No. 464	September 2000

THE COMPLETE LAW SCHOOL COMPANION: HOW TO EXCEL AT AMERICA’S MOST DEMANDING
POST-GRADUATE CURRICULUM, 2nd  ed., by Jeff Deaver (1992).  KF283/.D4/1992/Reserve.  While the first few chapters are for those who are contemplating attending law school, the bulk of this work provides advice to entering law students.  Chapters include “Daily Survival in the Classroom,” “How to Brief Cases,” “The Course Outline,” “Preparing for Exams,” “Taking Exams,” “Sample Exams,” and “Writing a Course Paper.”

FIRST YEAR LAW SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT by Jeff Adachi (1996).  KF283/.A32/Reserve.
Author, after initially giving brief descriptions of first year class subjects, provides an easily read chapter on preparing for class. The largest section of the book is devoted to giving advice on how to write essay answers for specific first year subjects (i.e., “How to Answer a Torts Problem”).  “The Problem Solving Approaches” found in the latter fourth of the book provide short outlines of concepts for the first year class subjects.

GETTING TO MAYBE: HOW TO EXCEL ON LAW SCHOOL EXAMS by Richard Michael Fischl and Jeremy Paul (1999).  KF283/.F47.  Authors try to “tackle the exam process by breaking it down into discrete analytical components.” Two-thirds of this book provides an in-depth discussion of how to analyze issues and think like a lawyer.  Latter third of the book includes chapters on preparing for and writing law exam answers along with a good FAQ chapter and some sample first year subject exam questions and model answers.

HOW TO DO YOUR BEST ON LAW SCHOOL EXAMS by John Delaney (1988). KF283/.D44/1988/Reserve.  While this book is certainly not an easy read, it does provide extensive analysis on how to outline for your classes, identify issues, and write exam answers.  Also includes sample exam problems and good and bad answers to these problems.

HOW TO MAKE IT THROUGH LAW SCHOOL: A GUIDE FOR MINORITY AND DISADVANTAGED
STUDENTS by J.P. Davis (1982).  KF283/.D38.  Author writes brief chapters on issues such as dealing with first-year law school trauma, teaching methods, study groups, briefing cases, legal reasoning, and preparing for and taking exams.

HOW TO STUDY LAW AND TAKE LAW EXAMS IN A NUTSHELL by Ann M. Burkhart and Robert A. Stein (1996).  KF283/.B87/Reserve.   Some of the more valuable chapters describe types of materials found in the Law Library, methods for preparing for class, outlining, study aids,  how to prepare for and take the exam.  The final third of the book provides exam questions for first year subjects and model answers.
 
HOW TO SUCCEED IN LAW SCHOOL by Gary A. Munneke (1989).  KF283/.M86/Reserve.
Author provides an invaluable perspective in chapters 2 and 5 entitled “Understanding the Law School Experience” and “Avoiding the Pitfalls of Law School,” respectively.  Other chapters well worth the reader’s time are “Studying the Law” and  “Taking Exams.”
 
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF LAW IN A NUTSHELL, 3rd  ed. by Kenney Hegland (1995).  KF273/.H4/2000/Reserve.  The more valuable chapters in this book for freshmen include “Reading Cases,” “Briefing Cases,” “General Study Tips,” “More Stuff on Taking Exams,” “Fear and Loathing in the First Year,” “Mechanics of the Oral Argument,” “Legal Research,” “Legal Writing,”and several chapters providing an introduction to the litigation process.

LEARNING THE LAW: SUCCESS IN LAW SCHOOL AND BEYOND by Steven J. Frank (1992).  KF283/.F73/ Reserve.  Chapter 1 provides a good introduction to the structure of U.S. legal institutions.  Chapters 2 through 5 introduce the reader to different aspects of legal reasoning; pretty in-depth reading, however.  Chapter 7 provides some specific, though dated, recommendations on commercial study aids for the law student.

SLAYING THE LAW SCHOOL DRAGON: HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN FIRST YEAR LAW
SCHOOL, 2nd  ed. by George Roth (1991).  KF283/.R68/1991/Reserve.  Chapters include “How to Prepare for the Semester,” “How to Study for Class,” “How to Read a Case,” “How to Study for Exams,” “How to Answer Exam Questions,” and “How to Write a Brief.”  The book also gives a quick review on the first year class subjects.

SUCCESS IN LAW SCHOOL: EXAM TAKING TECHNIQUES by Charles H. Whitebread (1989).
KF285/.Z9/W3/Reserve.  Author includes chapters on dealing with intimidation, allocating time during the exam, reading the question, organizing an answer, analyzing legal issues and writing the exam. Appendix includes sample exam questions with steps involved in answering the question.

SURVIVING THE FIRST YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL by Ralph Canada, Charles Cheatham and Tony Licata (1978). KF283/.C36/ Reserve.  Very readable, this book provides advice on buying study aids, briefing cases, answering when called upon in class, taking notes in class, moot court, and preparing for and taking exams.

WRITE THE “A” LAW EXAM ANSWER by Betty Brody (1988). KF283/.B76/Reserve.  54 page book gives advice on reading, analyzing and answering exam questions.  Provides sample questions and their answers for first year subjects.

CONQUERING LEGAL EXAMS: THE ART OF PREPARING FOR AND WRITING OUTSTANDING LEGAL
EXAMS by David R. Simon (1994). KF283/.S65/ Reserve.  Short, readable book giving advice on test preparation and techniques in writing the final exam.  Last section includes sample questions for first year subjects.

MAXIMIZING THE LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE II (2000).  KF273/.M3/2000.  This special issue of Stetson Law Review is an update of the 1983 Stetson publication designed to “provide entering law students with the knowledge and confidence to grasp the many opportunities that a legal education yields.”  Sections include “Insights on Legal Education,” “Developing Analytical Abilities,” “Gaining Lawyering Skills,” “Building Relationships,” and “Life After Law School.”

[This bibliography is an update of one that appeared in the September 1999 issue of Check It Out. ]
 

 

By using Campus Pipeline, students can also access the following:

• Their class schedules and assignments
• Their grades
• Samford’s electronic “phonebook” (with e-mail addresses of all faculty, staff, and students)
• Links to Samford’s Library web pages and online catalog
• A map of Samford’s campus

At the top of the Campus Pipeline homepage, there should be 4 tabs and an envelope:

My Pipeline — This is the main Campus Pipeline page. Down the left side of the screen is a section called “Section Content”. Click on Administrative Services to check grades at the end of each semester.

School Services — From this section, students can view their class schedule. Also, students can e-mail their professor or check the class web page (if one has been set-up by the professor).
 
Campus Life — This section is where Samford News is posted.

Web Life — This section is the COMMERCIAL portal, which is not maintained by Samford. Here they have shopping, chatting, and other typical “web for fun” services.

E- mail (the little envelope) — This section lets you quickly and easily check your Samford e-mail.

The first time you log on to Campus Pipeline, you will be presented with a series of polls and informational (advertising) surveys to complete. You can cancel out of this, if you do not want to provide the information. If you ever want to return to these surveys, click on PERSONAL DATA CENTER from the MY PIPELINE page.

If you have any problems with Campus Pipeline, or need assistance, contact Samford’s User Services Department:  726-2662,  support@samford.edu,  329 Brooks Hall.
 

You are looking for a book and it is not on the shelf.  What do you do?  Many times a librarian or
library assistant can help you in locating the item, but if they are not available, a Missing Item Form is
easy for you to use.  The form can be found under Library Services at the Law Library home page
(http://lawlib.samford.edu).

It is simple to fill out and you will receive an e-mail when the message is received by the library staff.
Use it next time you are having problems finding a book. The web site for the form is:
http://lawlib.samford.edu/forms/missing.shtml.
 
 

(Each title listed is part of the Nutshell series and each title is shelved on Reserve.)

Bailey, Henry J.  SECURED TRANSACTIONS IN A NUTSHELL.  4th ed.
KF1050/.Z9/B34/2000.

DuBoff, Leonard D.  ART LAW IN A NUTSHELL.  3rd ed.  KF4288/Z9.D8/2000.

Findley, Roger W.  ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN A NUTSHELL.  5th ed. KF3775/Z9.F56/2000.

Gelfand, M. David.  STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION AND FINANCE IN A NUTSHELL.  2nd ed.
KF6720/Z9/.G45/2000.

Harrison, Jeffrey L.  LAW AND ECONOMICS IN A NUTSHELL.  2nd ed.  K487/.E3/H37/2000.

Hegland, Kenney F.  INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF LAW IN A NUTSHELL.
3rd ed.  KF273/.H4/2000
 

Listed below are some interesting dictionary web sites:

Websters Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
http://www.bibliomania.com/Reference/Webster/index.html

The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable By E. Cobham Brewer (1894)
http://www.bibliomania.com/Reference/PhraseAndFable/index.html

yourDictionary.com
http://www.yourdictionary.com

Bouviers Law Dictionary (1856)
http://www.alaska.net/~winter/bouvier1856.html

Oxford English Dictionary
(Available on-campus)
http://dictionary.oed.com/entrance.dtl

More than 4,000 used books for the Northland (Pa.) Public Library’s annual book sale were stolen from the garage of departing Director Laura Shelley.

Pittsburgh police found no sign of forced entry when she reported the theft April 23, two weeks before the book sale.  The library has stored the books in her garage for the past 15 years because of lack of space in the library.

Source: 29 American Libraries 36 (1998)

Stolen Rarities Found

An extremely rare volume written by Galileo scheduled to be auctioned at Christie’s was yanked October 20 after experts at the famed auction house discovered the tome was in fact property stolen from the Polish National Library in Drakow in 1998.  A 20-year-old Bulgarian student was arrested by Polish authorities, who found 60 stolen books and numerous maps in his possession.  Eleven other rarities, including a 15th century atlas also stolen from the Polish library, were recovered at an auction house in Germany October 12.  Both auction houses were cleared of any wrongdoing.

Source: 124 Libr. J. 20 (1999)
 

From: Harry Potter, ‘Huckleberry Finn’ Among Controversial Library Books (visited September 14, 2000) http://cnn.com

Also, Adobe is offering three free Word or WordPerfect to PDF conversions to registered users from their website:   http://cpdf1.adobe.com/index.pl?BP=NS

Please contact Mandy Haddin, Diane Wade, or Brenda Jones if you need assistance.
 

All first year law students received a copy of the 2000 edition of GUIDE TO STUDY AIDS IN THE LUCILLE STEWART BEESON LAW LIBRARY.  This current edition is also on the Law Library’s home page under Research Aids (http://lawlib.samford.edu/studyaid.shtml).  This bibliography contains the latest editions of such series as Nutshells and Hornbooks and all titles are listed under Subject.  Most of the titles listed are on Reserve.  Printed copies of the Guide are also available at the Circulation Desk.

A new and useful research tool is the Call Numbers & Ranges for Selected Subjects and Materials also found under Research Aids  (http://lawlib.samford.edu/reference/callnumbers.shtml).   This tool gives the call number range for a specific subject.  If a patron needed to know where books on Alabama evidence are located, the exact listing of “Alabama evidence” can be found on the list and the call number range, KFA540, tells where that material is located.
 

Explore the online Westlaw Directory to find books by practice area, by title, or by publisher.  Alternatively, use the “Database Wizard” on the Web interface, or go directly to database IDEN to search for a particular resource.  For a good overview of books available on Westlaw, scan the scope note for database TEXTS.   Just a few of the many titles (with database identifiers) include:

Alternative Dispute Resolution with Forms (ADR)

Bennett's Guide to Jury Selection and Trial Dynamics in Civil and Criminal Litigation (BJS)

Couch on Insurance (COUCH)

Federal Practice and Procedure by Wright and Miller (FPP)

Fletcher Cyclopedia of the Law of Private Corporations (FLETCHER-CYC)

Manual for Complex Litigation (MCL)

McCarthy on Trademarks and Unfair Competition (MCCARTHY)

Newberg on Class Actions (CLASSACT)

Norton Bankuptcy Law and Practice (NRTN-BLP)

The Law of Trusts and Trustees (BOGERT)

Treatise on Constitutional Law by Rotunda and Nowak (CONLAW)

Uniform Commercial Code Series (HAWKLAND)

Westlaw Search Tips:
Within the database for a particular treatise, view the table of contents by entering this query:  ci(contents).   Some databases have online keyword indexes or tables of cases.  Where available, browse the index by entering this query:  ci(index).  See the table of cases using this query:  ci(cases).  Presently, most (but not all) of these access points link to the full text.

LEXIS

Editors at Lexis organize resources first by library, then by file name.  Some libraries are arranged by publisher, others by practice area, type of resource, or jurisdiction.  To find electronic treatises on the Lexis Web interface, follow links for descriptive headings like Secondary Legal, Matthew Bender, or Area of Law Treatises.  Alternatively, look for a particular book using “Find a Source” search function on the Web, or the Online Product Guide on Lexis proprietary software.  Some selected titles from the Secondary Legal (2NDARY) library include:

Appleman on Insurance (APLMAN)

Benedict on Admiralty (BENADM)

Chisum on Patents (CHISUM)

Collier on Bankruptcy (COLBKR)

Farnsworth on Contracts (FARCON)

Larson’s Employment Discrimination (EMPDIS)

Moore’s Federal Practice (MOORES)

Nichols on Eminent Domain (NEMDOM)

Nimmer on Copyright (NIMMER)

Powell on Real Property (POWELL)

Scott on Trusts (SCOTT)

Southeast Transaction Guide (SETRAN)

Weinstein’s Federal Evidence (WEUSR)

Wigmore on Evidence (WIGMOR)

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:  Becky Hutto at rmhutto@samford.edu