If Cornell is the “Lady Gaga” of law schools, who is Akron Law?

It all started when Ashby Jones opened her WSJ Law Blog post with this: “Cornell is the Lady Gaga of the law-school world. Both are white hot, but the explanations behind each’s popularity don’t don’t fully add up.” Then Above the Law’s David Lat joined in with (among others): “If Cornell is Lady Gaga, maybe Harvard is Madonna — older, wealthier, and who Cornell aspires to be.” Leading to the obvious question–if Cornell is Lady Gaga, who is the UA School of Law?

 Play along at the Akron Law Café.

LEXIS and WESTLAW Academic Password Use

Your law school passwords for LEXIS and WESTLAW must only be used for educational purposes directly related to coursework at the law school.  Other use may be a violation of the Student Disciplinary Code and a breach of our contracts with LEXIS and WESTLAW.  Using LEXIS or WESTLAW to do research in a paid position as a law clerk, intern, or clinician working for a firm, governmental entity or a nonprofit organization would violate the Student Disciplinary Code.  Also, you are not permitted to conduct legal research on LEXIS and WESTLAW for friends and family.

In addition to sanctions by the School of Law, a contract violation can result in having to pay the vendors for the services misused.  Repayment will be at commercial rates of about $2.00 – $5.00 per minute.  Moreover, violators are likely to lose their privileges to use LEXIS and WESTLAW as students.  A pattern of violations at our school could result in the vendors canceling our contracts, which would have a devastating impact on all students and faculty.

 For a copy of Westlaw’s and LexisNexis’ policy concerning academic passwords follow the links on the Password Use web page.

Don’t Forget Casemaker

As an alternative to using Lexis or Westlaw, you may use Casemaker, the database available from the Ohio State Bar Association.  All Ohio law students may join the Ohio State Bar Association for free and your free membership includes access to Casemaker.  Casemaker has no academic password restrictions so you can use it to conduct research for your summer jobs.

Questions?

Any question concerning what is proper or improper use of LEXIS or WESTLAW should be directed to Ms. Lenart or Mr. Richert.

Ms. Lenart, Assistant Law Librarian for Reference Services

330-972-6357

llenart@uakron.edu

Career Planning Workshop Today, Wed., March 10 at 12:15 — Small/Solo Law Firm Practice. Lunch will be Served.

Wednesday, March 10 from 12:15 – 1:15 – Room W-206 — Solo/Small Practice Workshop

How Do I Set up my own Law Practice and how do I uncover jobs at small firms?”– hear from several local solo practitioners (Jonea Shade, Paul Colavecchio and Susan Durr) about their career paths and how to set up your own law practice. Panelists will also share insight on how to uncover jobs with solo and small firms. Lunch will be served to those who attend!

Mahoning County Bar Association Scholarship

The Mahoning County Bar Foundation is a non-profit organization, primarily funded by the members of the Mahoning County Bar Association. Each year it funds scholarships for persons having substantial ties to the Mahoning Valley who are about to enter, or who have already entered, law school. These scholarships typically range from $1,000-2,000 and will be paid directly to the law school toward your tuition.

For an application, please contact Adam Messner at apm@uakron.edu.