Library and Technology Blog http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library Blog for the Law Library at George Mason University School of Law Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:40:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 en hourly 1 “Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence”* http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/07/take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everything-on-evidence/ http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/07/take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everything-on-evidence/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:23:34 +0000 dshrager http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/?p=1564 Today marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth. Dickens, of course, was a prolific chronicler of English law and legal institutions—-warts and all. Dickens’ descriptions of the law and lawyers often did not paint a rosy picture.  See this recent New York Times Op-ed piece.

But two centuries later, Dickens remains an influential voice in the legal world.  His books are referenced in hundreds of law review articles.  Last Term, Chef Justice Roberts began an opinion quoting Bleak House.  Stern v. Marshall, 564 U.S. _, 131 S. Ct. 2594, 2600 (2011).

Happy Bicentennial Charles Dickens!

*Great Expectations

]]> http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/07/take-nothing-on-its-looks-take-everything-on-evidence/feed/ Harvard Law School Event on the Impact of Citizens United http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/03/harvard-law-school-event-on-the-impact-of-citizens-united/ http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/03/harvard-law-school-event-on-the-impact-of-citizens-united/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:34:45 +0000 dshrager http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/?p=1557 At a recent event sponsored by the Harvard Law School American Constitution Society, HLS Professor Lawrence Lessig, author of Republic Lost:  How Money Corrupts Congress and a Plan to Stop It and Jeff Clements, author of  Corporations Are Not People shared their views on the the aftermath of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.  A video of this discussion is available here.

]]> http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/03/harvard-law-school-event-on-the-impact-of-citizens-united/feed/ Thomas now offers House Committee Hearings—Live! http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/03/thomas-now-offers-house-committee-hearings-live/ http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/03/thomas-now-offers-house-committee-hearings-live/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:54:43 +0000 dshrager http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/?p=1550 Thomas, the Library of Congress’ congressional information site, has added live streaming of U.S. House Committee hearings.  Previously streamed content will be available via each committee’s link.

]]> http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/03/thomas-now-offers-house-committee-hearings-live/feed/ Can’t Find the Email with Your Bloomberg Law Password? http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/02/cant-find-the-email-with-your-blaw-password/ http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/02/cant-find-the-email-with-your-blaw-password/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:50:16 +0000 moberlin http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/?p=1546 If you cannot find the email sent January 18 with your Bloomberg Law password, follow these instructions. Go to Bloomberglaw.com. In the far, upper right corner, click on “Forgot User Name or Password?” Enter your gmu.edu email address. BLaw will email you your user name. Then, go to the “Forgot User Name or Password?” link again to retrieve your password using your user name. It sounds like a hassle, but it isn’t bad. The emails come nearly instantaneously, and the BLaw user name and password retrieval system is easy to use. If you still have trouble, contact Melanie Oberlin at moberlin@gmu.edu

]]> http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/02/cant-find-the-email-with-your-blaw-password/feed/ Even Punxsutawney Phil Needs a Lawyer http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/02/even-punxsutawney-phil-needs-a-lawyer/ http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/02/even-punxsutawney-phil-needs-a-lawyer/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:43:58 +0000 dshrager http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/?p=1533 Punxsutawney Phil is not merely a celebrity groundhog, he’s a trademark that needs protection. A trademark search on TESS—the USPTO’s Trademark Electronic Search System—reveals that “Punxsutawney Phil” is a trademark owned by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Inc.

Jeff Lundy, a member of the club’s “Inner Circle” since 1990, is also the attorney responsible for sending out cease and desist letters to those who attempt to misappropriate Phil’s trademark. While Lundy’s practice involves more than protecting this woodchuck’s mark, according to the Wall Street Journal Law Blog, Phil is definitely his “No. 1 client.” In an interview, Lundy said: “Some lawyers have the opportunity to argue before the United States Supreme Court . . . .  But only one represents Punxsutawney Phil.”

Happy Groundhog Day!

]]> http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/02/02/even-punxsutawney-phil-needs-a-lawyer/feed/ New York Times Reporter David Segal on the Law School Market http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/30/new-york-times-reporter-david-segal-on-the-crazy-law-school-market/ http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/30/new-york-times-reporter-david-segal-on-the-crazy-law-school-market/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:36:08 +0000 dshrager http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/?p=1515 In a previous post, we discussed the controvery sparked by David Segal’s commentary on law schools.  Bloomberg Law has made available a video interview in which David Segal shares more of his views regarding the “crazy” business of law schools.

]]> http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/30/new-york-times-reporter-david-segal-on-the-crazy-law-school-market/feed/ Managing Your Public Profile on Facebook http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/28/managing-your-public-profile-on-facebook/ http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/28/managing-your-public-profile-on-facebook/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:21:22 +0000 dshrager http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/?p=1516 Legal Skills Prof Blog has some useful links to help students manage what potential employers are able to find out about them on Facebook.  Especially with the new Timeline and Open Graph, these links are worth a look.

]]> http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/28/managing-your-public-profile-on-facebook/feed/ What is a Primary Source for the President’s State of the Union Address? http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/26/what-is-a-primary-source-for-the-presidents-state-of-the-union-address/ http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/26/what-is-a-primary-source-for-the-presidents-state-of-the-union-address/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:09:31 +0000 dshrager http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/?p=1510 President Obama’s State of the Union Address appears in the same document as other activities on the House floor: the Congressional Record.  

Learn more about finding congressional documents in our recently updated Sources of Legislative History Documents attached to our Federal Legislative History Guide.

]]> http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/26/what-is-a-primary-source-for-the-presidents-state-of-the-union-address/feed/ Learn More About Bloomberg Law http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/25/learn-more-about-bloomberg-law/ http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/25/learn-more-about-bloomberg-law/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:36:07 +0000 dshrager http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/?p=1502 A representative from Bloomberg Law will be visiting the law school tomorrow. Stop by the Bloomberg Law table between 10:00am and 3:00pm to learn more about this product.

]]> http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/25/learn-more-about-bloomberg-law/feed/ Bloomberg Law http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/23/bloomberg-law/ http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/2012/01/23/bloomberg-law/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:14:13 +0000 dshrager http://law.gmu.edu/blogs/library/?p=1435 GMUSL students should have received an email from Bloomberg Law on January 18 with a username and password.  You may reset your password once you login to the Bloomberg Law Website.

If you did not see this email (be sure to check junk/spam folders), please contact Instructional Services Librarian Melanie Oberlin.

An introduction to Bloomberg Law is available here.

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