Have You Tried...CALI?

December is almost here, and that means exams (sorry!) are almost upon us. Most students rely on outlines and study guides, and on reviewing past exams, among other strategies. But there’s another resource that shouldn’t be overlooked. CALI (the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction) has a web site full of interactive computer-based lessons keyed to typical law school courses and texts (both 1L and advanced), prepared by law faculty from across the country. For example, let’s say that you think you understand most of a course, but there is an important topic or concept covered in class that you don’t really feel confident about. Chances are that you will find a CALI lesson on the topic—such as consideration, hearsay, diversity jurisdiction, or adverse possession—that will provide some clarity and review. Check out the CALI welcome page, where you can search for “Lessons” by subject, textbook, or course outline to find the best one for your needs. Hofstra is a CALI member organization, but you will need to register online with a special password (Law School Authorization Code) the first time that you use CALI lessons. Contact the Law Library Reference Desk to obtain this password from a reference librarian.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat