New York State of Mind*

Our next Life-Line Research workshop will focus on how to research New York law efficiently and cost effectively.

When:  Wed, March 12 noon-1pm
Where:  Rm 014
R.S.V.P.:  lawdek@hofstra.edu
Plus:  lunch and surprise gift

* with admiration to Billy Joel




Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Effective Research

I usually do not like to repeat myself, but this is definitely worth saying a second time.

Don't miss the Library's workshop on Wednesday - Cost Effective Research for NY.  In today's world you HAVE TO be able to research cost effectively and efficiently.  You will find out about great free resources (what can be bad about free?).  And, you will get tips on using the expensive Lexis and Westlaw in more cost effective ways.

The workshop will be on presented on March 6, 12:10-1pm in Room 206.  

There is still time to sign up.  Please see the  complete schedule of the Research Life Line Workshop Series for details on how to reserve your seat.  

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Cost effective research for New York: Research Life-Line Workshop series

Come to the second installment of our Research Life-Line Workshop Series - Cost effective research for NY - on Wednesday, March 6 12:10-1 in Room 206.

Find out how you can find what you need without breaking the bank by utilizing  free resources and knowing how to search Lexis and Westlaw cost effectively.

And there will be pizza and a surprise gift!  

Please see the complete schedule of the Research Life Line Workshop Series for details on how to sign up and reserve your seat.  


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Searching Outside Your Contract: WestlawNext Example

Attention WestlawNext users:

While we pay for access to a lot of content on WestlawNext here at Hofstra, it is common for a law firm to pay for access to specific content (often content relevant to the firm's practice areas), and then pay high per-document or per-minute charges for items that are not including within that subscription (this is true for both Westlaw and WestlawNext, as well as Lexis).

WestlawNext now provides examples of such charges for students to view. (On WestlawNext, click on Tools, and then "subscriber pricing guide." Or just view the PDF here.) Some databases are $55 per minute.

We say it often here: if you have access to Westlaw, WestlawNext, or Lexis after law school, know and understand your firm's contract.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

What Employers Want You to Know

Get the inside scoop - from Aurelia Sanchez of Rivkin Radler and Jim Murphy of Bloomberg - on what research skills and knowledge employers want you to have.

Jim and Aurelia will be here for our librarians' panel on Cost Efficient Research and other Law Practice Survival Tips this Monday, March 15 , 12:10 - 1:30pm in Room 242. No need to sign up, come even if you can only stay for part. And don't forget . . . there will be pizza!

This is our feature workshop in the Library's Top 10 Research Skills series. A full schedule is on the Library’s LexLounge group page in the Discussion Forums.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Westlaw and Lexis Directories

Law students often have trouble transitioning from the "free" (flat-rate) Westlaw and Lexis access they receive in law school to using these systems at firms where charges must be justified and clients don't like to see large bills for online research.

A common problem clerks and new attorneys who use these systems have is spending too much time looking for the right database (this can be especially costly if your firm is paying for access by the minute), and searching in the wrong database before finding the right one (assuming there is a right one).

Both Westlaw and Lexis offer free searchable directories of their databases, which can help you reduce your searching costs by finding the right database before you've even entered your ID or password.

They are:

Westlaw

Lexis

Of course, over-reliance on Westlaw and Lexis is a problem too, when so much legal information is available online for free.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat