tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70046289432146915842024-03-13T02:41:37.869-07:00usd law and politicsmr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comBlogger702125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-22121323988752978802011-12-21T12:41:00.000-08:002011-12-28T10:13:15.519-08:00New York Times, Sunday, December 17,2011 "For Law Schools, a Price to Play the A.B.A.'s Way."David Segal wrote the article discussing how American Bar Association accreditation standards contribute to tuition costs at law schools. The first paragraph is actually the only part of the article discussing the standards for law libraries. You can find these standards on the A.B.A. website. (Standards of Rules and Procedures for Approval of Law Schools.)The standards for law libraries are in mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-63785318691563080952011-12-15T10:06:00.000-08:002011-12-28T10:13:15.519-08:00Attorney, Employ Thyself! - Jennifer Kim Chau, Maritime SpecialistJessica Alexander,J.D., M.L.S., Reference LibrarianThis will be the first in a series about young attorneys, who in the face of hard economic times have found success in solo practice. Jennifer Kim Chau,12335 Kingsride Ln, No. 388, Houston, Texas 77024, hails from the small coastal town of Palacios, Texas. She is a patron of our library. I am always curious about the backgrounds and aspirations mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-13356245124992993712011-12-15T08:41:00.000-08:002011-12-28T10:13:15.519-08:00Reference Tidbit, Briefs Available Online 14th Court of AppealsBy Jessica R. Alexander, J.D., M.L.S., Reference LibrarianThe 14th Court of Appeals, Houston, has just implemented online access to briefs. Dates of inclusion are not apparent from the website. In the meantime, this is an important addition to their existing search utilities. I have published a piece before on simultaneously searching Texas courts using Google scholar since the court system mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-63423106076456230582011-11-21T09:19:00.000-08:002011-12-28T10:13:15.519-08:00Legal Education at a CrossroadsJessica R. Alexander, J.D., M.L.S., Reference LibrarianNew York Times, "What They Don't Teach Law Students: Lawyering, is informative when the reader studies the whole content. However, its main thesis, that somehow law students are ill-served by the case (Socratic) method of legal study, is a subject for debate. It seems to assume that the only purpose for a legal education is a lucrative careermr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-57865760608376323532011-11-14T11:44:00.000-08:002011-12-28T10:13:15.520-08:00Reference Tidbit - Going to the Poll on November 8, 2011 - Non-disclosure and Expungement of Criminal Records in TexasBy Jessica R. Alexander, J.D., M.L.S., Reference LibrarianI made it to my polling station last Tuesday, November 8, 2011, with three minutes to spare. I will admit that I did not know that I would have an opportunity to vote on a constitutional initiative that may ease the problems with so-called "deferred adjudications" in Texas.Proposition 9 on the ballot was worded: "The constitutional mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-64177671320238670562011-10-20T09:37:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.520-08:00Reference Tidbit - Using Google Scholar for Combined Search of Texas State Court OpinionsBy Jessica R. Alexander, J.D., M. L. S., Reference LibrarianThe official web sites of the courts in the Texas Judicial system are not integrated when it comes to case and opinion searches. See Texas Courts Online. Thanks to the Google Scholar search this problem is solved to some degree.Obviously Google has a search algorithm that extracts Texas appellate opinions from the official websites. mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-76388797988987943762011-10-10T11:45:00.001-07:002011-10-10T11:45:57.807-07:00Columbus Day Holiday Party to celebrate the New WorldNostalgia in the United States is increasing, which means that holidays like Columbus Day are as relevant as ever for the Americans. The discovery of our great nation by Christopher Columbus along with the rest of the Americas is an occasion worth celebrating. Interestingly, we are not alone in our celebration of this day - several Latin American nations celebrate October 12 as the day of mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-69031386933769325622011-10-05T12:15:00.000-07:002011-10-05T12:15:07.134-07:00WelcomeAlhamdulillahmr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-81216647178747590922011-10-03T08:32:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.520-08:00The Fred Parks Law Library is pleased to announce our acquisition of four rare fifteenth century legal works.by Heather Kushnerick, Special Collections LibrarianIn honor of our 10th anniversary, the Fred Parks Law Library has purchased four 15th century legal works. These books are important not just because of their rarity and subject matter, but because of their age and condition.Paul de Castro’s Super primo, Secundo et Tertio Libro Codis... is a Commentary on the Code of Justinian printed in Venice mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-30464963552533187622011-09-06T14:03:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.520-08:00Confluence Noted: New York Times Opinion Piece, "The Military and the Death Penalty" and Our Houston Mutiny and Riots CollectionBy Jessica R. Alexander, J.D., M.L.S., Reference LibrarianThe issue of race, military tribunals and the imposition of the death penalty is an issue that has been shaped by events that occured in August 1917 in Houston. African-American soldiers who were involved in the construction of Camp Logan, a World War I military encampment were the subjects. They rioted and murdered white citizens and mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-17927782700035053002011-08-17T11:29:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.521-08:00BNA’s United States Law Week is for all Comers.Jessica R. Alexander, J.D., M.L.S., Reference LibrarianPrior to the ability to obtain up to date case law via databases such as Lexis and Westlaw, United States Law Week, a print publication of the Bureau of National Affairs, now known as BNA, was the traditional way to get weekly updates of federal case law. It is available in print, KF101.U5 (current volumes on reserve, non-current volumes on mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-59785943148330431352011-08-17T10:47:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.521-08:00Now that you purchased your dream expresso machine, learning how to actually make latte …?Jessica R. Alexander, J.D., M.L.S., Reference LibrarianAs a Reference Librarian, I am excited by purchases of the latest and greatest databases. The library has subscribed to a number of BNA online databases for years. But our new BNA Premiere package is daunting in its coverage.With such expanded online coverage, I am burdened by the need to communicate best practices in conducting research in mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-54990779776296433062011-08-15T13:52:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.521-08:00So Cool! - SXSW Volunteer Shirt Worn by New Student, Abdul Pasha.Jessica R. Alexander, JD., M.L.S., Reference LibrarianA new student, Abdul Pasha, a UT Government grad volunteered for the SXSW Film festival. Since I am a big fan of the SXSW Interactive Festival, I was impressed by his volunteer t-shirt. His shirt, pictured on Abdul, at left, depicts a "deer in the headlights." In the library, we try to spot our new students and help them not to feel like a mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-46738550390832408112011-07-15T11:32:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.521-08:00Baron: Lawmakers Also Act On Other Education Legislation [TOPEd, 7/15/11]: And they’re off! Bills flew through the senate and assembly chambers as lawmakers wrapped up as much business as possible before leaving for summer recess on Thursday afternoon. When they return on August 15th, the docket will still be full, but the fate of some key education bills is coming into sharper focus. Here’smr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-91344177097037389462011-07-08T15:14:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.521-08:00Laws In Space featuring South Texas Faculty and 2010 Alum Two of our librarians, Jessica Alexander and Adreinne Cobb, had a great time at Houston Bar Association's annual production of Night Court, "a parody of pop culture, current events, politics, and the legal profession." This year's theme was Laws in Space, and it featured our very own Dean Helen Jenkins (aka Padme Amidala), and 2010 South Texas graduate, Darryl Scott (aka Darth Vader). mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-27986157704711614972011-07-07T11:21:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.522-08:00Casey Anthony Documents OnlineBy Jessica R. Alexander, J.D., M.L.S., Reference LibrarianTwenty-five thousand pages related to the Casey Anthony murder case are online at http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2011/march/219927/.mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-33547436432698663662011-06-05T15:26:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.522-08:00California school funding analysis finds disparity [San Francisco Chronicle, 6/5/11]: State lawmakers have struggled for decades to bring equality to how school districts are funded, yet some districts receive thousands more per student than others, a California Watch analysis has found. And the data show spending more provides no assurance of academic success. Read the California Watch study. mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-79822200006716581052011-05-24T07:00:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.522-08:00Happy 10th Anniversary to us!by Heather Kushnerick, Special Collections LibrarianThe Fred Parks Law Library opened in 2001, and in the past 10 years a lot of things have changed. We’ve increased our print collection, gotten a multitude of fantastic databases, added digital collections, and built up our Special Collections. Our Special Collections consist of the library’s rare book collection, manuscript collections, and the mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-65094562281360163382011-05-18T08:41:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.522-08:00Revised California budget softens blow for schools [Sacramento Bee, 5/18/11]: Largely because of rosier revenue projections for the coming year, budget experts at the Capitol say schools gained a cushion against cuts – even if Brown fails in his effort to extend 2009 increases to income taxes.Teacher: ‘My employer has become my enemy’ [Washington Post, 5/18/11]: A library media educator in Los mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-71252741519443488442011-05-06T09:10:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.523-08:00School free speech fight [Stockton Record, 5/5/11]: A Bear Creek High teacher is fighting for her students' freedom of speech after the school's principal requested to preview the monthly Bruin Voice newspaper prior to publication.California weighs shorter school year as budgets wane [Sacramento Bee, 5/4/11]: Children in frigid areas have "snow day" school closures. Could students across sunny mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-83497834839816646462011-05-03T11:16:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.523-08:00Book ReviewBefore Brown: Heman Marion Sweatt, Thurgood Marshall, and the Long Road to JusticeBy Gary M. LavergneUniversity of Texas Press, 354 pagesReviewed by Stuart Stern <!-- -->South Texas College of Law <!-- -->Office of Development & Alumni RelationsThe Postman Cometh: The Integration of UT School of LawSouth Texas students are undoubtedly familiar with Brown v. Board of Education of mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-78137543607342524592011-04-25T09:14:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.523-08:00Agency fails to crack down on teacher misconduct, California audit says [Sacramento Bee, 4/22/11]: California lawmakers are demanding change after a state audit of the commission charged with cracking down on teacher misconduct found numerous flaws that could pose risks to children.Over the Line Even in Berkeley, Family Says [California Watch / Courthouse News Service, 4/20/11]: A high school mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-16586598745145653842011-04-15T13:39:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.523-08:00Legal Social MediaSocial media sites have become a ubiquitous part of the today's society, and the legal world is no exception. Both the federal and state governments have engaged heavily in social media forums.The complete list of the Texas state government's social media sites can be found here. Kind of surprising that the Department of Agriculture does a podcast, isn't it?The federal government also uses mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-19279331574393341712011-04-14T08:04:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.523-08:00Fensterwald: NCLB’s escape hatch for schools [Educated Guess, 4/14/11]: An escape hatch – the “Safe Harbor” provision under the federal law – could spare a majority of schools from the law’s penalties and the failure label. Colorado committee to unveil complex definition of "effective educator" [Denver Post, 4/13/11]: After 13 months of meetings, a council tasked with narrowing the mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004628943214691584.post-14277819409965213462011-04-08T07:42:00.000-07:002011-12-28T10:13:15.524-08:00Audit finds years-long backlog of investigations into accused teachers [Los Angeles Times, 4/8/11]: The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing took years to begin investigations into a teacher accused of showing pornography to children and another one who allegedly kissed a student, according to a new audit.Teacher who evades March 15 notice loses appeal [4/7/11]: Michael Sullivan, a mr.ounlenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11711695143340108636noreply@blogger.com