Author: Lynn Lenart, Law Librarian

This CALI lesson covers the structure and function of the 3 branches of the Unites States government, how each branch makes laws and the checks and balances in place that prevent one branch from acquiring too much power.   Even if you are comfortable with how our law is made, it might be wise to work through this short review.  It is a very fast lesson and, like all of the CALI lessons, you learn a lot without realizing it.
Lesson Completion Time: 30 minutes
CALI Password: First year law students- see the Orientation Materials for your CALI password or stop in at the Law Library.
How to find this lesson: Follow this link to CALI and log-in.
Questions?  Contact Lynn Lenart, Assistant Law Librarian for Reference Services.  330-972-6357, llenart@uakron.edu, Law Library, second floor, office 269. 

LexisNexis is moving to a single ID system to simplify the way faculty and students access LexisNexis products. You will only need your Lexis Advance ID to use Lexis Advance, lexis.com, Web Courses and the Law School home page.  If you have already registered your Lexis Advance ID, no further action is needed.  If you saved your  Lexis Advance log-in by checking the Remember Me box, you will automatically be logged in to the new LexisNexis for Law Schools web page.  Again, no further action is needed!

The LexisNexis for Law Schools web page is updated with a new “look and feel.”  From the new LexisNexis for Law Schools web page, click on Lexis Advance in the upper left corner to go into Lexis Advance.

What about Lexis.com?
Yes, you can still access Lexis.com. It will be available through Lexis Advance.  After logging into to Lexis Advance, click on the red Research tab in the upper left corner and then select lexis.com.

If you have Alerts set up on Lexis.com, you need to set them up on Lexis Advance to continue receiving updates.

If you do not have a Lexis Advance ID or have questions, please contact Jennifer Durkin  jennifer.durkin@lexisnexis.com.

WestlawNext users only have an option to print to their attached printers or to the Law School’s network printers.   You can print as PDF or in a word processor format.

In Westlaw Classic, the Westlaw printer icon (on the right) shows but will not print to the Westlaw printer.  To print from Westlaw Classic:

1. Use the left Quick Print icon to send prints to the attached printer or Law School’s network printers.
2. You can use the right printer icon but make sure to select “attached printer” from the drop down option in the print box.

Other Options
There are new features in WestlawNext that should help you transition from paper to a more ‘green’ digital world.  Electronic file sharing is common in law firms so developing good habits now as a law student helps in preparing you for the work world.

Folders
Use folders to save all your work and easily share with fellow Akron law students or faculty. Your folders are located in WestlawNext in the upper right corner.  Your saved material in the folders is automatically updated by Westlaw and always reflects current law.  There is no limit in the number of documents you can save in your folders.

Instructions: for Saving to a Folder  or Folder Sharing.

History
Don’t worry if you forget to save your research in a folder.  Your research history is automatically saved for one year; including all document views and searches.  You can also search within your history or use filters to find specific documents.

Questions?  Contact Lynn Lenart, 330-972-6357, llenart@uakron.edu

“Law Practice- Starting a Law Practice“ is a new library guide for attorneys starting out in practice.  The guide provides resources for attorneys starting out solo or any small niche practice or boutique law firm.  The library guide is organized by tabs covering law practice management, marketing & networking, attorney-client relationships, practice materials, and how to choose a legal research vendor.  The library guide links to many resources readily available on the web and books owned by the Law Library.

Lynn Lenart, llenart@uakron.edu, 330-972-6357
Assistant Law Librarian for Reference Services

 

 

There are several legal research systems available to law students and faculty, making it difficult to decide which database to use for your research projects.  The Law Library has a library guide giving very basic information about each of the databases and the legal research vendors have many helpful guides on their websites.

For a quick comparison, here is a chart that lists similarities and differences between the 3 major legal research systems- WestlawNext, Lexis Advance and Bloomberg Law.

Questions?  Contact Lynn Lenart, 330-972-6357, llenart@uakron.edu