ARDA: Religion Data Archives

ARDA, The Association of Religion Data Archives, is a fascinating goldmine of information from researchers, polling and census data, and other reliable sources. ARDA provides free access to quality data on American and world religions. In easy to view format, it quickly presents national profiles and American city statistics, religious group membership and religious freedom data, and recent survey results on beliefs and practices, replete with maps, charts, and reports. The site is fun to explore and an easy way to better understand demographic trends and the current role of religious groups and beliefs as a factor in today's world. It's also a great place to take a study break and learn some interesting and often surprising facts at the same time.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Government Docs.Org

According to its Web site, Government Docs.org "was created to advance the values of open and accountable government. This site gives the public an unprecedented level of access to government documents by allowing users to browse, search, and review hundreds of thousands of pages acquired through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and other public disclosure, or 'sunshine', laws". The site offers browse and search functions for the documents acquired via FOIA requests.

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Helpful Policies During Exam Period

You know that the Library has extended hours during exam period, but knowing the archived exam and study room policies may prove helpful also. To access the Exam Archive:

• Go to Hofstra Law School Library Main Page http://law.hofstra.edu/Library
• Scroll down. In the lower, left-hand margin click “Exam Archive”
• In the Hofstra University Library Electronic Reserves (ERes) window logon with your Novell Username and Password (this is the same username and password used to logon to the portal)
  
• You will be prompted to enter the password (contact the reference or circulation desk for the password)
  
• Click on “Accept”
• Click the professor’s folder to access the exams.

Click here to access the Library’s study room policy.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Persuading Judges in Writing: Tips for Lawyers

This article explains how a good writing style can help lawyers persuade judges. It is a short article and focuses on writing briefs, but many of the tips are good for law exams too.


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Likelihood of Confusion

If you'd like to keep up with developments in trademark law and free speech, take a look at Likelihood of Confusion. In this blog, lawyer and writer Ron Coleman discusses recent trademark news and cases. Recent topics include Olympics merchandise, the Tiffany v. eBay case, and DRM in Switzerland.


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Federal Rules, Restyled

December 1 has come and gone, and Congress took no action to stop the new, "restyled" Federal Rules of Civil Procedure from coming into effect. Every rule in the newly-effective FRCP's has changed. The substance of most rules has stayed the same, but all of the rules have changed stylistically (that's why they're calling it a "restyling"). Cornell's Legal Information Institute offers free access to the new rules here. And if a particular subsection you are looking for has moved, this chart may be able to help you find it.



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