How to Survive the First Year of Law School

Well, it's quiet today in my favorite corner of the Library, but not for long! Soon the tables will fill up with new faces, as the Hofstra Law Class of 2014 find their favorite spots, too. Being a brand new IL can seem overwhelming at first, so if you're starting law school this week, take advantage of the American Bar Association's free guide, "How to Survive the First Year of Law School." It's great review of the things you really need to know before it all begins.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Text Reference

Hofstra Law Students - did you know that you can text us Reference questions? Since this is a service ONLY for Hofstra Law Students, I cannot list our number here. But, contact us at the Reference desk and we will give you the number.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Hot weather tips for your car

Our first priority is to take care of ourselves and other people, but we should also be taking care of our cars. Apparently extreme hot weather is as damaging to our automobiles as is extreme cold weather. Since many of us are car dependent, it makes sense to take good care of our means of transportation. This is a link to car care tips for hot weather driving.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Debt Ceiling, Explained

This week the national media has given us partisan views and doomsday scenarios, all related to the debt ceiling debate in Congress and the possible implications of not raising the U.S. debt limit by August 2 or soon thereafter. Enough to stand my virtual fur on end, or put me to sleep altogether.

Yet the debt ceiling is a concept law students may need to understand for upcoming courses, research papers, or career endeavors. So what would I recommend for objective or less partisan and serious overviews of this subject? Some good sources are the Government Accounting Office (GAO) Report to Congress on the challenges of debt limit delays (February 2011), the January 2010 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, "The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases," and "Debt Limit Analysis," a user friendly document with color charts and graphs issued earlier this week by the Bipartisan Policy Center, predicting what could happen, and when, if the debt limit isn't raised.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Congrats to Bar Takers

To everyone who took the bar exam (or even multiple bar exams) this week--congratulations!

We know that you won't receive the exam results for months, but just making it through the months of study and the arduous days of the exam should feel like an accomplishment.

Now take a few days to relax.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

100 not always good

Yes, it is hot out there. Be glad you don't have a permanent fur coat. Here are some links to help you stay cool.

Surviving a Heat Wave

12 Smoothies to Beat the Heat

And just remember, not too long ago, we were surviving this .

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

A Constitutional Right To Sell Cigarettes?

Americans enjoy many rights under the U.S. Constitution. Is selling cigarettes one of them? Find out what a U.S. District Court thinks, here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Supreme Court 2010-2011 Term Highlights

The Cornell Legal Information Institute recently published a collection of facts and arguments from selected cases in the 2010-2011 term. The selected cases cover significant doctrinal and public policy perspectives from the Court. Some of the issues covered are the First Amendment, state sovereignty, bankruptcy, patent law, credit regulation, labor law and more. Read the full term highlights here.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Update: Distracted Driving Law Toughened in NY

In case you missed it, Governor Cuomo signed into law on July 12, effective immediately, legislation permitting law enforcement officials to stop drivers simply for using mobile devices for activities such as texting while they are driving, whether or not they are committing another offense, such as speeding. The new law, Chapter 109, makes sending or receiving a text while driving, or using a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving, a "primary" traffic offense in New York. The law calls for violators to face fines up to $150 and incur two penalty points on their licenses, but the Governor also announced that he will also "increase the penalty for using a cellular phone without a hands-free device or a handheld device while driving from two to three points through changes in state regulations". For a current comparison of cell phone and texting laws in the various states, check out this chart created by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Clarence Thomas Bobblehead Now Available

In our never-ending quest to keep you informed about U.S. Supreme Court bobblehead figures, we now alert you to the latest such creation, a Clarence Thomas bobblehead. See it and read all about it here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat