Author: Lynn Lenart, Law Librarian

Keep your profiles up-to-date on Westlaw and LexisNexis

At least once-a-year law students should update their profiles on Lexis and Westlaw.  Follow the instructions below to access your profiles.  Check your e-mail address and make sure it is the correct address.   The faculty may use the e-mail function in TWEN or Lexis Web Course to send e-mails to their students, but if your address is not correct, you will not receive the e-mail.  Also, verify your graduation date.  You do not want your passwords to expire prematurely.

Here is how you can update your profile on Westlaw and Lexis.

For Westlaw: Log into Westlaw http://lawschool.westlaw.com/ and on the left side of the page next to your name is the UPDATE link.  Click on that link to update your profile.

For Lexis: Log into LexisNexis http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/ and under the Settings link at the top right corner, click on My Lexis.

Questions?  Contact Lynn Lenart, 330-972-6357, llenart@uakron.edu , office 269, Law Library, second floor.

How to Brief a Case

Try this CALI lesson for some practice on briefing a case. Take this online interactive tutorial through the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) website.  The University of Akron School of Law provides access to CALI for our law students.  There are over 900 lessons and drills covering substantive legal topics and legal skills.

Here is a description about the lesson:

“This is an exercise designed to introduce first-semester law students to the basic elements of a typical case “brief” and to teach them general methodology for writing their own briefs. The exercise consists of three parts: (1) an introduction to the purposes and uses of a case brief; (2) a detailed examination of each of the ten components of a typical case brief (with examples); and (3) two actual cases that students are asked to read and then to brief.”

Lesson Completion Time: 2 hours
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.

Where Does the Law Come From?

Learn about 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.  Take this online interactive tutorial through the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) website.  The University of Akron School of Law provides access to CALI for our law students.  There are over 900 lessons and drills covering substantive legal topics and legal skills.

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 packet 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. 

3 New Library Guides Added this Summer

For the law students, see the How Do I…?  This library guide has Frequently Asked Questions on conducting research.

For the Legal Clinic, see Expungement, Certificate of Qualification for Employment and Clemency a library guide for the Reentry Clinics.

For community patrons, see Representing Yourself in Court, instructions for the pro se patron.

The complete list of Law Library Guides are here.

Lynn Lenart, , 330-972-6357

Assistant Law Librarian for Reference Services, University of Akron School of Law Library

llenart@uakron.edu