Here are some recent articles which may help you in your job search:

• Donna Gerson, Jobs: Part-time Work During School Has Its Rewards, Student Lawyer, Oct. 2000, at 6.

Good article discussing the advantages and disadvantages of taking part-time work as a law clerk while in law school.  Author also gives advice on finding job leads and selecting a position that is right for you.
 
• Brandon Bigelow, The Low-Down on Landing a Judicial Clerkship, Student Lawyer, Oct. 2000, at 36.

Author discusses strategies for finding judicial clerkships and adds a few war stories as well.
 
• Jonathan S. Greene, Coping: Volunteering Is A Good Path Toward Success in Law School, Student Lawyer, Nov. 2000, at 14.

Author suggests volunteer opportunities, particularly within the law school environment,  as a means of boosting the résumé.
 
• Donna Gerson, Jobs: Fall Semester Is a Good Time to Shore Up Your Job Search, Student Lawyer, Sept. 2000, at 6.

Article discusses appropriate strategies for student summer clerks who fail to receive full-time offers from their employer
 
• Lori Rosenberg, Ace Your On-Campus Interview, Student Lawyer, Sept. 2000, at 26.

The director of  recruiting at a large law firm gives advice on preparing for firm interviews and provides a glimpse of the legal recruiter’s perspective in evaluating students for on-campus sessions.
 
• Laura Gatland, The Ins and Outs of Judicial Clerkship, Student Lawyer, Oct. 1999, at 38.

Article describes benefits of judicial clerkships and the how to look for them.
 
• Ron Chepesuik, Making the Grade: Do GPAs Rule the Job Market?, Student Lawyer, Nov. 1999, at 32.

Author states that students  tend to think grades weigh heavily in employers’ evaluation of job prospects.
 
• David C. James, Jobs: Ace Your Interviews by Considering the View From Behind the Desk, Student Lawyer, Dec. 1999, at 9.

Law firm recruiter discusses factors used to evaluate job applicants, including interview performance.
 
• Lisa Stansky, Mastering Your Domain: In Today’s Increasingly Competitive and Specialized Market, an Advanced Law Degree May Enhance Your Career Prospects, Student Lawyer, Dec. 1999, at 25.

Author discusses considerations in obtaining an advanced law degree in order to improve job marketability.  Lewanda VanPelt, a recent Cumberland graduate, is quoted and discussed in the article for her L.L.M work in alternative dispute resolution at the University of Missouri.
 
• David C. James, You Can Make Your Résumé Stand Out From the Rest of the Pile, Student Lawyer, Feb. 2000, at 6.

Advice from a hiring attorney in designing a résumé.
 
• Donna Gerson, Jobs: Smaller Firms Provide Big Possibilities For Employment, Student Lawyer, March 2000, at 8.

Author discusses the advantages of working for a smaller law firm and the credentials needed to find employment there.
 
• Donna Gerson, Maybe It Is Your Business, Student Lawyer, March 2000, at 23.

Article discusses issues that  law graduates should consider when investigating a career in business.  Also, the author advises the reader in preparing a résumé for careers in business.
 
• Donna Gerson, Jobs: To Cure the Summertime Blues, You Can Plan for the Fall, Student Lawyer, May 2000, at 8.

Discusses important steps to follow during the summer months to prepare for fall campus interviews.
 

The newest member of the Law Library staff is Mrs. Meta W. Eatman.  She works as a Part-time Desk Attendant at the Circulation Desk on Saturdays and Sundays.  Mrs. Eatman earned her B.S.S.W. degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a major in social work and a minor in psychology.  During the week, she works for the State of Alabama as a probation and parole officer.  Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Eatman to the Law Library.

Becky Clapp, Law Librarian and Professor of Law (25 years), Brenda Jones, Reference Librarian for Evening/Weekend Services (5 years) and Linda Rainey, Law Library Assistant (5 years) each received awards at the Samford University Service Awards Luncheon on January 24th.

Congratulations are in order to Mandy Haddin, Law Library Assistant for Computer Services.  In December, she received the M.L.I.S. degree from the University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies.  She has accepted the librarian position at the law firm of Johnston, Barton, Proctor, Swedlaw, & Neff.  Her last day here will be February 2.  We wish her the best of luck with this new job.  We will certainly miss her!

And finally, Linda Rainey, one of the people you know so well from the Circulation Desk, is now Assistant Director in Career Services.  Linda began her new job the first week of January.  Her move was a loss to the Law Library and particularly to all the law students she helped each day.  She will be missed at the Circulation Desk, but we wish her the best with the new job.

(The Law Library maintains a collection of treatises on law in different states.  Listed below are titles in this area that were received during the past month.)

Hertz, Eric James. GEORGIA LAW OF DAMAGES: WITH FORMS.  2000 ed.  KFG195/.H37/2000.

McCurley, Robert L.  REAL ESTATE HANDBOOK : LAND LAWS OF ALABAMA.  7th ed.  KFA112/.M33/2000.

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY OF LAWYERS IN FLORIDA.  2nd ed.  KFF76.5/.A2/P762/1999.

Roberts, Michael L.  ALABAMA TORT LAW.  3rd ed.  KFA195/.R65/2000/Reference.

Sawaya, Thomas D.  FLORIDA PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH ACTIONS.  2000 ed. KFF539/.P4/S38/2000.

Weltner, Philip. GEORGIA PROCESS AND SERVICE: WITH FORMS. KFG534/.P7/W45/2000.

Do you own a computer?? If so, do you yourself a favor and learn a little bit about computer viruses.  You can save yourself a lot of time and heartache if you learn how to protect your computer and data from these nasty annoying programs.

What is a computer virus?  A computer virus is a self-replicating program which has been sneakily attached to a host file.  Usually, you cannot tell by just looking at the host file that it has a virus.  You need to use virus protection software such as McAfee or Norton to SCAN new files in search of viruses.  The main function of a virus is to reproduce and spread, but many of them can also perform other events such as interrupting computer performance and damaging data.

What type of files are host to computer viruses?  Computer viruses attach themselves to  types of hosts: program files (including documents with macros) and boot sectors.

How is a program file virus spread?  A file virus is attached to an executable application file (such as files with the extension .EXE or .COM) or to a data file with a macro embedded in it (remember that macros are just pieces of executable code).  The virus then overwrites the code of the host file, causing the program to execute the virus code, often destroying the host file in the process.

How is a boot virus spread?   A boot virus attaches itself to the boot sector of  a floppy or hard disk, which is the area of the disk where the code resides that is executed during the system boot.  A hard disk becomes infected when the computer attempts to boot from an infected floppy disk; it does not matter whether the floppy is a system disk or not.  The virus then attaches itself to the hard drive’s boot sector (or MBR - Master Boot Record) and loads itself into RAM (random access memory),  infecting all subsequent non-write protected floppy disks accessed by the computer.  Most computer viral infections are caused by  stealth boot viruses, such as STONED. MICHELANGELO, and MONKEY.

Can a data file host a virus?  Data files, such as text files, sound files, and graphic files DO NOT CARRY VIRUSES, although they can be damaged by them.  A file virus needs to attach itself to an EXECUTABLE file, because it needs to change the code of the executable - causing the virus code to be run first.  Data files are not executable (other applications interpret them, but on their own, they DO nothing), and therefore do not contain the required code to “kick off” or execute a virus’ programming.  However,  some word processing, database, and spreadsheet files contain macros, or embedded EXECUTABLE code.  This code CAN host a “macro-virus.”  This is a relatively new type of virus and is most often found in Microsoft Office documents.

Can I get a virus from my e-mail?   Yes, viruses can be spread through e-mail, but remember that viruses only piggy back on executable files - not data files.  In most e-mail systems, viruses which are attached to an e-mail show up as an attachment.  This is why you should NEVER execute (or double-click on) an attachment if you don’t know who sent it to you ; also, you should always scan e-mail attachments, even if you know the person who sent it to you.

Be especially careful when you are using Microsoft Outlook to check your mail.  Make sure that you do not have it set to auto-execute any attachments (such as infected Word documents - this is how the Melissa Macro Virus got spread all over the place).

Most of the e-mail viruses that you hear about are hoaxes.  These hoaxes run rampant on the Internet.  If you receive an e-mail warning from a friend,  you should double check the warning before forwarding it to anyone (these messages do nothing but junk up e-mail systems, so in  a way - they are a  menace in themselves)

One good place check for more information about a potential virus is the Computer Virus Myths Homepage at: http://www.Vmyths.com.  They keep a database of current hoaxes and have a lot of information about how viruses are spread.

How can I protect my files from computer viruses?

1. The best protection from computer viruses is to use a reputable, up-to-date virus protection package. Make sure that you have the most recent version of the software installed on your home computer to protect yourself from new viruses.  Every month or so, you should visit the homepage for your virus protection software and download new viral data files.  New viruses are popping up every day, so keeping your system clean requires that you update this data frequently.
2. Scan your floppy disks often.  Make sure that the software package you have scans the boot sector as well as the executable files. If you do not need to write to a disk (i.e., you just need to read it, or print from it), write-protect it by pushing up the black tab on the top left-hand corner on the back of the diskette.  Write-protected disks cannot be infected with either file or boot viruses. However, write-protecting an infected disk will NOT prevent it from spreading a viral infection.
3. Run a memory-resident virus scanner (such as V-shield) which scans the boot sectors of floppy disks and executables BEFORE they are accessed.  If you place an infected disk in the A: drive of a computer protected by a memory-resident scanner - you should get an error message when you try to read the disk, telling you that it is infected and cannot be accessed.
4. Disable the CMOS setting which allows your computer to be booted from the A: drive (this will prevent boot viruses from infecting your hard drive).  Read your computer’s Operations Manual for instructions on how to do this.
5. If you don’t use macros you should disable the macro feature in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access.

1. We use McAfee Virus Scan software - with VShield running memory-resident to catch infected diskettes.  We update our viral data files every six weeks, and so should you.
2. The lab computers are not bootable from the a: drive, protecting the hard drive from boot viruses.  (Note:  boot viruses are NOT spread through networks.)
3. McAfee Virus Scan scans the local boot sector and executable files every time the computer is turned on.
4. McAfee Virus Scan is available from the Start menu under “Programs.”  Please use this application to scan your diskettes.

Also, look at:
     •    Word Macro Virus FAQ   http://www.ahdl.msu.edu/ahdl/macrofaq.htm
     •    Computer Virus Myths Homepage  http://www.Vmyths.com
     •    McAfee Homepage   http://www.mcafee.com
     •    Symantec Anti-Virus Center (for Norton users) http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/
     •    About Anti-Virus Software     http://antivirus.about.com/compute/antivirus

You can also address your computer virus questions to Diane Wade, Computer Services Librarian  (pdwade@samford.edu)  or Samford Computer Services User Support (support@samford.edu).

Have you ever been in a Law Library Lab and realized that you need a floppy disk to save your outline, memo or even your 30 page paper or to save your score for the Interactive Videos?  As some of you may remember there was a surplus of free disks available for student use. Unfortunately this stash of magnetic media was depleted this summer.  In other words, there are none to be had.  But don't fret!  If you need a floppy the University Bookstore has oodles for sale.

Also, for information on different types of storage media, read the article "Floppies and CDs and Zips, Oh My!" in the 2000 August issue of Check It Out. It can be found at:  http://lawlib.samford.edu/cio/cioaug00.html

In the event of severe weather due to SNOW and ICE, the Law Library will attempt to be open during the regular hours.  The times of opening and closing will be determined by weather forecasts and road conditions.  Notices will be announced and posted with as much forewarning as is possible.

Patrons of the Oregon Supreme Court Library are required to have food and drink at hand at all times during use of library materials. Food stuffs are to be of a kind appropriate to the particular time of day:
 

• 8:00 am to 10:00 am: Eggs with a meat dish, toast or pancakes (hash-browns optional); or cereals (hot cereals preferred during the winter months)
• 10:00 am to Noon: Coffee cake, Danish, doughnuts or cinnamon rolls
• Noon to 2:00 pm: Meat dish (steak or roast beef preferred) with a starch and at least two vegetables, not over cooked, fruit and dessert.  Vegetarians may substitute tofu or other high protein food materials prepared to closely resemble meat.
• 2:00 pm to closing: Light snacks, including melba toast with appropriate spread, chips with salsa, or cheese and crackers.

No paper plates or plastic flatware. Glasses shall be appropriate to the libation.

Glasses shall be placed to the right of library materials and at least one foot from the edge of the table. Patrons are responsible for bussing their own tables, and cleaning up their own spills.

Violations of library policy may lead to expulsion from the library and loss of library privileges.

PLEASE NOTE: Foods meeting library requirements are available at the Thomson Bar & Grill located at the rear of the library (formerly the library work room). The library is partnering with the new Thomson Eating Division (TED) of The Thomson Corporation (TTC) in our effort to meet our financial obligations to West Group (Also a TTC subsidiary). Please note that patrons should check with a Thomson Bar & Grill Customer Service Representative after placing an order, since prices may have changed in the interim, or new side dishes, sauces, or condiments may have added value to your order.

Reprinted with permission.  Written by:  Joe Stephens, Law Librarian, Oregon Supreme Court Library.

Fortunately, a quick-thinking librarian at Centre put out a dragnet for the pilfered books. After alerting the local police department, in Danville, Ky., Connie Klimke located a trustworthy dealer on the Internet. That dealer, Christopher W. Lane, a co-owner of the Philadelphia Print Shop, then spent 10 minutes spreading the word on Exlibris and other e-mail lists used by rare-book sellers. He also broadcast the message to every print dealer whose e-mail address he knew.

It worked. Within a few days, a rare-book dealer in Philadelphia contacted the Danville police, saying he had the books -- and a suspect.

The college expects the rare volumes to be returned intact, once the police no longer need them as evidence in the case.  The library plans to restrict visitors' access to the collection but not to end it.

The theft occurred October 7 -- two days after the college had played host to the U.S. vice-presidential debate. Adds Stan Campbell, Library Director: "I don't think it's any coincidence that the thief initially wanted to visit the campus library on October 5" – when it could be anticipated that campus officials would be distracted by the hubbub surrounding the high-profile event.

From:  Florence Olsen, Centre College Uses the Internet to Track Down a Stolen Rare Book, (visited November 13, 2000)   http://chronicle.com

Your law degree opens the door to a wealth of employment opportunities.  To help chart a satisfying career path,consider the following books available in the Cumberland Law Library.

America's Greatest Places to Work with a Law Degree: and How to Make the Most of Any Job, No Matter Where it Is! by Kimm Alayne Walton, 1999 (Law - Treatises  F297/.W338).  Use this book to find jobs in sports, entertainment, international law, and other areas.  Read profiles of large law firms along with advice on finding great small firms.  The author covers alternative careers and even gives tips on handling student loan debt.

Balancing Law and Parenthood: Part-time Careers in the Law by Kathryn A. Plonsky, 1999 (Law - Treatises KF297/.P56).  One of the few resources focusing on part-time lawyering, this book offers advice for parents seeking more flexible work schedules.  Included are sample proposals for part-time work and job sharing.

Best Résumés for Attorneys by Joan Fondell and Mary Jo Russo, 1994 (Law - Treatises KF297/- .F66).  The authors compile 140 sample résumés and cover letters in 48 practice areas.  Also included are examples of the often overlooked thank-you letter following an interview.

Federal Law-Related Careers Directory: A Guide to Over 150 Law-Related Careers edited by Richard L. Hermann, Linda P. Sutherland, Jeanette J. Sobajian, 3rd ed. (Law - Reference KF299/- .G6/F43/1994).  According to the editors, the U.S. government is the largest employer of legal talent in the world. Typically, the federal work force includes about 24,000 attorneys, 300,000 law-related positions, and 50,000 summer interns.  This book demystifies the federal hiring process for positions like foreign service officer, civil rights analyst, mediator, copyright examiner, FBI agent, game law enforcement officer, and many other career possibilities.

Guerrilla Tactics for Getting the Legal Job of Your Dreams by Kimm Alayne Walton, 1995 (Law - Treatises KF297/.W34).  Read this book for advice on interviewing, correspondence, résumés, and networking.  Also look for special topics like getting the most out of your career services office, finding your dream job, and seven magic words that ensure a response to letters you send.

JD Preferred: 400+ Things You Can Do with a Law Degree (Other than Practice Law), 1994 (Law - Treatises KF297/- .J39).  A law degree may not be required but is a considerable asset for careers discussed in this book.  Editors cover jobs in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors like academic administration, alternate dispute resolution, insurance, risk management, and international business.

JD Preferred!: Legal Career Alternatives: Career Opportunities in Ethics and Professional Responsibility, (Law - Reference KF297/.F45/1997/v.4).  Today, the field of ethics extends well beyond lawyer conduct.  Practically any profession, activity, or industry subject to regulation generates career opportunities for lawyers.  This book covers public and private sector jobs like ethics counsel, disciplinary counsel, ethics trainer, compliance director, ombudsman, and other positions.  The appendix provides an extensive list of potential employers.

The Legal Job Interview by Clifford R. Ennico, 1992 (Law - Treatises KF297/.E56).  The author gives advice on how to conduct yourself in a legal job interview.  He suggests some good questions to ask the interviewer, along with strategies for responding to commonly asked questions.

Public Interest Job Search Guide: Harvard Law School's Handbook & Directory for Law Students and Lawyers Seeking Public Service Work by Stacy M. DeBroff, Jill P. Martyn, and Alexa Shabecoff, 11th ed. 2000-2001 ( Law - Reference KF299/- .P8/D43).  Sample résumés, cover letters, and thank you notes enhance this extensive directory of potential employers in public interest and government sectors.  Included are tips for interviewing and negotiating, along with information on funding sources, fellowships, and grants.

What Can You Do with a Law Degree?: A Lawyer's Guide to Career Alternatives Inside, Outside & Around the Law by Deborah Arron, 4th ed. (Law - Treatises KF297/.Z9/A772/- 1999).  If you are not sure that law firm practice is for you, consider the many job options discussed in this book.  Law school graduates are hired in areas as diverse as communications, consulting, banking, healthcare, lobbying, publishing, real estate, and sports, just to mention a few.  The author cites resources for further investigation in each career area.  Also, find expert tips on career transition, self-assessment, and job search techniques.

Career Series: American Bar Association.  This series of books published by the American Bar Association may help in your job search.
Careers in Sports Law by Kenneth L. Shropshire (Law - Treatises KF299/.S8/S5/1990).
Careers in Civil Litigation by Monica Bay, 1990 (Law - Treatises KF299/.T7/B39).
The Legal Career Guide: from Law Student to Lawyer by Gary A. Munneke, 1992 (Law - Treatises KF297/.M86).
Careers in Admiralty and Maritime Law by Robert M. Jarvis, 1993 (Law - Reference KF1104/.J37).
Nonlegal Careers for Lawyers by Gary A. Munneke and William D. Henslee, 3rd ed. (Law - Treatises KF297/.M83/1994).
Lawful Pursuit: Careers in Public Interest Law by Ronald W. Fox, 1995 (Law - Treatises KF299/.P8/F59).
Now Hiring: Government Jobs for Lawyers, 1997-1998 (Law - Treatises KF299/.G6/N68).
Entertainment Law Careers by William D. Henslee, 2nd ed. (Law - Treatises KF299/.E58/-H4/1998).
Family Law Careers by Sara Vlajcic (Law - Treatises KF299/- F36/.V53/1998).
How to Start and Build a Law Practice by Jay G. Foonberg, Millennium 4th ed. (Law - Treatises KF315/.F6/1999).

For background research, biographical information, or interview preparation, look for the following directories of lawyers or judges.
Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (Law - Reference KF190/.M3).
Almanac of the Federal Judiciary (Law - Reference KF8700/.A19/A4/1990).
The American Bench: Judges of the Nation, 2000-2001 (Law - Reference KF8700/.A19/A47).

These are just a few of the books available in the Law Library.  For additional resources, ask a reference librarian for help if needed.  Good luck in your job search!

Mike Stewart, Cumberland class of 1988, has written his second mystery novel, Dog Island. The Law Library has a copy shelved in the treatise collection -  PS3569/.T46544/D64.  The Law Library has three copies of his first novel, Sins of the Brother, published in 1999.  They are also in the treatise collection - PS3569/.T46544/S5.

Source: Chen May Yee, Singapore Turns a New Leaf, The Wall Street Journal, January 3, 2001, 2001 WL-WSJ 2849876.

The CHECK IT OUT is published three times a semester.  The editorial staff works hard on articles that are of interest to both law students and law professors.  We welcome new ideas and hope that you take the time to critique each issue.  Let us know if there is a specific subject that you would like for us to discuss.  Send your ideas and/or comments to: