Category: Law Library

Law Library Reading & Final Exam Period Information

OASP materials and Sum and Substance
The circulation period and overdue fines for these materials will change November 25 and continue through the end of the semester. These materials will circulate for only 24 hours (instead of 72) and no renewals will be allowed.  Overdue fines for these materials will increase from $1.00 per day to $5.00 per day.

These changes provide access to the materials for a greater number of students. If you have questions regarding these changes please stop by the Circulation Desk and ask to speak with Ms. Floyd or Ms. Nevins.

School of Law Sample Exams
The University of Akron School of Law sample exams are available online through Springboard. Log on to Springboard (https://springboard.uakron.edu/) using your UANet ID and Password and follow the link for Law School Sample Exams – Ongoing.

Reading and Final Exam Period Extended Law Library Hours

Sat & Sun, 11/28 – 11/29 – 9:00am – Midnight
Mon – Fri, 11/30 – 12/4 – 7:00am – Midnight
Sat, 12/5 – 8:00am – Midnight
Sun, 12/6 – 9:00am – Midnight
Mon. – Fri., 12/7 – 12/11 – 7:00am – Midnight
Sat, 12/12 – 8:00am – 6:00 pm

Law Students are Studying
It is the time of the semester when students are preparing for exams. Please be courteous of your fellow students and help control the noise level throughout the Law Library.  Thank you.

Food for Fines

Food for Fines

Students, faculty, and staff with late fines may donate nonperishable food items and receive credit toward library fine balances. The program benefits the Akron-Canton Food Bank.

2 nonperishable food items = 1 dollar credit

Sorry, this offer cannot be used to pay for lost or unreturned materials. There is no limit to how many food items you may donate. The Law Library will be accepting food items from November 16 through December 4.

Food items may be donated at the Law Library Circulation Desk.

Most needed items include peanut butter, boxed cereal, and canned vegetables and fruit.

This is just a periodic reminder to protect your belongings

Please do not leave your valuables alone anywhere in the School of Law.  Your textbooks, bookbags, purses, laptops and other belongings can be easily taken in just “30 seconds.”

We welcome visitors to the School of Law and to the Law Library, both those associated with the University and those who are not.  Having open doors, however, also means anyone can come into the building.  It would be wise to always be careful and make it a habit to never leave your belongings unattended.

How to Prevent Plagiarism

Plagiarism, as defined on the University of Akron Office of General Counsel web page, “is the intentional or unintentional use of the words or ideas of another without acknowledging their source.”1 (emphasis added)  Deliberate and accidental plagiarism are treated the same by the University and the School of Law.  The University places the responsibility on the students to know what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.  

Most students know to cite the source when they directly quote from another work, but did you know that the following are also examples of plagiarizing? 

  • ● Substituting synonyms for words used from another work without acknowledging the source.  This is called “Word Switch Plagiarism.”
  • ● Rearranging  words, phrases, or sentences without properly citing the work.  This is another example of “Word Switch Plagiarism.”
  • ● Summarizing or paraphrasing from another work without properly citing the source.  
  • ● Paraphrasing in a way to change the author’s meaning of the passage used.
  • ● Using the same organizational structure as another source without properly acknowledging the source.  This is called “Organization Plagiarism.”
  • ● Using another’s creative idea or solution to a problem without acknowledging the source.   This is called “Idea Plagiarism.”

Law students caught plagiarizing will be violating the Law School’s Student Disciplinary Code and will be subject to proceedings under the Code.2   The consequences can be severe and may include dismissal from the University.

 The General Rule to follow to avoid plagiarizing is “when in doubt, cite the source.”  Use the links below to familiarize yourself with plagiarism and how to avoid it.  Always remember, if you have a question about what to cite in your research, ask the instructor of your course or ask a law librarian.   It is so easy to ask for help and avoid plagiarism.

For a quick review on plagiarism, try this short CALI lesson called Plagiarism – Keeping Out of Trouble.

1.  The University of Akron Office of General Counsel – Guidelines for avoiding plagiarism – The University of Akron Office of General Counsel.  “Under University Rule 3359-41-02, plagiarism constitutes a type of student misconduct that is punishable by formal disciplinary probation, suspension, or dismissal from the University.  It is the responsibility of all University of Akron students to know what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.” 

2.  Law Student Handbook.  Click on the handbook for your year of admission and then go to the Student Disciplinary Code section.

3.  Read the General Writing Requirements (GWR) or the Individual Studies & Research (ISR) instructions carefully.  They also have instructions on avoiding plagiarism. 

4.  CALI Lesson: Plagiarism – Keeping Out of Trouble   This lesson will explain what constitutes plagiarism, how to avoid plagiarizing, and will offer opportunities for students to test their understanding of plagiarism.

5.  The Law Library offers other useful links about plagiarism.

Lynn Lenart
Assistant Law Librarian for Reference Services
llenart@uakron.edu