Brownies in Courtyard

 

BROWNIES
brownies

The library will host a courtyard table with brownies on Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

The brownies are a thank you to the 2Ls and 3Ls who completed the survey on legal research and lawyering skills. If you still need to take the survey, you can find it here.

Bluebooking?! Get tips.

Learning Bluebook?!

bluebook

Drop by for a library-sponsored Bluebook training; focus is on case law citation and quick tips for navigating this super “absurd” book.

Mon., Oct. 17
11:00 am to 11:50 am
MPAA 430

OR

Wed., Oct. 19
11:00 am to 11:50 am
Law 3600

Librarians want you to be successful. 

We can help you develop great research and citation skills! Stop by the Reference Office, call (949) 824-6746, or email refdesk@law.uci.edu

Custom Research Training for Seminars

The Law Library offers custom research instruction for all types of classes.

3d_hierThis fall, librarians are directly supporting courses for which students will research and write. This includes working with students on business law, land use, and Lawyering Skills.

Librarians are here to help students develop positive research habits, stay organized, and produce quality papers and memos! We work with students in class, by appointment, or at the Reference Office.  Contact Lisa with questions, or to schedule a training, ljunghahn@law.uci.edu

Students:  Ask questions. We can help save you time and make you look even more awesome! Stop by the library, or email, refdesk@law.uci.edu

Stream Movies & Documentaries

Stream award-winning documentaries, foreign films, and theatrical-release movies on Kanopy (with UCI VPN).

Kanopy is an on-demand streaming video service for universities that provides access to more than 26,000 films. The range of content will inspire anyone, whether you are looking to relax, learn, or relax and learn. Categories include Gender StudiesCriminal Justice, and Environmental Sciences.

This librarian recently found herself with extra time, and was enlightened by watching a 2013 documentary on Anita Hill called Anita: Speaking Truth to Power (77 mins). Later, this librarian also watched a cheesy romantic comedy. The name of which shall remain a secret!

Stream content through Kanopy and enjoy your summer!

Publishing? Citation Management Saves Time!

If you plan to research and write for scholarly publication, chances are you will save time by staying organized with a citation management tool.

These tools work directly with scholarly databases, and allow you to save and share documents, create citations, and build bibliographies. One of the more popular tools supported by UCI is called Mendeley.

notepadstacks

paper-reems

 

 

 

 

Stop by the law library anytime to get tips on staying organized. Together, we can come up with a system that works for you!

Custom Research Instruction for Law Classes

The Law Library offers custom research instruction for all types of classes.

This term, librarians are directly supporting courses in which students will research and write on the environment, biotechnology, and corporate finance.

Librarians are here to help students develop positive research habits, stay organized, and produce quality papers, reports, and memos! We can work with you and your students, whether in special sessions, by appointment, or at the Reference Office.  Contact Lisa with questions, or to schedule a training, ljunghahn@law.uci.edu

Students:  Ask questions before you spend too much time looking for information. We can help save you time and make you look even more awesome! Stop by the library, or email at Refdesk@law.uci.edu

First-Year Legal Research (Jan. 4 to Jan. 8)

Congratulations UCI Law 1Ls!

You have successfully navigated your first semester of law school.

We’ll start the next year with one week of Legal Research, which is held from Jan. 4 to Jan. 8.

The class will include:

  • 4 Readings
  • 1 Pre-class assignment
  • 5 In-Class Exercises
  • 4 Practical Assessments
  • 1 Final Assessment

The class is designed to prepare you to take on the research assignments typically encountered at school and in the workplace.  Concepts will build on those introduced in your first semester.

Before the first class, login to TWEN, and

  1. Read the syllabus.
  2. Complete Reading 1.
  3. Complete the pre-class assignment.

Send pre-class questions to Lisa at Ljunghahn@law.uci.edu.

Yay and happy new year!

Bluebooking?! Get tips.

Save time with tips for topic selection & research!

Wed., Oct. 14
Drop by 3:45 to 4:45
EDU 1121

OR

Thur., Oct. 15
Drop by noon to 1:00
Law 3750

Chance to win a copy of The Bluebook (20th ed. 2015)!

bluebook

Librarians want you to be successful, and develop great research and citation skills!
Stop by the Reference Office, call (949) 824-6746, or email refdesk@law.uci.edu

Bar Exam Awesomeness: Study Less, Study Smart

According to Urban Dictionary, the bar is:

A typical right of passage, a cliche event that all would be lawyers must go through. Involves two months of unbelievably boring lectures, followed by spending the rest of the day studying in a law library or other similarly isolated and secluded environment. . . .

According to psychology professor Marty Lobdell, there are six strategies for studying smart.

  1. Study in chunks.  Take quick fun breaks.  Then, reward yourself at the end of the day!
  2. Study in a dedicated space, one where you are conditioned to study.
  3. Study actively.  Don’t worry about facts first.  Focus on internalizing concepts.  Put them into your own words, and actively quiz yourself along the way.  Make sure you are able to recall concepts beyond just gaining recognition.
  4. Keep notes during your bar lectures, and make sure you clarify and supplement after.
  5. Summarize and teach what you learn.  Whenever possible, tell a friend or family member about key concepts.  I call this:  Tell a family friend something about the law.
  6. Survey, question, read, recite, review.  Engage with your readings by getting an overview of the materials, ask yourself questions, read, and find ways to reiterate.
  7. Use mnemonic devices to remember facts for better recall.  Use acronyms, common sayings, and image associations.

Other advice for your summer of study.  Sleep.  Eat.  Get outside.  Socialize.  Sleep some more.

Finally, if it helps, remember that not everyone passes the bar on the first try.  Many people have failed before, including First Lady Michelle Obama, presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, California Governor Jerry Brown, and Kathleen Sullivan, former Dean of Stanford Law School.