Nevada Court of Appeals

The Supreme Court amended the Nevada Rules of Appellate Procedure (NRAP) to incorporate changes due to the voters' approval of the Court of Appeals.  You can find the order (PDF) dated December 18, 2014 on Administrative Docket (ADKT) 501.  Rule 17 describes which cases are retained by the Supreme Court and which are assigned to the Court of Appeals.  The amended rules are not yet incorporated in the NRAP published in the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) and posted on the legislature's website. 

Documents in the News: Report of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Committee Study of the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program (Senate Report 113-288)

From the Federal Depository Library Program's blog:

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) makes available the official and authentic digital and print versions of the Report of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Committee Study of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Detention and Interrogation Program, together with a forward by Chairman Feinstein and Additional and Minority Views (Senate Report 113-288).
This document comprises the declassified Executive Summary and Findings and Conclusions, including declassified additional and minority views. The full classified report will be maintained by the Committee and has been provided to the Executive Branch for dissemination to all relevant agencies.
The digital version is available on GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys). The print version is available for purchase at GPO’s retail and online bookstore for $29.

Research Tip: Use Notes of Decisions to Quickly Find Relevant Cases Interpreting a Statute or Regulation

This is a good tip from the Westlaw Legal Solutions blog:

Have you ever searched in cases for a procedural issue and come up empty? Are you not sure how a court might refer to a particular word or concept in a statute or rule? If so, please do not hesitate to make Notes of Decisions your starting point. Notes of Decisions are short summaries of cases interpreting a particular aspect of the statute or rule and can quickly help you find what you need because they are organized by common procedural topics.

Westlaw OnePass Password Reset

As part of a system-wide security review, West is requiring all Westlaw users to reset their OnePass passwords. Instructions to change or reset your password may be found on the Legal Solutions website. You may do it now, or when prompted at login. If you have a problem, please do not hesitate to contact the Reference Desk or 1-800-WESTLAW.

Learning (and CLE) Opportunities at the Supreme Court Library in December

We have lots of training (and CLE) planned for December.  Stop by the Reference Desk, or call (775-684-1640) or email reference (at) nvcourts (dot) nv (dot) gov to reserve a seat. 

• Tuesday, 12/9/14 - 4-5 p.m. - Substance Abuse Research on Westlaw (1.0 substance abuse credit)
• Wednesday, 12/10/14 - 9-10 a.m. - Ethics 2014 (1.0 ethics credit)
• Wednesday, 12/10/14 - 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Transitioning from Westlaw Classic to WestlawNext (1.0 general credit)
• Wednesday, 12/10/14 - 12-1 p.m. - Substance Abuse Research on Westlaw (1.0 substance abuse credit)
• Friday, 12/19/14 - 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Getting Started in HeinOnline (1.0 general credit) webinar
• Friday, 12/19/14 - 12-1 p.m. - Advanced Searching in HeinOnline (1.0 general credit) webinar

The HeinOnline training is by webinar.  You can sign up to participate from your computer or you can join us in Room 107 of the Law Library.   

For additional information about Nevada requirements and links to a few CLE providers, check out our October 16th post:  It's That Time of Year:  CLE Requirements and Opportunities.

10 Tips for Better Legal Writing

Bryan Garner has a post up at the ABA Journal on legal writing.  We especially like tip number 2:

2) Don't rely exclusively on computer research. Combine book research with computer research. Don't overlook such obvious resources as Corpus Juris Secundum and American Jurisprudence. Look at indexes, digests and treatises to round out your understanding of the subject matter. And when it comes to computer research, don't forget Google Books (especially the advanced-search function): It can open up a great variety of fresh resources in addition to what you find with Westlaw or Lexis.

The Law Library has several books by Garner and on legal writing in its collection.

New Editions: Fair Debt Collection

The Library recently received new editions of several titles published by the National Consumer Law Center, including Fair Debt Collection, 8th.

The Definitive FDCPA Treatise

The latest thinking and authoritative analysis of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the statute that dramatically alters how collection agencies and attorneys collect consumer debts.

For 30 years, the primary reference in the field:

• Preparation of a debt collection harassment case
• Persons and transactions covered and FDCPA requirements and remedies
• The debt collector's defenses and counterclaims.

(Description from the NCLC website.)

Holiday Closures

The Supreme Court Library will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th for Veterans Day and on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th for Thanksgiving and Family Day.

Did you know legal holidays are listed in the Nevada Revised Statutes?  NRS 236.015, to be specific.

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.

Westlaw Training (and Free CLE Credit) at the Law Library

Once again the Law Library is hosting Westlaw training sessions that qualify for CLE credit.  Dates and topics follow.  Seating is limited. Please call the Reference Desk (775-684-1640) to reserve your seat.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

10:15-11:15 am - Advanced WestlawNext

Designed for those researchers who have some experience with WestlawNext, this seminar focuses on:

• folder-sharing,
• advanced search,
• utilizing filters,
• customizable features of WestlawNext, and
• the WestlawNext iPad app (v 2.0.1), including search, result filtering, touch-screen navigation, notes and highlighting, research history, foldering options, and VGA capability to experience WestlawNext on the “big screen.”

11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Topical Research on WestlawNext

This course builds upon your legal research skills using WestlawNext to delve into topical content sets of law. Attendees will learn how to find case law, statutes, regulations, and administrative documents specific to a topical area of practice. Attendees will explore WestlawNext’s Related Documents feature which will suggest secondary resources that are on-point for the topical search performed. Finally, attendees will learn advanced research techniques for WestSearch, a multi-functional search box that simultaneously searches all core legal content sets on WestlawNext as well as learn how to perform legal research using West’s Topic and Key Number System from the West National Reporter System (NRS).

 

June Events at the Law Library

We are hosting Westlaw for some CLE training this month, as well as Nevada Legal Services's monthly forms-completion clinics. 

6/11/14, 10-11 a.m. - Intermediate Westlaw** - Room 107 - 1.0 hours of general CLE credit
6/11/14, 11:15-12:15 a.m. - Employment Law Research using Westlaw** - Room 107 - 1.0 hours of general CLE credit
6/12/14, 1:30-3:30 p.m. - NLS Forms Completion Clinic* - Room 103

*Drop in, for more information, contact NLS at 775-284-3491 x214.
**Seating is limited, please contact the Reference Desk at 775-684-1640 to reserve your seat.

Survey Time!

We here at the Supreme Court Library want to know how you use our website.  Please take a few minutes to complete our short online survey to help us improve our site during the next website redesign. 

Upcoming Events in May and June at the Law Library

Here are a few upcoming events that might be of interest to Law Library patrons:

5/8/14, 1:30-3:30 p.m. - NLS Forms Clinic* - Room 107
5/22/14, 1:30-3:30 p.m. - NLS Forms Clinic* - LOCATED AT THE BRIC, 108 E. Proctor St.
6/11/14, 10-11 a.m. - Intermediate Westlaw** - Room 107 - 1.0 hours of general CLE credit
6/11/14, 11:15-12:15 a.m. - Employment Law Research using Westlaw** - Room 107 - 1.0 hours of general CLE credit

*Drop in, for more information, contact NLS at 775-284-3491 x214.
**Seating is limited, please contact the Reference Desk at 775-684-1640 to reserve your seat.

More Westlaw Training (and Free CLE) at the Law Library

On Wednesday, June 11, 2014, in Room 107 of the Law Library, we will be offering the following two CLE programs:

10-11 a.m. - Intermediate Research on WestlawNext (1 hour of general credit)

Take the next step in your research training with Intermediate WestlawNext. Find our more tips and tricks for getting the best results from your research time utilizing WestlawNext.

11:15a-12:15 p.m. - Employment Law Research Using Westlaw (1 hour of general credit)

Efficient online access to comprehensive, current, and accurate information is an indispensable competitive advantage in the practice of employment law. Westlaw provides access to a comprehensive online library of relevant materials.  This training will focus on using these materials as you perform research tasks such as:

• evaluating clients and their claims, including potential recovery or exposure,
• investigating facts, parties, and issues,
• researching the law, including the most recent developments,
• preparing a case for trial,
• litigating a case, and
• devising programs and policies for your clients.

RSVP by calling the Reference Desk (775-684-1640).