Tag: legal research

More Forms than you can Count!

Believe it or not, our Indio branch gets a number of interesting (and fun) reference questions.  In fact, I had a patron walk into the library the other day upset over having just lost his case on a traffic infraction and he seemed to be overwhelmed by the entire appeals processes. I tried handing him the Nolo book on fighting traffic tickets but that seemed to be overwhelming, as well.  Then I referred him to the courts website (at http://www.courts.ca.gov/formnumber.htm) where he could search...

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It’s a goldmine!

Having served as a public services law Librarian for going on 13 years, I have discovered some pretty cool resources that help people win (or not lose (there is a difference)) their cases.  While most people generally dive right into California Forms of Pleading and Practice (Lexis) for state matters or Moore’s Federal Practice (Lexis) for federal stuff, it’s the materials they pass by on the way to those resources that can really save the (and their) day. Take, for example, the Newly...

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Learn all you can at the RCLL

Did you know that the Riverside County Law Library (“RCLL”) regularly schedules programs for both attorneys and non-attorneys?  Sure, we do. For non-attorneys, our Legal Research 101 programs are taught the second Tuesday of every month from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.  Designed for people who know little to nothing about all things legal (or how to do legal research), attendees will learn how to use both print and online resources, how to find and use legal forms and websites, and how...

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Lawyers in the Library

Have you ever: Needed help completing a court form? Had a procedural question? Just not know where to begin with a (legal) situation? Then a trip to the Indio Branch of the Riverside County Law Library would be in order! In collaboration with the Desert Bar, on the second Thursday of every month, we will have an attorney available for free 20 minute consultations.  During this time, you can bring in paperwork you have, or ask those legal questions, that will put you on the path to...

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“Can I get legal advice at a law library?”

Is there someone at the law library who can advise what I should do in my case?  Short answer is, no. What you are asking is whether library staff can give you legal advice in your matter and you cannot get legal advice at a law library. What you can get is help finding the answers to legal questions that you do have. Every day I am asked questions that would require me to give legal advice and I think that we often get confused as to what constitutes legal advice. Legal advice refers to written...

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Find it on HeinOnline

Recently, I was tasked with reviewing the series of videos Quimbee.com created for HeinOnline’s YouTube channel.  These videos were designed as a crash course in navigating Hein’s extensive collection.  Now, if you’re unfamiliar with Hein, it is a legal database (like Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw) that contains the worlds largest image-based legal research collection and contains more than nine centuries of legal history.  Yes, you read that right, NINE CENTURIES OF LEGAL HISTORY!  Hein has a massive...

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Bon Appetit

So, I’m grazing the recent news offerings and, catching my attention, I see an article entitled, “10 chef secrets: What happens to bread, and what not to order and more.”  Some of the main points included bread not eaten is often passed on to another table, many chefs follow the 5-second rule (ick), chicken and pasta dishes are the most over priced, cockroaches abound in most restaurants, the special isn’t, vegetarian dishes aren’t, and chefs often times do nasty...

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Ross- The A.I. Lawyer

Artificial intelligence is making its entrance into the legal world with the introduction of Ross, advertised as “Your Brand New Artificially Intelligent Lawyer.” Developed by law and computer science students of the University of Toronto, Ross promises to streamline your legal research process so you can “[find] your answers from the law in seconds”. However, the simplicity of Ross’ description does not account for the many questions and concerns it elicits. There are questions of Ross’ legality...

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Oldies but Goodies

They’re back.  Fox Mulder and Dana Skully are at it again with their conspiracy theories and alien abductions.  Man but those were the days.  Of course, I’m talking about the days in the 1980’s – 90’s when the X-Files were king.  Turns out the fire never really died out and back are the days of Mulder and Skully. You know, law and legal research stuff is just like that.  I remember back when I was in law school (a couple decades back), there were three resources...

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