JURIST

The start of a new school year is a great time to become acquainted, or reacquainted, with JURIST, the real-time legal news and research site that keeps you up to the minute with legal news from the United States and around the world. Written and maintained by faculty and students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, JURIST is self-described as "the world's only law school-based comprehensive legal news and research service."

You may have noticed that the Law Library's home page features continuous feeds from JURIST with breaking legal news. But JURIST is much more. It's a great web resource for background, law faculty analysis and commentary, primary documents, and video clips on many legal topics. Check it out.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Some Basics

WELCOME Back 2Ls and 3Ls and welcome again to the new 1Ls. Just wanted to remind everyone when you can find me prowling the stacks and when I'm off for my required catnaps. The Library is open :

Sunday	10 a.m. - Midnight
Monday - Thursday	8 a.m. - Midnight
Friday	8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday	10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Check Library Hours on the Library's web site for holidays and other exceptions.

You will find a Reference Library to answer any and all questions:

Sunday	Noon - 8p.m.
Monday - Thursday	9a.m. - 9p.m.
Friday	9a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday	10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

You will find a link to Reference Librarian's Hours just to the right of this posting, which will give you details for holidays. Check the sign at the Reference desk for any last minute changes.

Check out the new tour of the Library's web site . It will ask you to download Silverlight. It is a simple process that will take only a couple of minutes. Please make sure to send me a comment on how you liked the tour.




Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

News from the Government Printing Office (GPO): FDsys

GPO's Federal Digital System (FDsys) is an advanced digital system that will enable GPO to manage important government information from all three branches of the U.S. government.

FDsys is available as a public beta during the migration of information from GPO Access. The migration of information from GPO Access into FDsys will be complete in 2009. Until this time, GPO Access will contain all current content.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Women's Rights Employment Blog

Anyone following Mad Men has seen stories of sexual harassment and sex discrimination in the workplace. Of course, those stories took place in the 1960's --what about now? Take a look at the Women's Rights Employment Blog to learn about about sex discrimination in today's workplace. Created by Tuckner, Sipser, Weinstock & Sipser, the blog addresses women's right in the workplace and covers recent sex discrimination cases.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Lexis and Westlaw

Attention 1L students. You should know by now that you must register your Westlaw password for access to TWEN and Westlaw; and your Lexis activation code for access to LexisNexis and Web Courses. You will be using both of these systems and should register as soon as possible.

Westlaw has a demo that takes you through the process step-by-step.

LexisNexis has a FAQ that you should look at before registering your activation code. It has good guidance on creating your custom ID and password.

You should also hold onto your password/activation code. If for some reason you forget your Sign On information, you can be helped more quickly if you have these.

Of course you may also stop by the Reference Desk for assistance.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Supreme Court Database

If you are looking for a resource about Supreme Court decisions, try Supremecourtdatabase.org. The database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1953 and 2008 terms.

If you are interested in a particular legal or political issue, the analysis tool allows you to select and summarize cases.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

No Felonies for 3Ls

New York Lawyer reports that Ohio has become the 42nd state to allow third year law students to handle felony cases, but New York has no plans to join that group.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat