Category: Training & Instruction

New at W&L Law – WordRake: Microsoft Word Plugin for Brevity and Simplicity

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WordRake Introduction

Are you interested in improving your writing for Clinic, a seminar, or journal? W&L Law Library is pleased to announce free access to WordRake for students, faculty, and staff. WordRake is an automated in-line editing plugin for Microsoft Word that can make any document or email clearer, shorter, and better. The tool is particularly useful for legal professionals, business writers, and anyone looking to enhance the readability of their documents.

WordRake improves clarity and conciseness by suggesting changes to eliminate unnecessary words and tighten sentences. Integration into Microsoft Word offers real-time editing suggestions that streamline writing and make it more professional.

Sample of WordRake

Similar to Grammarly, WordRake makes suggestions on your legal writing to make it more concise, improve word choices, and improve the overall flow of your document. You can view a 30-second demonstration of WordRake here.

If you are interested in receiving a key to install WordRake to your Mac or PC, please email lawref@wlu.edu.

 

Spring Into Summer Success Resources Now Online

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Spring Into Summer Success with W&L Law Library and OCS

A freshly updated guide to resources for student summer employment is now online, courtesy of the W&L Law Library.

The guide is based on the Spring Into Summer Success with W&L Law Library and OCS program held at W&L Law between March 12 and March 19, 2024. It includes guidance and resources for conducting smart and efficient legal research and making the most of the summer work experience. Information is relevant for any legal workplace, such as private firms, public interest organizations, judicial internships, or government agencies.

Content includes:

  • Summer Work Tips with the Rachford Fellows and Burks Scholars
  • Legal News and Current Awareness
  • Multi-Jurisdictional Surveys and Research
  • Introduction to Lexis+ AI
  • Prepare to Practice with Westlaw
  • Summer Access to Online Resources

Streaming video recordings of the in-person sessions are included where available.

The guide is at https://libguides.wlu.edu/summersuccess2024. Please note that the guide is exclusively accessible to the W&L Law community; click here to log into Box for the required password.

You are welcome to reach out to the W&L Law Library (lawref@wlu.edu) and Office of Career Strategy (lawcareer@wlu.edu), both while preparing for your job now and during the summer. We are glad to help and will do our best to get you the information or advice you need!

Spring Into Summer Success with W&L Law Library and OCS – Tue. 4/4

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Sign up today to attend Spring Into Summer Success with W&L Law Library and OCS, Tuesday, April 4, from 5:00 to 7:30pm in Millhiser Moot Court Room. Open to all 1L, 2L, and 3Ls – food provided.

Learn expert tips and strategies to help you succeed this summer and beyond. The W&L Law Legal Research faculty will present resources for effective research and keeping current in any legal practice area or job type. The Office of Career Strategy will lead discussions about working in firm, court, and public interest positions. LexisNexis will also present on tools to enhance your work this summer.

The program includes insights on legal research and professional success from experienced legal practitioners:

Also sharing information and insights:

  • Profs. Christensen and Evans, W&L Law Library
  • Ms. Coleman-Jackson, W&L Law Office of Career Strategy
  • Rachford Fellows Breanna Jefferson and Crawford Lewis
  • Burks Scholars Natalie Corban and Cassandra Lamzik
  • Sabrina Chester ’13L, LexisNexis Account Manager

Attendees will earn a Certificate in Legal Research to add to your credentials and show value to employers.

Visit go.wlu.edu/success to register.

 

Now at W&L Law: CALI Tutorials & Texts on 50+ Legal Subjects

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The Law Library is happy to announce full access for W&L Law students and faculty to CALI, the premier online platform for interactive legal-subject tutorials.

With over 1,000 online lessons spanning 50+ topics of doctrinal law and practice-oriented skills, CALI content is created and used by law professors nationwide to provide self-directed yet rigorous guidance for students, both as assigned course materials and as extracurricular supplements.

Popular for first-year and upper-level elective subjects, CALI lessons can also provide valuable reviews of core concepts for 3Ls preparing for the bar exam. Extensive selections of outlines, ebooks, and podcasts on law school subjects are also available.

Current W&L Law students can click here for the Authorization Code to sign up for a free account. Faculty should email LawRef@wlu.edu to request access.

Please contact the Law Library with any questions. We hope you enjoy this great resource!

Study Aids: A Guide to the Basics

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Student post by Sara Lee, 2L and W&L Law Library SLACer

Has everyone been mentioning hornbooks, commercial outlines, and other such supplemental readings that you have not touched? Do you have no idea what everyone else is talking about?

Here’s a quick and simple guide to some of the basics on study aids and supplements for law courses:

    1. Keep in mind that supplements are meant to add to your understanding. If you don’t have time for them or haven’t touched one until the week before finals, that is okay!
    2. Think of hornbooks and nutshells as summaries of a topic, and commercial outlines as an organized discussion of the ideas and case law of a topic.
    3. Some popular study aid types and titles:
    4. If you prefer audio study aids:
      • Law School Legends. Recordings by expert professors breaking down the class—very useful for learning how to format your outline or exam answers.
      • Sum and Substance. On a wide range of course topics.

Ready for more applicable practice? A selection of past exams from W&L Law professors are available on Box.

Many of the supplements above are available in the Reserve Room (Level 3 near the Circulation Desk) or online through West Academic Study Aids. You can also download some audiobook titles to your computer/device and access streaming audio recordings through the West Academic Audio app.

Hope this helps!

Spring Into Summer Success with W&L Law Library and OCS – Wed. 3/23

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Sign up today to attend Spring Into Summer Success with W&L Law Library and OCS, Wednesday, March 23, from 5:00 to 7:00pm in Millhiser Moot Court Room. Open to all 1L, 2L, and 3Ls – refreshments provided.

Learn expert tips and strategies to help you succeed this summer and beyond. The W&L Law Legal Research faculty will present resources for effective research and keeping current in any legal practice area or job type. The Office of Career Strategy will lead discussions about working in firm, court, and public interest positions. LexisNexis will also present on tools to enhance your work this summer.

The program includes insights on legal research and professional success from experienced legal practitioners:

  • Caleb Chaplain, Career Law Clerk for Hon. Rebecca Connelly ’88L, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the W.D. of Virginia and Adjunct Professor, W&L Law
  • Leanna Minix ’17L, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Appeals, Virginia Office of the Attorney General
  • Molly Payne Pugh ’21L, Attorney, Cowan Perry PC, Roanoke Virginia

Attendees will earn a Certificate in Legal Research to add to your credentials and show value to employers.

Please visit go.wlu.edu/success to register.

 

Spring Training on Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law

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Representatives from Bloomberg Law, Westlaw, and LexisNexis are offering training sessions for W&L Law students in the upcoming weeks. All 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are welcome to attend any of the sessions listed below.

Lexis sessions will be in-person at the Law School (lunch served), while Bloomberg Law and Westlaw sessions will be held via Zoom. Each is scheduled for 30 minutes. Multiple identical sessions may be offered on each topic; sessions with the same title at different times will cover the same information.

We in the Law Library urge you to take every opportunity to learn about these valuable research platforms and tools. Please contact us at LawRef@wlu.edu with any questions or concerns.

Bloomberg Law Trainings (on Zoom; email Warda Khan for links):

  • BLaw Basics Refresher – Tue. 3/1, 1:00–1:30pm
  • BLaw Basics Refresher – Wed. 3/2, 12:00–12:30pm
  • Advanced Resources – Tue. 3/15, 1:00–1:30pm
  • Advanced Resources – Wed. 3/16, 12:00–12:30pm
  • Advanced Resources – Tue. 3/22, 12:30–1:00pm
  • Advanced Resources – Wed. 3/23, 12:00–12:30pm

LexisNexis Trainings:

  • Judicial Analytics & Court Info – Fri. 2/4, 12:00-12:30pm; Classroom F
  • Administrative Law & Legislative Info – Fri. 2/11, 12:00-12:30pm; Classroom F
  • Shepard’s Citator & Ravel – Fri. 2/18, 12:00-12:30pm; Classroom F
  • Brief Analysis & Lexis for Microsoft Office – Fri. 3/11, 12:00-12:30pm; Classroom F

Westlaw Live Webinars (Sign-up/Zoom Links):

  • Thu. 2/10, 12:00 & 3:00pm – KeyCite for Cases
  • Wed. 2/16, 1:00 & 5:00pm – KeyCite for Statutes
  • Wed. 2/23, 11:00am & 2:00pm – Key Numbers
  • Wed. 3/2, 1:00 & 4:00pm – Briefs
  • Thu. 3/10, 12:00 & 3:00pm – Quick Check
  • Thu. 3/17, 12:30 & 3:30pm – Create a Table of Authorities
  • Wed. 3/23, 1:00 & 3:00pm – Prepare to Practice
  • Thu. 3/31, 12:00 & 3:00pm – Practical Law
  • Thu. 4/7, 12:00pm – Prepare to Practice

Fall Training on Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law

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Representatives from Bloomberg Law, Westlaw, and LexisNexis are offering training sessions for W&L Law students in the upcoming weeks. All 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are welcome to attend any of the sessions listed below.

Lexis sessions will be in-person at the Law School (lunch served), while Bloomberg Law and Westlaw sessions will be held via Zoom. Each is scheduled for 30 minutes. Multiple identical sessions may be offered on each topic; sessions with the same title at different times will cover the same information.

We in the Law Library urge you to take every opportunity to learn about these valuable research platforms and tools. Please contact us at LawRef@wlu.edu with any questions or concerns.

Bloomberg Law Trainings (on Zoom; email Vrenda Cain for links):

  • Secondary Sources – Tue. 9/14, 2:00-2:30pm
  • Secondary Sources – Fri. 9/17, 2:00-2:30pm
  • Statutory Research – Tue. 9/21, 2:00-2:30pm
  • Statutory Research – Fri. 9/24, 2:00-2:30pm
  • Case Law Research – Tue. 9/28, 2:00-2:30pm
  • Case Law Research – Fri. 10/1, 1:00-1:30pm
  • Citator Tools (BCite) – Tue. 10/12, 2:00-2:30pm
  • Citator Tools (BCite) – Thu. 10/14, 3:00-3:30pm
  • Memo and Brief Research – Wed. 10/20, 4:00-4:30pm
  • Memo and Brief Research – Tue. 10/26, 2:00-2:30pm

LexisNexis Trainings:

  • Secondary Sources & Search Techniques – Tue. 9/21, 12:30-1:00pm; Classroom D
  • Secondary Sources & Search Techniques – Thu. 9/23, 12:30-1:00pm; Classroom B
  • Statutes & Judicial Opinions – Tue. 9/21, 12:30-1:00pm; Classroom D
  • Statutes & Judicial Opinions – Thu. 9/23, 12:30-1:00pm; Classroom B
  • Shepard’s Citator & Research for Memo Writing – Thu. 10/21, 12:30-1:00 and 2:00-2:30; Classroom B)

Westlaw Trainings:

  • Start in a Secondary Source: Thursday, September 16, 4pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • The Power of Key Numbers: Monday, Sept 20, 12pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • The Power of Key Numbers: Tuesday, Sept 21, 8pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • Getting Started with Westlaw: Monday, September 27, 12pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • Getting Started with Westlaw: Tuesday, September 28, 8pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • Secondary Sources: Monday, October 4, 12pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • Secondary Sources: Tuesday, October 5, 8pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • Is My Case Good Law? KeyCite: Wednesday, October 13, 12:30pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • Is My Case Good Law? KeyCite: Thursday, October 14, 12pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • Expanding Your Research with Key Numbers: Tuesday, October 19, 12:30pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • Expanding Your Research with Key Numbers: Wednesday, October 20, 12pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • Practical Law: Tuesday, October 26, 12:30pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link
  • Practical Law: Wednesday, October 27, 12pm EST – RSVP/Zoom Link

Spring into Summer Success with Legal Research Certification

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Legal Resesarch Certification

Exams may in the rear-view, but your summer job is still ahead!

All W&L Law students are invited to spring into a successful summer with the Law Library’s Legal Research Certification program, now open on Canvas.

You’ll learn real-world legal research tips and tools at your own pace (and at your own place!) and get prepared for your summer experience. Get information helpful for research projects in private practice, judicial internships, government agencies, in-house legal departments, and more.

Choose your own course of short instructional videos on topics, including legal practice materials, news and current awareness, legislative and agency materials, and useful tips from Bloomberg Law, LexisNexis, and Westlaw.

At the end, you’ll receive a Legal Research Certificate from the W&L Law Library that you can add to your resume and demonstrate your mastery of important research skills and resources that lawyers use every day.

Importantly, there is no time or date limit for completing the program this spring or summer—start and finish whenever is most convenient for you.

Visit go.wlu.edu/summersuccess and get started with Legal Research Certification today!

 

Fall Training: Lexis, Westlaw & Bloomberg Law

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Representatives from the three major legal research platforms are offering training sessions for W&L Law students in the upcoming weeks. All 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are welcome to attend.

All training sessions will all be virtual this semester, via WebEx or Zoom. Each is scheduled for 30 minutes. Please review the times and topics below and follow the links to register.

We in the Law Library urge you to take every opportunity to learn about these valuable tools. Please contact us at LawRef@wlu.edu with any questions or concerns.

Mon. 9/7 – 1-1:30 p.m. – Lexis: Intro to Lexis+ & Secondary Sources (Zoom link)
Wed. 9/9 – 12-12:30 p.m. – Bloomberg Law: Intro to Bloomberg Law (Register link)
Fri. 9/11 – 1:30-2 p.m. – Lexis: Intro to Lexis+ & Secondary Sources (Zoom link)

Mon. 9/14 – 1-1:30 p.m. – Lexis: Statutes & Judicial Opinions (Zoom link)
Wed. 9/16 – 12-12:30 p.m. – Lexis: Statutes & Judicial Opinions (Zoom link)
Fri. 9/18 – 1:30-2 p.m. – Bloomberg Law: Intro to Bloomberg Law (Register link)

Mon. 9/21 – 1-1:30 p.m. – Westlaw: Secondary Materials & Statute Research (Register link)
Wed. 9/23 – 12-12:30 p.m. – Lexis: Shepard’s Citator (Zoom link)
Fri. 9/25 – 1:30-2 p.m. – Westlaw: Case Law Research & KeyCite Citator (Register link)

Mon. 9/28 – 1-1:30 p.m. – Lexis: Advanced Searching (Zoom link)
Wed. 9/30 – 12-12:30 p.m. – Lexis: Advanced Searching (Zoom link)
Fri. 10/2 – 1:30-2 p.m. – Lexis: Advanced Searching (Zoom link)