The Massachusetts Acts and Resolves from 1876-2008 are now available online through the State Library. This makes doing historical research on Massachusetts Law much easier. A wonderful resource.

Source: Massachusetts Law Updates

If you missed it the first time or just want to relive history, watch the inauguration here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/inaugural-address/.

Get news on Barack Obama's first days in the White House:
Huffington Post
Chicago Tribune

See the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents for executive orders of the President. For more information of what else is contained in this resource see: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/presdocs/about.html

Labels: President Obama; Executive Branch

Yesterday Dianne Wilkerson, Massachusetts state senator, was arrested on charges of attempted extortion and wire fraud. The following are some links to the affidavit and news coverage.

• Affidavit
• Phoenix article (including photos)
• Timeline of Sen. Wilkerson's Troubles (Boston Herald)

Labels: Criminal, Legislature, Massachusetts Courts

Yesterday the U.S. Senate passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. You can find the full-text of the latest version of this bill on the website of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. This web page also contains a one page summary and a section by section analysis. For further commentary see: Senate passes bailout [CNN article]; Congress Struggles With Wall Street Bailout [NPR web page with several good articles]; and The Bailout: An Owner's Manual [Great Explanation from Forbes.com].

October 8: See the full-text of the law at gpoaccess.gov: H. R. 1424

Labels: banking law, congress, economy

Legal research doesn't begin and end with LexisNexis and Westlaw. Broaden your horizens by coming to a database training session for an overview of law library databases as well as research tips and strategies. Could be the most productive half hour of your semester!

Trainings will be held in room 725 in the library on the following dates:

Tuesday, August 26th at 2pm
Wednesday, August 27th at 5pm
Thursday, August 28th at 3pm

Questions? Stop by the law library reference desk on the 6th floor of the library, email lawref@suffolk.edu, or call us at 617-573-8516.

Labels: electronic resources, law school, legal research

It's the start of a new year, and the law library has some help as you ease (or jump) back in.

First, we'll be offering "roaming reference" services on the 4th floor near the cafeteria today (11-1 and 5-6), tomorrow (12-2 and 5-6), and this Thursday (11-2 and 5-6). Stop by and meet a reference librarian, ask questions, and learn about upcoming events. Pick up a law library pen/highlighter -- and some candy! Of course, the reference desk in the library will also be staffed for its regular 9-9 hours. Have questions or need research help? Drop by the reference desk, call us at 617-573-8516, or email lawref@suffolk.edu.

If you haven't listened to the legal refresher podcasts, now's a great time to do so. Go to Suffolk University Law School on iTunes U to find the legal refresher podcasts on researching case law and researching statutes. A pdf handout may also be downloaded and printed. A very quick and easy way to bring back some skills that may have slipped away over the summer. While you're at Suffolk Law on iTunes U, check out the legal writing tips provided by LPS. Highly recommended.

Labels: podcasts, roaming reference

Welcome! We'll be giving brief library tours to new law students between 7:00 and 9:00 PM on Tuesday, August 12. Please stop by the law library on the 6th floor for a tour.

And stop by the reference desk any time with questions, research help, or just to get pointed in the right direction!

In what has been described as a "bombshell," MCAD Commissioner Martin B. Ebel recently stated that MCAD will in the future apply the Massachusetts Maternity Act in a gender-neutral fashion. This means that men, as well as women, may be eligible for maternity leave, despite the fact that the Act specifically applies to women. For more, see this article in the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and the discussion in Massachusetts Law Updates.

Sources: Massachusetts Law Updates, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

NOTE: I'll be taking a summer blog break, but will be back with new postings in early August.

Labels: employment law, maternity leave, MCAD

Need to write a client letter or legal memo and not quite sure how to go about it? Check out the law library's recently posted legal writing list on our Topics A-Z site. It's a recommended list of books covering various types of legal writing. Most of them have sample documents (e.g., sample legal memos, professional correspondence, appellate briefs, and more). To make it even easier, we've noted the specific chapters to look at for each type of document.

Ease that summer job anxiety by coming into the library and looking at some annotated samples. And while you're here, stop by the reference desk with any questions.

Labels: employment resources, legal writing