Article on LLRX tangentally related to research

Interesting article discussing the problems with writing that come out of the case law method of instruction. I'd argue the same problems are created with research because of this method. The Art of Written Persuasion: The Problem with the Case Method and the Case for the Problem Method by Troy Simpson, Published on September 1, 2008

Re-entry Article

I know re-entry isn't quite up our alley, but I thought it was interesting to consider the different types of training programs that are out there.
Jaye

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2008/08/american-univer.html

American University Launches Lawyer Re-entry Program
This fall, the 1-Ls won’t be the only ones at American University’s Washington College of Law trying something new. While they’re just getting started down their legal career paths, others will come to campus to break back into the world of law.
The school is launching a re-entry program designed to help lawyers return to a legal career after taking leave to, say, raise a family. The courses will run for six days in late October and early November.

Articles from 8/28 Meeting

LLRX.com article on summer associate programs, with links to existing "bridge the gap" programs: http://www.llrx.com/colums/reference58.htm

Arthur Miller video: An fyi that the Arthur Miller 14-minute legal research video that West showed at the Town Hall at AALL is now available at the following link:
http://tnalcorpcomm.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/arthur-miller-interview-featured-at-aall/

Legal Research tutorials (special access required to view, but list is available):
http://cali.org/index.php?fuseaction=lessons.subjectlist&cat=LR)

Here's the article I mentioned today, and the SSRN link to the download page:
Legal Education in the Age of Cognitive Science and Advanced Classroom Technology
Deborah Jones Merritt Ohio State University College of LawAugust 2007Ohio State Public Law Working Paper No. 94 Center for Interdisciplinary Law and Policy Studies Working Paper No. 63
Abstract: Cognitive scientists have made major advances in mapping the process of learning, but legal educators know little about this work. Similarly, law professors have engaged only modestly with new learning technologies like PowerPoint, classroom response systems, podcasts, and web-based instruction. This article addresses these gaps by examining recent research in cognitive science, demonstrating how those insights apply to a sample technology (PowerPoint), and exploring the broader implications of both cognitive science and new classroom technologies for legal education. The article focuses on three fields of cognitive science inquiry: the importance of right brain learning, the limits of working memory, and the role of immediacy in education. Those three areas are fundamental to understanding both the effective use of new classroom technologies and the constraints of more traditional teaching methods.

http://ssrn.com/abstract=1007800
Susan

Rebooting the Approach to Teaching Legal Research

Rebooting the Approach to Teaching Legal Research: Embracing the Computer Age [2007-32]Carrie W. Teitcher Law Library Journal, V.99, n.3

I haven't read it.
JL

Can We Throw Away the Books Yet?

Brought to our attention by Susan Mart.

(7 Aug) In a meeting the other day, someone asked if I agreed with the general sentiment that research materials were going electronic. He explained that he thought print as a medium was losing ground. And assuming his suppositions were true, he expressed concern that those who continue to conduct research primarily through the books would soon become inefficient, costly and possibly, negligent researchers.

I'm delighted that law firm management is thinking about research resources and methodology. It has always been important. Information is the foundation on which lawyers build a case or advise their clients.But in the past, the act of gathering, assessing and analyzing information hasn't always received the attention it deserves.

Read the rest of the article at the TVC site.
Alternative link: http://tinyurl.com/yttkad

How to Bring Associates Into the Law Library

How to Bring Associates Into the Law Library
William P. Atkins Legal Times July 20, 2007

I found this on Law.com

Death of Legal Research

Here is the article that I mentioned today discussing why computers aren't great at finding concepts/analogies. It also discusses the legal research process that Susan described in which a lawyer writes a brief and fills in the cases later, based on his/her knowledge of the area.
http://terrenceberres.com/sto-cor.pdf

Good meeting today.

-KS
Regional Information Resources Manager
-Northern California-
Morrison & Foerster LLP

The Tethered Generation Article

I thought this article might provide some insight into some of our summer associates.
Brief glimpse:

"The Tethered Generation," a recent article in HR magazine, is a must-read for anyone interested in compelling insights on how this breed of employees (born between 1978 and 1999) is changing and will continue to change the workplace. According to the piece, authored by Kathryn Tyler, members of the Tethered Generation are, among other things:

1. Extremely responsive to parental guidance and influence. The impact on employers: You'll need to figure ways to deal with so-called "helicopter parents" who are accustomed to intervening and orchestrating on behalf of their children. The piece, for instance, recounts how some employers are finding that parents call to discuss particulars of a job offer or to negotiate salaries.

2. Highly adept with technology. The impact on employers: You'll want to offer training on the basics, like research skills and writing, since modern technological "conveniences," including the Internet and spell checkers, have eliminated the need to be hands-on with many tasks.

3. Accustomed to immediate gratification. The impact on employers: Regular and immediate feedback is essential, explains one college career director who notes that "This generation has grown up sitting in front of a monitor playing video games. Players always know how they're doing by the score on the screen; [they] won't want to wait for a semiannual or annual performance review. They will require ongoing feedback."

Computers and the Law

I think we were discussing this subject recently - how Westlaw, Lexis and other online resources are changing the way lawyers research and understand the law. I haven't read it yet, but will soon!


McKenzie, Elizabeth and Vaughn, Susan, "PCs and CALR: Changing the Way Lawyers Think" (February 2007). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=969078

Public Library Geeks Take Web 2.0 to the Stacks by Beverly Hanly Wired 03.29.07

This article was posted by Chris Orr to the SLA-SF list. My thought was: is there something in here that we can use to train summers?
-JL

From: Chris Orr [mailto:]
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 2:05 PM
To: San Francisco Bay Region Chapter
Subject: [sla-csfo] Public Library Geeks Take Web 2.0 to the Stacks

This article has a lot of interesting points and it links to the learning tool (amd more):

Public Library Geeks Take Web 2.0 to the Stacks by Beverly Hanly Wired 03.29.07

..."Recognizing that librarians need to know how to participate in the new media mix if libraries are to remain relevant, Blowers challenged her 550 staffers to become more web savvy. Using free web tools, she designed the program and gave staff members three months to do 23 things.

"They created blogs and podcasts, tried out Flickr, set up RSS feeds, learned about wikis, uploaded video to YouTube, played with image generators and Rollyo, and explored Technorati, tagging and folksonomies."


Wired Article
-Chris Orr

AALL Spectrum article: The Next Generation of Learners

This article is in the April 2007 issue of AALL Spectrum starting on page 8. It is subtitled 'training issues law librarians face in the 21st century.' It is by Gayle Lynn-Nelson.

Focus on younger learners with acknowledgement for all kinds of learners.

Gives outline of different generations, ways they like to learn and suggestions for teaching them. Includes Gen X and Millennial generations. Relates their preferences back to Boomer preferences and styles.

Lists practical activities, sample activities and talks about designing a lesson plan.

I have only glanced at the article, but it looks useful.
--JL

More reading and a neat collection

A litigator in my network on del.icio.us (http://del.icio.us/) found this link which has an eclectic and good collection of legal research articles:

Litilaw: Published Articles for Litigators (http://litilaw.lexbe.com/)


On this site I found this gem: (The Corruption of Legal Research (http://terrenceberres.com/sto-cor.pdf) by Scott P. Stolley) It was a gem because as I was reading I had all kinds of reactions. Recent conversations with various partners flowed through my head, past stories from young associates, and conversations from our recent meeting. One paragraph caused me to sit up and say (to myself): "No!! He's got some of that all wrong!" and perhaps this will start a dialogue among us as well:

Law schools and law librarians (both at law schools and in lawfirms) also promote the seduction. It saves librarians valuable shelf space if they can shift information to the computer. It’s also easier to teach computerized methods than traditional research methods. Even better, Westlaw and other vendors will send representatives to do the teaching. At my firm, these vendors come one a week to offer instruction and free computer time. p. 8

Maybe, buttressed with other arguments and scenarios, this article could be used as a line of communication to jump-start a legal-research program in your firm with senior associates and partners?

Anyway, here's another article of interest on this page:

Gearing up to do Legal Research (http://www.law.ttu.edu/lawWeb/library/resources/presentations/pdfs/GearingUptoDoLegalResearch202007)
Texas focus, but still very good - though I have a few quibbles.

Schelle