Final Exams Are Coming — The Law Library Can Help!

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Exams are not very far away but don’t panic! The Law Library has a number of exam resources that can help you. Below are some resources that feature general law school exam studying and test taking tips. Stay tuned for next week’s blog posts where we’ll go over the types of study aids and where to find study aids for the first week of exams.

Study Aids to Help Generally with Exams

Books

  • 1L of a Ride
    • Available through the West Academic subscription
    • Covered topics include pre-planning, top student fears, first-year curriculum, the Socratic and case methods of teaching, effective class participation, top habits of successful students, essential study techniques, legal research and writing, exam strategies, maintaining well-being, and much more. Combines anecdotes, comments from law students, empirical research, and authentic samples of signature documents from the 1L experience, including exam questions.
  • The Eight Secrets of Top Exam Performance in Law School
    • Available through the West Academic subscription
    • This work teaches the eight secrets that will add points to every exam answer you write. You will learn the three keys to handling any essay exam, how to use time to your advantage, issue spotting, how to organize your answer, and the hidden traps of the IRAC method. Once you have mastered these skills, you can put your knowledge to the test with sample exam questions and check your answers against those provided. A special section on how to do well on other types of exams, such as open-book, multiple-choice, or policy exams, is also included.
  • Getting to Maybe
    • Law Stacks KF283 .F47 1999
    • Getting to Maybe teaches how to excel on law school exams by showing the reader how legal analysis can be brought to bear on examination problems. The book contains hints on studying and preparation. The authors illustrate how to argue both sides of a legal issue without appearing indecisive. Above all, the book explains why exam questions may generate feelings of uncertainty or doubt about correct legal outcomes and how the student can turn these feelings to his or her advantage.
  • How to Write Law School Exams: IRAC Perfected
    • Available through the West Academic subscription
    • Provides students of all levels with a detailed, comprehensive, and practical guide to success on law school exams. This text breaks the well-known IRAC method of legal writing into comprehensible segments and gives students the tools needed to master their law exams. Provides readers with detailed student-written examples of the IRAC method in action. Annotated with line-by-line critiques, these sample essays show readers exactly what can go wrong in a law school exam and how to fix those problems before they appear on a graded paper.
  • Law School Materials for Success
    • Available through CALI
    • This text contains chapters on outlining and exam preparation and taking an exam.
  • Law School Secrets: Outlining for Exam Success
    • Available through the West Academic subscription
    • This book answers the most-asked questions of first, second, and third year law school students. Exam Preparation: How long should my outline be? What should I include in my outline? What secondary sources should I use? Are study groups effective? Should I swap outlines with other students? How do I prepare for open and closed book exams? Writing the Exam: What is the best way to read the exam questions? How do I schedule my time? How do I organize my answer? When do I need to assume facts? How do I impress the professor?
  • Law School Success in a Nutshell
    • Available through the West Academic subscription
    • This text explains and gives examples of the best methods for studying and for taking exams. It provides questions and model answers from actual law school exams.
  • Mastering the Law School Exam: A Practical Blueprint for Preparing and Taking Law School Exams
    • Available through the West Academic subscription
    • This book offers detailed examples that show students precisely “how to do it” and “how to write it.” Its illustrations help students learn to: fill the gap between what the professor refers to as learning to “think like a lawyer” and the actual means for doing so; create a successful path from note-taking, to outlining, to exam writing; and much more.
  • A Practical Guide to Writing Law School Essay Exams
    • Law Stacks KF283 .D47 2001
    • Students who do well in law school tend to write their exams in a particular way. The purpose of this book is to introduce students to this method. Chapters teach the law student the purpose of an essay exam, the process of getting started, the basic steps in writing the essay, principles for explaining your answer, as well as basic organizational,signposting, and writing rules. An appendix contains two actual exam questions, including a “model” answer.
  • Sum and Substance Audio on How to Succeed in Law School
    • Available through the West Academic subscription
    • Covers preparing for the exam During the semester: Outlining; Use of study groups; Preparing for the exam during the semester: Assessing your weaknesses; Preparing for the exam right before finals; Taking the test; How to write an “A” paper; How do professors grade; and Learning from the test for future classes.
  • A Weekly Guide to Being a Model Law Student
    • Available through the West Academic subscription.
    • This book gives law students weekly checklists explaining the skills necessary to successfully navigate their first year of law school. Each chapter provides a checklist of things to do that week, such as briefing cases, going over notes, outlining classes, or doing practice questions. When a new concept is introduced, this book clearly explains the concept and its purpose and provides examples. Instead of merely providing advice, this book lays out a detailed plan for students to follow. It also includes a bank of over 100 short, medium, and long practice questions in six first year subjects.
  • Your Brain and Law School
    • Available through LexisNexis Digital Library (Lexis OverDrive)
    • Before you can learn to think like a lawyer, you have to have some idea about how the brain thinks. The first part of this book translates the technical research, explaining learning strategies that work for the brain in law school specifically, and calling out other tactics that are useless (though often popular lures for the misinformed). This book is unique in explaining the science behind the advice and will save you from pursuing tempting shortcuts that will take you in the wrong direction. The second part explores the brain’s decision-making processes and cognitive biases.

Helpful Articles

All articles available through HeinOnline (restricted to UC students, faculty & staff).

Helpful Videos

These videos offer exam taking advice from law school professors and law students. All videos are available through YouTube.

 

Tech Tip: Traveling for the holidays? Keep your computer safe when using airport Wi-Fi.

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There are some basic precautions you can take when using public Wi-Fi, including:

  • Making sure your security updates are up to date
  • Avoiding clicking on suspicious pop-up screens prompts
  • Looking for secure site padlock icons on the left-hand side of your URL bars
  • Turning off file and printer sharing

 

However, one of the best things you can do to keep your computer safe when using public Wi-Fi is to use a VPN or Virtual Private Network.  When you connect to the internet through a VPN, your IP address is hidden and your search traffic is encrypted. Using a VPN keeps your identity and internet use protected from anyone trying to access the information on your computer.

To determine which VPN service is right for you, consider this listing of the best VPN services for 2019: https://www.pcmag.com/roundup/296955/the-best-vpn-services.

This Week in the Law Library …

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Faculty & Staff Lexis Update

  • Lexis Representative Ashley Russell will be here to give faculty and staff a Lexis update
    • Tuesday, Nov. 19
    • 12:15pm – 1:15pm
    • Room 302

Prepare to Practice Table

  • Reference Librarian Shannon Kemen and Lexis Representative Ashley Russell will be holding a prepare to practice table on cost effective research outside of rooms 114 and 118.
  • 12:15 – 1:15pm
  • Hallway across from 118
  • Snacks and Lexis points provided
  • Join the UC Law Library Prepare to Practice Community to access a video and quiz.

Native American Heritage Month

American Heritage Month

On October 31, President Trump issued a proclamation designating November 2019 as National Native American Heritage Month. UC is hosting a number of events this month:

  • Wednesday, Nov. 20
    • Film Screening: Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World
      • 5pm, Swift 820
  • Thursday, Nov. 21
    • Working with an Urban Native American Center
      • 4pm – 5pm, Taft Research Center
  • All month long:
    • Winter Donation Drive 2019
      • Drop-off: Steger 555

Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender and Social Justice Launches Today!

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Judge Jones

Today the College of Law will launch the Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice. The new name for the Center signifies the College’s commitment to and alignment with the principles of United States Court of Appeals Judge Nathaniel R. Jones’ impressive career as a champion for justice. The event will take place at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Robert S. Marx Law Library will present items from the Papers of Judge Nathaniel R. Jones, curated by Library Associate, Rhonda Wiseman.

The Honorable Nathaniel R. Jones has distinguished himself as a lawyer, jurist, academic, public servant and renowned defender of social justice. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and served with the U.S. Air Force during World War II. After the war, he pursued his education at Youngstown State University, receiving his A.B. in 1951 and his LL.B. in 1956. Judge Jones was admitted to the bar in 1957.

In addition to private practice, Judge Jones has also served as Executive Director of the Fair Employment Practices Commission and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio in Cleveland. He held that position until his 1967 appointment as Assistant General Counsel to President Johnson’s National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (the Kerner Commission). Following his term with the Kerner Commission.

In 1969 he was asked to serve as general counsel of the NAACP by executive director Roy Wilkins. For the next ten years Judge Jones directed all NAACP litigation. In addition to personally arguing several cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, he coordinated national efforts to end northern school segregation, to defend affirmative action, to inquire into discrimination against black servicemen in the U.S. military, and successfully coordinated the NAACP’s defense on First Amendment grounds in the Mississippi Boycott case.

On May 17, 1979, President Carter nominated Judge Jones to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Judge Jones took his oath of office on October 15 of that year and served in that position for over two decades. In 2003 the United States Congress passed H.J. Res. 2 naming the Nathaniel R. Jones Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Youngstown, Ohio in honor of his accomplishments.

Judge Jones has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the NAACP 101st Spingarn Medal, 2016 International Freedom Conductor Award, Children’s Defense Fund’s Changing the Odds Award, the Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion of Merit from the Washington Bar Association, induction into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame, The American Lawyer’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Just The Beginning Foundation’s Trailblazer Award, the Annual Fellows Award from the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division, the Award of Excellence from the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, the Ohio Bar Medal Award from the Ohio State Bar Association, and he was inducted into the National Bar Association Hall of Fame. He was named a “Great Living Cincinnatian” in 1997.

Judge Jones’ distinguished record of community and academic service includes teaching at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, North Carolina Central University College of Law, and Harvard Law School. His efforts in civil and human rights have taken him to countries around the globe, and in 1993 he served on the team of observers for the first democratic elections in South Africa. Judge Jones is also a member of the advisory board of the Urban Morgan Institute for Human Rights.

Judge Jones selected the Robert S. Marx Law Library as the repository for his personal and professional papers and other historical materials. This donated, personal collection of papers document his impressive legal career and contributions to pursuing justice and equality on a global scale. Items in the collection include the Nomination Reference and Report used by the Committee on the Judiciary for Judge Jones’ nomination to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, materials commemorating his appointment to the United States bench on the 25th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education, pieces detailing his support of democracy in the South African movement of the late nineteen seventies and early eighties; as well as speeches, photographs and various other items. You can find out more about the Papers of Judge Nathanial R. Jones and other collections by visiting the website of the Robert S. Marx Law Library Archives.

Blog post created with contributions by Rhonda Wiseman.

This Week in the Law Library …

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Research Instruction

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019

  • Prof. McCord’s Lawyering I, Section 1
    • Reference Librarian Shannon Kemen will go over researching a problem from start to finish with section 1
    • 10:40am – 12:05pm
    • Room 302
  • Prof. McCord’s Lawyering I, Section 5
    • Reference Librarian Shannon Kemen will go over researching a problem from start to finish with section 5
    • 3:05pm – 4:30pm
    • Room 302

Launch of Nathaniel R. Jones Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice

Judge Nathanial Jones

Check out the Law Library’s display on Judge Jones at the launch!

  • Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019
    • 6:00 p.m. reception, 7:00 p.m. dinner
    • National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
      • 50 E Freedom Way
      • Cincinnati, OH 45202

Celebrate Diversity Week!

Tuesday-Friday: Presentations on screens around the UC Law campus, including the library, highlighting the great work of some of the Black UC Law Alumni and Faculty (Sponsored by UCLW and BLSA)! Check out our display on diversity in the legal profession!

Diversity Week Display

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019

  • The Gender Unicorn and Why Pronouns Matter,
    • 12:15pm, Room 114.
    • Presented by Out & Allies on behalf of UC Law Women’s Diversity Week. This fun, brief, and informational meeting will provide answers to questions you may have about the LGBT+ community. We will explain what the Gender Unicorn is and also why pronouns are very important to personal identity and redefining social norms. Bring a lunch and join the conversation on this pressing topic.
  • Movie Night: A screening of the Movie: Marshall
    • 6:00pm, Room 114
    • Sponsored by BLSA & UCLW, Young Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice faces one of his greatest challenges while working as a lawyer for the NAACP. Marshall travels to conservative Connecticut when wealthy socialite Eleanor Strubing accuses black chauffeur Joseph Spell of sexual assault and attempted murder. He soon teams up with Sam Friedman, a local Jewish lawyer who’s never handled a criminal case. Together, the two men build a defense while contending with racist and anti-Semitic views from those who deem Spell to be guilty.

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019

  • Intersectionality Workshop
    • 12:15pm, Room 100B
    • Join APALSA and LLSA in exploring how intersecting identities relate to systems of oppression, dominance, and discrimination.Snacks and beverages provided.

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019

  • You Do You: How to Bring Your Authentic Self to the Workplace
    • 12:15pm, Room 100A
    • Ever wondered how to “dress the part” in a professional setting without losing your identity? Ever felt like you had to conform to an unspoken (or spoken!?) expectation about how to act/dress/speak? Join Assistant Dean Staci Rucker and Kate Christoff, Esq., for a conversation on how to maintain your authentic self in a professional environment.
  • Know Me and My Culture
    • 5:00pm, Crow’s Nest
    • Join ILC and UCLW for an exhibition of the various cultures represented at UC Law, to facilitate personal dialogues between our domestic and international students. Some food will be provided, but we ask that attendees bring a dish/drink/appetizer that can feed up to 6-8 people.

November Arguments at the United States Supreme Court

US Supreme Court - corrected

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019

Spotlight on Military Law & Veterans

In honor of Veterans Day, this week we are shining the spotlight on military law and resources for veterans.

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Featured Study Aids

    • Military Law in a Nutshell
      • This study aid provides a succinct summary of military law and military justice. The new edition takes account of changes in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), such as, Article 2(a)(10), extending court-martial jurisdiction over civilian contractors, and cases marking its application, e.g., United States v. Ali, 71 M.J. 256 (C.A.A.F. 2012), evolving issues regarding public access to court-martial proceedings, e.g., Center for Constitutional Rights v. United States, ___M.J.___, 2013 WL 1663084 (C.A.A.F. 2013) and the impact of the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act and its amendments. As in earlier editions, the Nutshell traces the history and development of military law, its sources, the nature of military status, rights of members of the Armed Forces, and provides an exhaustive yet accessible review of the military justice process.
      • Available via West Academic subscription
    • Understanding the Law of Terrorism
      • This study aid examines various subject matters—such as criminal law and procedure, constitutional law, the law of evidence, national security law, and the law of armed conflict—as the underlying legal doctrines and polices are influenced and at times distorted by counter-terrorism efforts in law enforcement, intelligence gathering, and military action.
      • Available via LexisNexis Digital Library (Overdrive)

Featured Research Guide

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  • Veteran’s Research Guide
    • Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary marking the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11th became a national holiday beginning in 1938. There were 18.5 million veterans in 2016. There were 774,935 veterans in Ohio in 2016. This guide provides information on legal resources that can be used to research veteran’s issues.

Featured Treatise

Featured Video

Native American Heritage Month

American Heritage Month

On October 31, President Trump issued a proclamation designating November 2019 as National Native American Heritage Month. UC is hosting a number of events this month:

  • Tuesday, Nov. 12
    • Q & A: Qdoba & Art
      • Native American music and storytelling with Frank Otero and Landra Lewis
      • 4pm-6pm, Max Cade Center, Old Chem 736
  • Wednesday, Nov. 13
    • Panel Presentation: The Role of Art in Native American Healing
      • 4pm – 5pm, Taft Research Center
  • Thursday, Nov. 14
    • Film Screening: The Exiles
      • 4pm, Swift 820
  • Wednesday, Nov. 20
    • Film Screening: Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World
      • 5pm, Swift 820
  • Thursday, Nov. 21
    • Working with an Urban Native American Center
      • 4pm – 5pm, Taft Research Center
  • All month long:
    • Winter Donation Drive 2019
      • Drop-off: Steger 555

 

This Week in the Law Library …

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Veterans Day Closure

Veteran's Day
The Law Library will be closed Monday, Nov. 11, 2019 for Veteran’s Day. Law students and faculty will have their usual 24/7 access, however, circulation and reference services will not be available and the Law Library will not be open to non-law students, faculty, or the public.

Research Instruction

Monday, Nov. 4, 2019

  • Prof. McCord’s Lawyering I, Section 1
    • Reference Librarian Shannon Kemen will teach section 1 researching statutes
    • 10:40am – 12:05pm
    • Room 302
  • Library & Lexis Lunch & Learn on Exam Preparation
    • Associate Director of Public & Research Services Susan Boland and Lexis Representative Ashley Russell will demonstrate resources to help you prepare for final exams.
    • 12:15pm – 1:15pm
    • Room 302
    • Lunch & Lexis points provided!

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019

  • Prof. Oliver’s Lawyering I, section 6
    • Electronic Resources & Instructional Services Librarian Ron Jones will will go over Researching a Problem from Start to Finish with section 6
    • 3:05pm – 4:30pm
    • Room 100B

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019

  • Prepare to Practice: Using Government Resources
    • Reference Librarian Shannon Kemen and Lexis Representative Ashley Russell will be holding a prepare to practice table outside of rooms 114 and 118.
    • 12:15 – 1:15pm
    • Hallway across from 118
    • Snacks and Lexis points provided
    • Join the UC Law Library Prepare to Practice Community to access a video and quiz.
  • Prof. Oliver’s Lawyering I, section 2
    • Electronic Resources & Instructional Services Librarian Ron Jones will will go over Researching a Problem from Start to Finish with section 2
    • 1:30pm – 2:55pm
    • Room 100B
  • Prof. McCord’s Lawyering I, Section 5
    • Reference Librarian Shannon Kemen will teach section 5 researching statutes
    • 3:05pm – 4:30pm
    • Room 302

November Arguments at the United States Supreme Court

US Supreme Court - corrected

Monday, Nov. 4, 2019

  • Barton v. Barr – whether a lawfully admitted permanent resident who is not seeking admission to the United States can be “rendered inadmissible” for the purposes of the stop-time rule, 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(d)(1).
  • Kansas v. Glover – whether, for the purposes of an investigative stop under the Fourth Amendment, it is reasonable for police office to suspect that the registered owner of a car is the driver.

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019

Vote!

<Vote America

Wednesday, Nov. 6 is an election day. Please Vote! Elections matter, and so does your vote. Need voter information? You can find links to resources in our Election Law Guide.

Featured Study Aids

  • Election Law Stories
    • This text offers a rich and detailed account of the most significant cases in election law, including the landmark decisions of Reynolds v. Sims, Bush v. Gore, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, and Shelby County v. Holder. The book relies on a unique encapsulated approach to storytelling, as each of its authors surveys an important doctrinal area in the field through the telling of his or her story. The volume’s thirteen cases concern the right to vote, redistricting and gerrymandering, campaign finance, and election administration.
    • Available via West Academic subscription
  • Understanding Election Law and Voting Rights (co-authored by UC Law Prof. Michael Solimine)
    • Understanding Election Law and Voting Rights takes readers through the electoral process, beginning with the right to vote and continuing through the election itself. Along the way, the authors provide thorough explanations of manifold topics, including Congress’s power to protect voting rights, the use of race in districting, political gerrymandering, political parties’ rights, the place of third parties, free speech and the First Amendment rights to participate in campaigns and run for office, campaign-finance regulation, vote-counting, and the role of courts in adjudicating disputes about political power and challenges to election “irregularities.”
    • Available via LexisNexis Digital Library (Overdrive)

Featured Database

  • CQ Press Voting and Elections Collection
    • This database provides reference narratives and documents on elections, parties, voter behavior, and campaigns. It allows users to extract election results by characteristics such as: candidate, office, locality, and race type over time. Access U.S. election results across states with great historical depth and accuracy.

Featured Videos

  • Election Law Program Videos for Judges & Journalists
    • Created in 2005 as a joint venture of the National Center for State Courts and the William & Mary Law School, the Election Law Program seeks to provide practical assistance to state court judges called upon to resolve difficult election law disputes.These videos are a series of web-based lectures designed to educate judges and journalists about the fundamentals of election law.

 

This Week in the Law Library ….

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Research Instruction

Monday, Oct. 28, 2019

  • Prof. McCord’s Lawyering I, Section 1
    • Reference Librarian Shannon Kemen will teach section 1 terms and connectors searching
    • 10:40am – 12:05pm
    • Room 302

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019

  • Prof. Smith’s Lawyering I, Section 3
    • Associate Director of Public & Research Services Susan Boland will go over Researching a Problem from Start to Finish with Section 3
    • 9:00am – 10:25am
    • Room 100B
  • Office 365
    • Electronic Resources & Instructional Services Librarian Ron Jones will present on using some of the newer and helpful features of Office 365, including Teams and One Drive
    • 12:15pm – 1:15pm
    • Room 104
  • Prof. Smith’s
    • Lawyering I, Section 4
    • Associate Director of Public & Research Services Susan Boland will go over Researching a Problem from Start to Finish with Section 4
    • 1:30pm – 2:55pm
    • Room 100A

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019

  • Prof. McCord’s Lawyering I, Section 5
    • Reference Librarian Shannon Kemen will teach section 5 terms and connectors searching
    • 10:40am – 12:05pm
    • Room 302

Yoga in the Law Library Continues!

Monday, Oct. 28, 2019

  • 12:10pm, Law Library 4th Floor.
  • Yoga Flow instructor provided by the Campus Recreation Center. Students, faculty and staff are welcome. Sponsored by UC Law Student Affairs and CAPS

Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019

  • 12:10pm, Law Library 4th Floor.
  • Yoga Flow instructor provided by the Campus Recreation Center. Students, faculty and staff are welcome. Sponsored by UC Law Student Affairs and CAPS

RSVP for the Library & Lexis Lunch & Learn on Exam Preparation

Please join us for the next Library & Lexis Lunch & Learn of Fall semester! It will take place on November 4th at 12:15pm in room 302. We will be demonstrating resources to help you with exams. Lunch and Lexis points will be provided! Please bring your own beverage. RSVP by November 3rd.