Save the Date: Westlaw Classic Will Be Retired on August 21, 2015

West has announced Westlaw Classic's retirement date: August 21, 2015. Read more on the Legal Solutions blog and download the free user guide "Comparing Westlaw Classic to WestlawNext," to help you make the transition.

Additionally, the Law Library offers a variety of WestlawNext training opportunities. The next class, WestlawNext Refresher, will be held on December 10 from 10:30-11:30* a.m. in Room 107 of the Law Library. There will be additional classes scheduled in March and June as part of our quarterly Westlaw training series, and we will probably add additional sessions to help patrons make the transition. If you would like to meet with our Account Manager for individual training, she generally comes to Carson City monthly, each second Wednesday.  Call (775-684-1640) or email (reference at nvcourts dot nv dot gov) to schedule an appointment or to sign up for a webinar.

*Edited on 12/1/14 to change time from 9-10 to 10:30-11:30.

From the Thomson Reuters Westlaw Library Relations Newsletter, October 2014:

New Title Added to USCA:  Title 52 Voting and Elections

A new subject matter title, Title 52 Voting and Elections, has been created within United States Code by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, an independent, nonpartisan office in the U.S. House of Representatives.  It is important to note: 

• Title 52 contains provisions that are being relocated from Titles 2 and 42

• No substantive content has been altered  

• The relocated provisions have new citations

• The Westlaw USCA team was notified by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the Title 52 addition several weeks in advance of the release of the United States Code on the government’s website

• The Westlaw USCA team transferred code text, credit provisions, and all of our editorial features including editorial notes and Notes of Decisions

• The new title was released to Westlaw on September 3, 2014 

Find out more on the Legal Solutions Blog.   

Westlaw Tip of the Week: Searching Secondary Sources More Efficiently

This is an old(ish) Tip of the Week, but still helpful information.  One tip I give our patrons is WestlawNext can be a good way to identify relevant chapters of treatises, since it searches across the entire West platform, not just the materials included in our contract.  And, if your search retrieves documents that are not included in our plan, come see the reference librarians and we will help you find the treatise in print.  The Law Library has an extensive collection of West treatises in print and if we don't have it we might be able to borrow it from another library.

Finding the document you need within Secondary Sources may take time, especially if you are starting a new research project and are searching through all Secondary Sources on WestlawNext. Here are some tips to make this process easier.

Narrow the Results List Using FiltersThe filters are especially helpful when you are looking for a Secondary Source from a particular jurisdiction. For example, try setting your jurisdiction to California and then run a search for “equitable estoppel”:

- See more on the Legal Solutions Blog.

It's That Time of Year - CLE Requirements and Opportunities

Have you started thinking about CLE credits?  Credits must be earned by December 31, 2014, though you have until March 1, 2015 to return your signed compliance form.    The Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education mails courtesy notices each October, so you should have an idea of where you stand. 

Need to understand the reporting requirements?  Check out the Board's Frequently Asked Questions page. 

Need to earn some extra credits?  Check out some of the following links:

• The State Bar of Nevada's Live Seminars calendar.  The Bar also has a CLE Store with links to programs in online (video), mobile (MP3), and audio CD formats. 
• Clark County Bar Association CLE Seminars calendar. 
• Washoe County Bar Association CLE calendar and list of audio CLEs. 

We have been offering programs for CLE credit at the Law Library this year and have a few additional programs scheduled:

• Getting Started in HeinOnline - 2014 (1.0 general credit applied for), two sessions will be held on Friday, October 24 (9-10 a.m. and 10:30-11:30 a.m.).  The program is a webinar.  You join us in a conference room to watch the webinar, or sign in from your own computer.  Call the Reference Desk (775-684-1640) to sign up. 
• Transitioning from Westlaw Classic to WestlawNext - 2014, Wednesday, December 10 (10:30-11:30 a.m.). (1.0 general credit)
• Substance Abuse - 2014, Wednesday, December 10 (12-1 p.m.). (1.0 AAMH credit.)

Updated on 12/1/14 to change times and topic for 12/10 training.

Pro Bono Week 2014

Pro Bono Week is October 19th through 25th.  Nevada Legal Services and the Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans will hold an Ask a Lawyer/Self-Help Clinic at the Supreme Court Library on Thursday, October 23rd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Additionally, Law Library staff will be participating in the Legal Aid Fair on October 18th at the Carson City Community Center.

There is a schedule of events throughout the state posted on the State Bar of Nevada’s website.  (There may be income restrictions at some of these events; please contact the provider for additional information.)

New Book: Internet Legal Research on a Budget

Internet Legal Research On a Budget by Carole A. Levitt and Judy K. Davis

“Internet Legal Research on a Budget will help you quickly find the best free or low-cost resources online and use them for your research needs. The authors share the top websites, apps, blogs, Twitter feeds, and crowdsourced resources that will save you time, money, and frustration during the research process.” From Amazon

This title is a good source for websites and tips for legal research on the internet. Published by the American Bar Association , this title has gotten good reviews from attorneys who want to maximize their time and their legal research dollars. It is available in print or ebook.

 

You can find this book in our Ready Reference collection.  Ask for it at the Reference Desk.

Westlaw Tip of the Week: Why WestlawNext?

Still using Classic Westlaw?  You might want to check out the West Legal Solutions Blog for tips on Westlaw and WestlawNext:

WestlawNext has many resources beyond cases, statutes, and secondary sources. Knowing what they are, where to find them, and how to use them can greatly increase your research efficiency. - See more on the blog.

Another Tip of the Week covers historical statutes:

Legal research often requires us to find prior laws. For example, you may need to view the statute that was in effect on the date a legal matter actually occurred. Likewise, the proper application and understanding of legislative intent behind a current law often requires examining older versions of that law. There are several ways to find prior laws on WestlawNext.