Black's Law Dictionary: New 10th Edition

On May 9, Thomson Reuters released the new 10th edition of Black's Law Dictionary.  This is the fourth edition produced by editor-in-chief Bryan Garner, a legal lexicographer and Distinguished Research Professor of Law at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.  The new edition has over 7,500 new terms, including "affluenza defense" and "intrapreneur," many new terms from technology, and more than twice as many sources and illustrative quotations for terms than the previous edition.  It continues to include the U.S. Constitution, the Federal Circuit map, and other key reference sources for law students and attorneys.

Print copies can be purchased from the publisher, and will soon be available in libraries. It will take a little longer for digital versions to arrive. An app for the 10th edition and availability on WestlawNext are planned for early 2015.  To learn more about the evolution of the famous dictionary and the claim that the first edition, published in 1891, was initially written as a joke by attorney Henry Campbell Black, check out this recent post on Thomson Reuters' Legal Solutions Blog.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Summer time

And yes, I hope the living will be easier (apologies to George Gershwin).  Nonetheless the Library will be open for those of you taking Summer classes, studying for the bar or wanting to visit your favorite Reference librarian.  The hours will be:

Mon-Thurs   8am - 6pm
Fri               8am - 5pm
Sat - Sun   10am - 6pm

See Reference librarian hours to see when you can visit your favorite librarians.

Enjoy the warm weather (if it ever gets here).

Congrats to 3Ls - YOU MADE IT !!!!


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Google, Europe, And The Right To Be Forgotten

In a decision handed down this week, the Court of Justice of the European Union supported "the right to be forgotten". The Court ordered Google to delete upon request search results that were shown to be “inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant”. Read more here, and see also this New York Times editorial.

Further, it seems that the take-down requests have already begun, as discussed here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

2014 Bar Study Policies

Hofstra Graduates

January and May JD graduates have 24/7 swipe access to the library from May 14 – July 30 for Bar study.  If you are a Hofstra graduate and experience a problem with their swipe card, please send an email to lawlibrary@hofstra.edu. 

Non Hofstra Graduates

Non-Hofstra Law graduates who are taking a bar review course at Hofstra Law in preparation for a summer or winter bar exam must purchase passes for bar study access.

Passes are available at the Circulation Desk, and individuals must present their bar review course ID and proof of identity at the time of purchase. Bar Study Passes are not transferable, and the Library reserves the right to limit the number of passes it makes available for sale.

Each Bar Study Pass is $50 and provides access from the time of purchase (no earlier than the end of the Hofstra Law spring semester exam period for the summer bar, and no earlier than the end of the Hofstra Law fall semester exam period for the winter bar). Payment can be in cash or by check made payable to “Hofstra University.”

Access to Other Law Schools

An access policies chart for summer 2014 Bar study at LI and NYC law schools are available at the Circulation Desk.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New Book: Twitter for Lawyers

Twitter in One Hour For Lawyers by Jared Correia (KF320 .I57 C67) focuses on the difficult task of making social media appropriate and profitable for a lawyer.  From how to optimize your profile to maintaining professional and interesting communication with your followers, this book covers topics of interest to both new lawyers just starting to market themselves and experienced lawyers who want to avoid social media pitfalls.

Check it out now at the Hofstra Law Library's new book table!

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat