Lexis+ available now at RCLL

Written on March 22, 2024.

We are delighted to have Lexis+ available at RCLL. What is Lexis+? Like Lexis Advance, Lexis+ functions as a database platform that allows lawyers, litigators, and legal researchers access to an expansive collection of legal resources. Lexis+ adds a few nifty features that build on and enhance the existing legal research platform. For starters, it allows users to increase the precision of their searches for resources. To help users unfamiliar with legal terminology, Lexis+ includes a natural...

On the Basis of Sex?

Written on October 19, 2019.

On Tuesday, October 8th, 2019, The Supreme court of the United States heard oral arguments from two cases involving sexual orientation and discrimination in the workplace. The two cases heard by the court were Bostock v. Clayton County, GA and Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda. Both cases (which are being combined for oral arguments) are attempting to answer the question: Does Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects against employment discrimination based on an individual’s sex,...

U.S. Constitution has new searchable and user-friendly website.

Written on September 23, 2019.

In celebration of Constitution Day on September 17th The Library of Congress website released a new annotated version of the US Constitution complete with search capabilities, explanations and references. Since 1911, legal researchers at the Library of Congress have published and distributed an annotated version of the Constitution that lawmakers are able to use as a guide in their legislative duties. That version has been updated regularly as applications of the laws have evolved with changing...

Legal Research Resources for Self-represented litigants

Written on July 9, 2019.

Legal research can be difficult. Law librarians can provide insight and guidance on the process but sometimes patrons need an in-depth guide that will walk them through the process. Below are some resources geared towards self-represented litigants. These guides offer easy to understand explanation of basic legal concepts and how the concepts are useful in legal research. Locating the Law: A Handbook for Non-Law Librarians. The 6th edition of this online publication covers a variety of...

Look What You’ve Been Missing

Written on January 30, 2019.

The three branches of the Riverside County Law Library have so much to offer. We have a wealth of legal information available – State and Federal Statutes, Codes and Regulations, Local Codes and Ordinances, California and Federal Practice Guides, Form Books, Legal Encyclopedias, and Law Reviews and Journals. I encourage you to stop in one of our locations and check out the resources both in print and on line. There will certainly be information to help with your legal query. Don’t have a legal...

What was lost was (almost) found

Written on June 7, 2018.

Isn’t it amazing what you can find if you look hard (or long) enough? Take for example the gentleman recently visited our Indio branch with a very straight forward request (well, as “straight forward” as a legal research question can be, I guess). Seems he wanted to know if we had anything by “Witkin” dealing with small claims procedures. For those not in the know “Witkin” is a code word for the series of books written by Bernard E. Witkin. The Witkin...

We looked (almost) everywhere

Written on February 28, 2018.

What a day! Some days we get maybe 4-5 people asking anything from how to not get evicted to how to file a class action lawsuit. Today, I got hammered with well over a dozen questions that covered the gamut of legal research – which isn’t a bad thing. Its was just a busy day. Then I had a lady ask where she could find a Petition to Open Probate. Huh. Thinking a bit, a list of possible titles pop into my head and I start to walk over to California Forms of Pleading and Practice...

Rockin’ to the Oldies

Written on October 5, 2017.

What were you doing in 1980? While many who are reading this post weren’t even born yet, I had just started my freshman year in high school. Other things that happened in 1980 include: The video game Pac-man was created. Ronald Reagan was elected POTUS. John Lennon is shot to death in December of 1980 by Mark David Chapman outside of his New York apartment. United States–and 65 other countries–boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union. Dallas was one of the...

We’ve Got Some Great Cheat Sheets

Written on September 28, 2017.

Do you remember the first day of the first job you ever had? Were you a wizard at what you were doing? Was there a learning curve? Did you wish you had a cheat sheet or something like that to help you get you through your paces? I remember years back when I first graduated from law school I couldn’t get hired to save my life at a law firm so I decided to strike out and start my own little business with area attorneys I had been golfing with. I started serving process, writing motions...

Tag: legal research