one hour and twenty minutes – and this includes lecturing, demonstrations, in-class exercises, and going over those exercises. In particular, it’s challenging to balance giving students enough time to complete their exercises with everything else that needs to be done.

State-Specific Secondary Sources, Joshua Levine

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As legal research instructors, we regularly teach students that it’s a good idea to start their research with secondary sources. If the research issue falls under the law of a specific state, it’s especially helpful to consult a secondary source that discusses that law of that state. However, you might not find relevant state-specific secondary sources – they simply might not be available – and that poses a special set of challenges.

Active Learning And Notetaking, Joshua Levine

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This past summer, when I attended my third AALL Conference, I signed up to review a program for the ALL-SIS newsletter. I agreed to report on “AI in Law Libraries: Discussing Ethical Considerations and a Way Forward.” I had attended numerous presentations over three years, but this was the first time I analyzed a program in depth. I needed to make detailed notes about what the participants said, as well as what questions were asked and how the speakers responded to them. Then, I had to synthesize my notes and turn them into an effective program review, about 500-700 words …

The Volume Of Information, Joshua Levine

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Judge Roy Bean was a legendary justice of the peace in Texas, known as the “Law West of the Pecos.” However, he was not known for his encyclopedic knowledge of the law. Judge Bean “had only one law book, a copy of the Revised Statutes of Texas, printed in 1879, as authorized by the Sixteenth Texas Legislature.” He relied exclusively on that book, and “[e]ven though the legislature sent him new books every two years, reflecting new laws, he burned them. He said he liked the old book better and he like those laws better, too.”

Retrieving Information: An Analogy, Joshua Levine

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A major part of being an effective legal information professional is knowing where to look at the beginning of your search. In this profession, you typically have a wide range of information resources at your fingertips. Mastering those resources, and being able to make an educated guess about where something might be found, are vital in this field.

Write What You Know, Joshua Levine

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Writing a fact pattern is more challenging than it looks. This is something I learned when I created my first fact pattern for Advanced Legal Research. To accomplish this, I relied on the maxim, “Write what you know.”

Understanding Public Domain Case Citations, Joshua Levine

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I first learned about public domain citations after law school, when I was working on a fifty-state survey. I was completely used to parentheticals that included the deciding court and the year of decision, so I couldn’t understand the examples I found from certain states. I thought that surely something was missing from these citations!

Bluebook Vs. Alwd, Joshua Levine

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During law school and afterwards, the one citation guide I relied on was The Bluebook. Its rules, explanations, and organization defined how I cited legal resources. Any limitations or gaps in The Bluebook caused me frustration and forced me to get creative, as I figured out solutions that seemed consistent with the rules.

The Challenge Of Legal Citation Systems, Joshua Levine

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Mastering legal citation means understanding multiple citation systems. In addition to the Bluebook, fifty states produce fifty sets of laws, and each state decides how it wants its own materials to be cited. For case law, the Bluebook advises authors to use the West Reporter citations if available, but to add public domain citations if a state uses them. However, a state’s internal rules may require citation to the official state reports. All this creates a maze of rules that practitioners need to follow. Legal citation presents difficulties for law students that law librarians and instructors need to appreciate, so …

Practice Makes Perfect – Or At Least Better!, Joshua Levine

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This fall, I will teach my third semester of Advanced Legal Research at Cardozo School of Law. With the support of the library, I have learned a great deal about how to teach effectively over the past year. They gave me the opportunity to conduct a mock ALR class this summer, which helped me tremendously. In this post, I will describe my journey as a new adjunct professor.

New Study Shows Legal Research Platform Ai Tools Do, In Fact, Hallucinate, Olivia Smith Schlinck

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For better or worse, artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the legal landscape. But a recent study highlights a critical issue: AI’s tendency to “hallucinate,” or generate false information. This problem raises significant concerns about the reliability of AI in legal practice.

The Seminar Paper Topics Graveyard, Olivia Smith Schlinck

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I often teach one-off academic research instruction sessions for law students, for either those working on a journal or those in a writing seminar.

My approach to these sessions is relatively standard—demonstrate the sources and strategies for academic legal research—but tailored to the individual needs and overall topic of each course. One of my favorite ways to personalize a session is to demonstrate the research process using a topic that matches the class itself. A “fake paper,” if you will.

Legal Research And The Declining Usefulness Of Google Search, Olivia Smith Schlinck

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A new year-long study on internet search engine results has rocked the librarian and information worlds: yes, Google really is getting worse.

Book Review: Connecticut Legal Research [2nd] By Anne Rajotte & Jessica Rubin, Joshua Levine

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Connecticut Legal Research is part of a series of guides for legal researchers in individual states. The second edition of the series’ Connecticut volume is completely revised from the first edition and has different authors. The authors have the goal of explaining the sources of Connecticut law and the process of conducting legal research effectively, not only in the context of Connecticut, but more generally with federal and national resources. They succeed in that goal, giving detailed information about Connecticut law and resources for research, as well as extensive discussion of the legal research process overall.

Book Review: Hawai‘I Legal Research By Victoria Szymczak, Cory Lenz, And Roberta Woods, Joshua Levine

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As a former independent kingdom that became a state in the United States, Hawai‘i has a unique legal history and culture. Research into Hawaiian law requires an awareness of the legal research issues that are common to every U.S. state, as well as issues specific to Hawai‘i. This first edition of Hawai‘i Legal Research meets the needs of researchers who are new to Hawaiian law, whether they are law students researching for the first time or more experienced practitioners. In addition to covering Hawai‘i state legal research, the authors discuss more general strategies that are useful for any researcher, including …

‘Tis The Season For Finals & Study Aids, Olivia Smith Schlinck

Library Staff Online Writings

We’re in November, and finals are just around the corner. That means busier libraries, stressed students, and, for many, study aids. Can your students get these materials through your institution, or must they look elsewhere?

The 80/20 Rule For Legal Research, Olivia Smith Schlinck

Library Staff Online Writings

A few semesters ago I was discussing the value of secondary sources with a student when they paused to think, then described secondary sources as “kind of like the 80/20 Rule, but different.” I’d never heard of the 80/20 Rule, but I jotted it down onto a Post-It note to look into later. Fast-forward to today and I now introduce my students to what I’ve dubbed “the 80/20 Rule for Legal Research” in all classes about secondary sources.

A New Adventure: Time Blocking & Time Tracking, Olivia Smith Schlinck

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New school year, new organizational strategy!—that’s how the saying goes, right?

I’m one of those people who finds unending joy in starting a new organizational scheme. Particularly if there’s a pretty, flowery, probably too-expensive paper planner involved. And at the beginning of the school year? *chef’s kiss*

Book Bans, Academic Freedom, And The Academic Law Library: Reflections On An Aall Discussion Den, Olivia Smith Schlinck

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Discussion Dens are consistently among my favorite programs at the AALL Annual Meeting, and Leslie Street’s Book Bans, Academic Freedom, and the Academic Law Library discussion was truly a highlight of AALL 2023. Street approached this difficult and ever-evolving issue with expertise, passion, and open-mindedness, guiding the group to consider: what can law librarians do to support our colleagues in states facing books bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) bases?

Law Librarians, Let’S Talk About Book Banning, Olivia Smith Schlinck

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As seems to be the new normal, there is a lot happening in the news (*gestures vaguely around*). It’s easy to focus on a few issues at the expense of others or to get overwhelmed and check out entirely. But there is one issue that keeping tabs on feels like a professional obligation: book banning.

Oh No, Another Chatgpt Post: Incorporating Ai-Powered Chatbots Into Legal Research Exercises And Assignments, Olivia Smith Schlinck

Library Staff Online Writings

Since it was launched at the end of November 2022, the discourse around ChatGPT and AI search tools has been unrelenting. What impact will AI-powered chatbots have on education? Will students submit ChatGPT-written essays and homework assignments? Will AI make lawyers obsolete? Look, this chatbot just passed the bar exam! Wait a minute—is this thing. . . sentient?

Which Office Essentials Are Actually Essential? I Relocated To The Conference Room To Find Out!, Olivia Smith Schlinck

Library Staff Online Writings

Hello and Happy New Year from my office home office temporary office/library conference room! January always brings new opportunities and challenges, but over here in NYC those challenges began at the end of 2022 when on Christmas Day three pipes burst at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, causing significant flooding throughout the building including—where else—the law library. And my office. What’s the saying? New Year, new temporary workspace? Something about this feels vaguely early-pandemic to me.

The “Food Blog” Scroll And Its Impact On Online Legal Research, Olivia Smith Schlinck

Library Staff Online Writings

After transitioning from a written to a “live” format for assignments in my Advanced Legal Research class, I noticed a vaguely familiar pattern of students unintentionally scrolling past relevant information on their screens.

Academic Law Librarian Credentials And Student Loan Debt, Olivia Smith Schlinck

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When Joe Biden announced some student loan debt forgiveness last week, borrowers everywhere let out a collective (if muted) sigh of relief: finally. The student loan debt crisis and resulting debate is well-documented and I won’t go into more detail on it in general. But I’ve been thinking about the relationship between student debt and librarian credentials and the emerging crisis in academic law libraries: too many job openings, not enough qualified candidates. It’s all connected. But how?

We’Re All Historical Researchers Now: The Impact Of Dobbs On Legal Research Instruction, Olivia Smith Schlinck

Library Staff Online Writings

Congratulations, it’s July, which means you have officially survived what may very well be considered the most consequential Supreme Court term in the history of the United States. Simply existing in this country over the past few weeks (months? years?) feels like trying to swim through rapidly drying concrete. Avoiding the news is impossible if for no other reason than the direct impact so much of the news of late has on the job of a law librarian. Imagine teaching a legal research class at the end of this past SCOTUS sitting? I’ll spare you the image because I did, …

Using “Live” Assignments For Formative Assessment, Olivia Smith Schlinck

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At the Teaching the Teachers Conference a few weeks ago, I gave a demonstration of a formative assessment style we’ve been using at my institution for the past year and a half: a live assignment, AKA the Research Practicum. The presentation was virtual; COVID struck, of course, and I couldn’t get on a plane and fly to Portland. Fortunately, the nature of this assessment lends itself beautifully to a pivot to virtual because it is already entirely virtual. The Research Practicum uses Zoom or some other video conferencing platform and asks students to research while sharing their screen as their …

How I’M Spending My Summer (Getting Acclimated To The Physical Workplace), Olivia Smith Schlinck

Library Staff Online Writings

It’s mid-May which, in the law school world, means finals, grading, graduation and the impending summer. As the spring semester winds to a close, I’ve been finding myself staring at a mostly blank – beautifully, thankfully blank – summer calendar and wondering: how will I fill my time?

Using The “Scholarship As Conversation” Frame To Explain The Importance Of Inclusive Citation, Olivia Smith Schlinck

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It’s been nearly two years since the largest civil rights movement – the protests stemming from the murder of George Floyd by a police officer – swept the United States. That means it has also been nearly two years since law schools across the country released statements and created taskforces and enacted initiatives to inject principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into the school halls.

On The Academic Librarian Pay Disparity, Olivia Smith Schlinck

Library Staff Online Writings

Last month, I posted to this blog the results of my study comparing the salaries of tenure-track law professors and law librarians who teach required, credit-bearing classes. The reaction was overwhelming; clearly, the proof that law librarians were underpaid – something many librarians had assumed for many years – hit a chord within the profession. Librarians across the country contacted me publicly and privately to express their shock (or lack thereof), their frustration, their personal anecdotes about being underpaid and struggling to make ends meet. Eventually, this culminated in an event hosted by the AALL Research Crits Caucus on Monday, …