General Legal Research Apps

Law Technology Today recently published a list of general legal research apps.  The apps are organized by category which include court rules, case law, legal dictionaries, state statutes and more.  There is coverage of free and fee based apps.  Click here for the entire list of apps.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

End of the Term

As we reach the end of the Supreme Court's term, you may be inspired to catch up on what happened (in yesterday's Affordable Care Act decision), is happening as I type (the last decision of the term on same sex marriage will be announced any minute) and what will happen next term.

Check out SCOTUSblog for live blogging as the decision is coming down as well as links to the opinion, briefs and commentary.

Another good site is the ABA Preview .

Finally, an old favorite, with recordings of oral arguments from seminal cases (think Roe v. Wade) going back decades - Oyez .

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Alternative Idea For A Summer Blockbuster

Quieter days in the library allow this virtual library cat time to reflect on better ideas for a Summer blockbuster movie, an alternative to the usual tedious cloned dinosaur-run-amok fare. With that in mind, I offer for your consideration some stills from Jurassic Kitten.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The New Edition of the Blue Book Has Been Published!

The 20th edition of The Bluebook Citation Manual has just been published.  Cynthia Pittson of Pace Law School compiled the changes, from the 19th to the 20th edition.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

State Court Websites

As a summer intern or new lawyer, you'll often need to obtain information quickly about particular state courts of general or special jurisdiction.  Whether you are interested in the New York City Family Court or a county or superior court in an unfamiliar state judicial system, there is a wealth of information on state court websites, including contacts, e-filing procedures, jurisdictional requirements, local court rules, required forms, and recent decisions. A great one-stop resource for this kind of information is the State Court Web Sites page of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). This page provides links to the court websites of every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories. In addition, there is a Court Structure Chart for all states and for most other jurisdictions.  If you don't know where to begin, this is a good place to start.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Graphics and visuals of U.S. law

There have been many efforts over the past few decades to use visualization methods and technologies to create graphical representations of the law.  Alan Rothman has written a short article Recent Visualization Projects Involving US Law and the Supreme Court discussing two projects.

The first is an overview of visualizations of the U.S. Constitution by Prof. Harry Surdon. 

The second refers to a forthcoming article on the study of a quantitative analysis  of the Writing Style of the U.S. Supreme Court, by Keith Carlson, Michael A. Livermore, and Daniel Rockmore, Dated March 11, 2015.

The use of graphs and other visualizations is an exciting trend in the study and analysis of law.  The linked article contains links to further your research.

Hat Tip to LLRX.com

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Ferguson Report

The FERGUSON report : Department of Justice investigation of the FERGUSON Police Department is now available in the Library collection (HV8148.F47 F47 2015) and online.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Watching Cute Cat Videos May Be Beneficial—Really!

Granted, I am not a disinterested witness, so let me offer some scientific evidence that it is not only OK to watch cute cat videos online during a Bar exam study break, but it may even be psychologically beneficial.

Read more about the recent Indiana University study here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Lincoln: Master of Words

Did you miss Lincoln Speaks: Words That Transformed a Nation, an exhibit at the Morgan Library & Museum in Manhattan that closed on June 7?  Well, you can still experience it.  A complete online version of the exhibit, along with supplemental materials, is available at the website of the Lincoln Institute.  The focus of this exhibit is Lincoln's skill with language--the many ways that the successful litigator and President used the power of his written and spoken words to persuade, lead, and inspire diverse audiences, including his constituents, his army, his friends, his country, and the world.  Relax and enjoy any of the exhibit items during short study breaks, or browse particular areas of interest more extensively.  This exhibit has a lot to offer.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Research Resources: ERISA Litigation Tracker (BNA)

If you are interested in a source that provides significant ERISA cases as they are being litigated then check the BNA ERISA Litigation Tracker.  This source also provides alerts and full text of court filings such as complaints, briefs, motions, settlements, and decisions. The ERISA Litigation Tracker also provides litigation news as well as a feed of the latest firm mergers and attorney moves in ERISA litigation.

To access the ERISA Litigation Tracker (BNA):

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Click the "BNA" link, click on the tab "Alphabetical List of Products"
• Scroll down to "ERISA Litigation Tracker  (BNA)"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat