Underground Above Ground events this semester dug deeper into Law Library resources and services, and included events like impromptu Mardi Gras parades and a Video Game Night.
Think Like Darrow, Write Like Dickens
To write good sentences you need to read good sentences, and also study what makes a sentence (or paragraph or memo or brief) good. Communication is an important skill in the practice of law; you'll use it to impress partners, clients, judges, and other counsel. Librarians Virginia and Melissa highlighted some of the resources the Law Library offers to take your writing to the next level.
You can know every law on the books, but you will represent yourself to judges, partners, and clients through your writing.
Date: Friday, March 22, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Artificial Intelligence Tools
More and more law firms want their associates to be able to handle data visualization, litigation analytics, and other artificial intelligence tools. Librarians Virginia and Seth demonstrated the many AI tools Michigan Law students have access to, and how you can start using them in your research. Learning how to handle these tools now is a great skill for any resume.
Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg Law all feature AI analytics. Learn how to use them in your research.
Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
When artificial intelligence and Supreme Court rulings join forces, your legal analysis rockets to the next level.
Date: Thursday, February 7, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Sometimes lawyers get into the news for the wrong reasons. Learning how to redact a document properly protects your clients' confidentiality and protects your professional reputation. Librarians Jessica and Kate demonstrated how to redact a PDF in the latest Adobe software, and provided a list of best practices for redacting PDFs. Check out the info, below.
It is every attorney's duty to protect their clients' confidentiality. Learn the basic (and very important) skill of how to actually redact a PDF.
Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
If you really want to learn something, you have to test your knowledge. Use CALI quizzes to make sure you know all your facts cold.
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Choosing a Paper Topic and Avoiding Preemption
Writing a paper for a seminar or journal note is a daunting task that starts with selecting the right topic--not too narrow, not too broad, and not written about before. Librarians Kate, Seth, and Melissa talked to students about a strategy for topic selection. They laid out a three step process for selecting a topic, and invited students to explore example suggestions, sample checklists, and myriad resources to start the ball rolling on successful papers.
Check out the Law Library's guide to Choosing a Topic for Seminar Papers and Journal Notes or peruse the condensed version in the handout, below.
From generating ideas to checking for preemption, the Law Library has all the strategies and resources you need to nail your topic.
Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
and
Date: Thursday, March 28, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
How to Research Clerkships
Maybe you know to look on OSCAR for federal clerkship postings, but did you know that there are many courts that don't post clerkship jobs on OSCAR? And maybe you want to work for a state court, where do you find those listings?
Librarians Kate and Seth talked with students about resources available to Michigan Law students who are interested in applying to clerkships. In addition to talking about the many places to check for clerkship jobs postings, they demonstrated the variety of resources students can use to find out more information about particular judges. The information in Almanac of the Federal Judiciary and the MLaw OCP's Judicial Clerkship Database cannot be found on Lexis, Westlaw, or the internet generally.
The guide below has links to all of this information and much more.
A clerkship can put your career on track for lifelong success. Learn how to research judges and keep up-to-date with job postings.
Date: Monday, February 18, 2019
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Optimize your study time with the KIC Study System! Learn how you can use the Law Library's KIC Scanner to scan your course readings and automatically create audio files and flash cards.
Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Exam Prep Tools at Your Disposal
Don't just re-read your notes! Get the most out of your study session by using a variety of tools, available through the Law Library. Librarians Amanda and Kate demonstrated how to find old exams by professor or course, where to find subject-specific quizzes, and how to figure out which study guide is right for you. Check out the guide to Exam Prep, below, for access to the best in study resources.
Study guides, subject quizzes, practice tests...the Library has all the tools for a fool-proof study strategy.
Date: Friday, April 12, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Quiet Areas and Optimizing Study Spaces
Good study habits start with optimizing your space. Librarians Alexis and Melissa shared tips for finding quiet study spots in the Law Library and demonstrated equipment like laptop/book stands and wireless keyboards that you can borrow from the Circulation Desk.
Check out the following links to the Law Library's guides to Quiet Study Spaces and Gadgets & Equipment.
Is your study area quiet enough? Are you ergonomically ideal? The Library has tips for best study practices.
Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
One-on-One Meetings with Lawyer Librarians
Starting a research paper? Hit a wall in your searches? Interested in improving your Westlaw and Lexis skills? Schedule a personal meeting with a Michigan Law reference librarian, all of whom have both a library masters degree and a JD. Who better to help with your legal research?
Stuck on a research question? Need help with a database search? Schedule a one-on-one meeting with a lawyer librarian.
Date: Friday, February 15, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
and
Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Request a Scan
If there is a book or journal you just need a few pages from (e.g., a chapter or an article), you can request a text-searchable PDF scan through the Law Library. The scan request system has changed as of Winter 2019, as demonstrated by librarians Amanda and Seth. See the handout and slides, below, for more information.
Learn about the new scan request system today!
Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Happy Lights and the Wellness Collection
The LSSS donated two therapy lamps, permanently located on the far end of Sub-1. Librarians Virginia and Kate exhibited one of these sun lamps, and also shared additional resources for law student wellness. Check out the guide, below, for articles, podcasts, exercises, and more to maintain your wellness through law school and beyond.
Don't be SAD. Check out how the Wellness Collection and therapy lamps can get you through the dreary days of Winter.
Date: Thursday, February 21, 2019
Time: 11:15am - 12:15pm
Organize Your 2019 with Bullet Journaling
A bullet journal is whatever you need it to be--a day planner, an event scheduler, a to-do list, a memory bank, to name a few. Librarians Virginia, Amanda, and Kate are dedicated bullet journalers. They demonstrated the bullet journals that keep their work and home lives in order, and showed students that you don't have to be an artist to live the #BuJo life.
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The New Year is the perfect time to start the organizational craze that's sweeping the nation!
Date: Thursday, January 24, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Hey! Free Coffee and Tea Underground!
Go Underground and get that extra jolt you need to knock out your final exam studies.
Date: April 29 - May 2, 2019
Time: 6:00pm - it runs out
Get the details on what the Library is doing to help get you through your exam study period.
Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Get a taste of the fun to come when the Law Library hosts a video game night March 14th!
Wednesday, March 13, 2019, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Thursday, March 14, 2019, 11:15am - 12:15pm
Come play video games in LoCo. We'll have a variety of Wii games and other consoles for you to show your skills.
Thursday, March 14, 2019, 5:15pm - 8:00pm
Stick around this summer with the coolest jobs on campus.
Date: Monday, March 11, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Mardi Gras Merriment
In New Orleans and Mobile, Mardi Gras is celebrated for weeks before Fat Tuesday with colorful parades and abundant treats. The Law Library sent out three krewes of merry makers with MoonPies and beads to give students a touch of Southern carnival fun.
Keep your eye out for some festive fun to kick off Winter Recess.
Date: Thursday, February 28, 2019
Resolve to make Winter 2019 the best term yet! Celebrate a fresh start to the school year with the Law Library!
Date: Friday, January 18, 2019
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
