The changing legal marketplace

Last month, the ABA Journal posted an article by Patrick Lamb of Valorem Law Group, a Chicago-based litigation firm known for its alternative fee arrangements.

In the midst of his observations about the future of the delivery of private legal services, Mr. Lamb references Richard Susskind’s 2008 book, The End of Lawyers? Rethinking the Nature of Legal Services. In urging that all those interested in how the legal profession is changing read this book, Mr. Lamb notes:

What the changes are to be is not entirely clear, but it is likely that there will be myriad models instead of the one model that has dominated the landscape for the last 50-plus years. Doesn’t it seem bizarre that everyone isn’t devoting more time and study to the changing landscape to figure out how they will have to change to survive?

The paperback version of The End of Lawyers?, with a 36-page introduction that updates what has transpired in the marketplace since the manuscript was submitted in late 2007, came out last month.

A six-part series of excerpts from the original publication can be found here.

Worth a look.

Todd Rogers, Assistant Dean for Career Services

Library resources abound for finals prep

Now that you are stuffed with turkey (or Tofurkey), it’s time to stuff your brains for finals! Don’t forget to let the Wheat Law Library help you put on your outlining caps and start preparing. Here are a few resources you just might find useful!

CALI (The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction)
http://www.cali.org/

CALI is computer-based, interactive tutorial that is free for KU Law Students. You login to the website and choose a lesson. These lessons by topic, author or, even cooler, casebook. Once you choose a topic, CALI will provide you with a brief description of a legal concept. Once the concept has been spelled out, CALI will provide you with a scenario and then ask you a question. If you get it wrong, CALI will tell you why. If you get it right, CALI will ask you to type in why you are right and then compare it to a model answer. Pretty slick, no? If you think you would like to check out CALI, contact me for an access code.

Course reserves on Blackboard
https://courseware.ku.edu/

Did you know that the Wheat Law Library has old exams on reserve? It’s true! To access them, you simply logon to Blackboard. One of the courses you are subscribed to should be titled Course Reserves. Once you are in there, you may browse for old exams by either subject or professor. While not every professor has an exam available, it can still be useful practice.

Books on reserve

The Wheat Law Library has many useful books on reserve available to be checked out for a short period of time. These include various Nutshell titles as well as some horn books and proprietary outlines. To browse which titles are available, see the blue binder at the circulation desk.

Bar review material

If you are looking for some practice questions or perhaps a different explanation of some concepts that you can’t quite grasp, you might want to try looking at some of the materials we have covering the Bar. Everything is located near the main entrance to the library, just past the reference desk.

And as always, should you have any questions, feel free to come in and chat with one of our reference librarians! We are always willing and able to help you locate whatever you might need to help you get through your finals.

Good luck!

W. Blake Wilson, Instructional and Research Services Librarian

Best places to study for finals

With finals just around the corner, finding the perfect place to study is essential. Personally, I read about a page an hour in the comfort of my own home, and find that I have to seek out spots more conducive to the learning experience. The Wheat Law Library provides a great studying environment, my own study carrel, and professors nearby, but unfortunately is only open until 11 o’clock at the latest. So for the night owl in you, I recommend the following places to study until night blends into day.

Spahr Engineering Library

Probably the best of the on-campus options, Spahr offers both Group (1st floor) and Quiet Zone (2nd Floor) areas open Monday through Friday night, with limited hours on weekends. The best part is that it is located about 50 yards north of Green Hall. There is a small snack bar open with standard fare on-campus items until 9 PM, and vending machines in an adjoining building. The only knock is that the bathrooms are also located in an adjoining building. Food delivery is hit or miss because there is no place for the delivery person to park. Large tables and conference rooms are available for group collaboration.

Study Quality: **** out of five
Munchies: *** out of five
Internet: ***** out of five (as long as you are a KU Student)

Anschutz Library

The newly remodeled Anschutz library offers a great set of couches and chairs, along with numerous floors with both Quiet Zone and Group Zone areas. During finals season, the library is open 24 hours a day (Except Sat-Sun), and also houses a snack bar with standard snack fare and drink. There are a limited number of personal study areas on the main floor, and a nearby place for delivery to park. I have two main problems with Anschutz. First, the group study areas are really more of a social area, and can get loud even into the night. Second, the wireless situation is really hit or miss. At capacity, sometimes my computer won’t connect. The University is working on the problem, but until it does, I can’t rate highly in that area.

Study Quality: ** out of five (Group), **** out of five (Quiet)
Munchies: *** out of Five
Internet: ** out of Five

Java Break

Located at 17 E. 7th Street off of Massachusetts Avenue, Java Break is very popular because it is a true 24-7 coffee shop. It has coffee house food like muffins and other baked goods, but the best part is the cereal bar. Internet is available, but requires a purchase. The clientele is a bit unique, but offers a great study environment with comfortable seating.

Study Quality: **** out of Five
Munchies: **** out of Five
Internet: *** out of Five

IHOP

The International House of Pancakes off 31st and Iowa provides probably the best late night munchies in town, at the cost of no free Internet. This can be a plus, but not for the purposes of this review. If you absolutely must have access, either bring an aircard, or login to the city’s pay service Wi-Fi, open in most places around town. The food is good, and power outlets are available, but the study environment is hit or miss. It is either dead quiet, or full of rowdy weekend bar exports.

Study Quality: ** out of Five
Munchies: ***** out of Five
Internet * out of Five

Munchers

Listed purely on the advice of fellow students is Munchers. Located at 925 Iowa Street, it is 24-7, and serves some great pastries and breakfast food fare. Some reviews say the shop has a very warehouse feel but there are plenty of tables, and some of the snack choices are an amazing value. While I can’t vouch for it myself, the City’s pay for use wireless should be available, but no Wi-Fi is provided onsite.

Study Quality *** out of Five
Munchies: ***** out of Five
Internet: * out of Five

Nathan Behncke, 2L

Tapping into social networks

Amanda Ellis, a legal recruiter based in Dallas, recently wrote an article for the Texas Bar Journal entitled The Big Three: Using Social Networking Sites to Connect with Employers and Clients.

I’d like to focus on two techniques Ms. Ellis suggests to identify potentially helpful job hunting contacts. The first is a Facebook application called BranchOut.

Let’s assume you want to work for US Bank. BranchOut allows you to browse your friends’ employers, so you can identify who currently works at US Bank or who has worked there in the past. You can also invite your friends to join your BranchOut network, which will enable you to see where their friends work.

By establishing a contact at US Bank through your friends or the friends of your friends, you’ll have the opportunity to gain insights about job opportunities and will be in a better position to prepare for an interview.

Similarly, LinkedIn provides a Company Search tool. On the LinkedIn main menu, click on “Companies,” then enter the name of the organization with which you’d like to establish a contact or about which you’d like to learn more before an interview. LinkedIn will then display employees at the organization who are in your network, as well as your connections’ connections who work there.

You’ll be able to identify shared connections, which will help you determine which members of your network you can ask for introductions to fruitful job hunting contacts outside your network.

For more tips on how to use social networking sites to your advantage, check out Amanda Ellis’s blog, The 6 Ps of the Big 3: Getting Hired Using Social Networking.

Todd Rogers, Assistant Dean for Career Services

Bluebook relays

As a 1L, I have become very familiar with the Bluebook. The Bluebook is a law school student’s best and worst friend. It’s quick to help you out when you have a citation question, but it will also confuse the heck out of you if you don’t know how to use it properly (sometimes even if you DO use it properly).

Each October around Halloween, the first year law students participate in the Bluebook Relays. Lawrence law firm Barber Emerson sponsors the Relays, and as part of your first year Lawyering class, you are required to participate. There are 2 prizes up for grabs – the cash prize to the ultimate winners (and citation masters) and the spirit award, which is given to the Lawyering class with the most spirit.

I really enjoyed the whole process of the 21st Annual Bluebook Relays. Since it is so close to Halloween, all of the participants get dressed up in costume. It takes place in the informal commons in the basement of Green Hall, and it is a great way to bond with your fellow law students. It gives each class the opportunity to work as a team toward a common goal.

This year, my Lawyering class, Team Keller, tied for first place in spirit with Team Westerbeke. We will get our team name, Keller’s Yellers, engraved on a shiny trophy adorned with a cheerleader and proudly displayed in the informal commons trophy case. The cash prize and bragging rights at this year’s Bluebook Relays went to Team Buller. Though their scores, costumes, and cash prize will likely be forgotten, their citation wizardry will live on for years to come.

Laura Hill, 1L

Tips on winterizing your car to avoid those holiday travel mishaps

Thanksgiving break is coming up and I know that many of you will be driving home to enjoy the festivities. By this time of year, many areas are already covered in snow or will be soon enough. Now is the time to think about winterizing your car.

DMV.org, the unofficial guide to the DMV has some fantastic pointers!

Engine Oil

During the winter months, temperatures can dip well below freezing. This can cause your oil to thicken up. It is recommended that you switch to thinner oil (less viscous). If you run 10W-30 in the summer, for example, try 5W-30.

Engine Coolant

Yeah engine coolant does keep your engine from overheating which you might think, “It’s winter! No worries!” Yeah, kind of. Really your engine coolant is there to maintain an optimal temperature for your car while it protects your car against corrosion. And you know that salt they put down on the road? Guess what it does to your car. So check your owner’s manual and make sure that you have the proper winter ratio (usually 60% coolant, 40% water). Also, use the coolant with ethylene glycol. If your car were Popeye, ethylene glycol would be spinach.

Battery

Ever notice that everyone’s car dies during the first cold snap? Ever wonder why? Well it’s because the amount of charge your battery can carry is greatly reduced when it’s cold out. The charge it holds at 70 degrees is not the same at 30 degrees. So before the cold hits, make sure your battery fluid is topped off (use distilled water since you don’t want minerals in there). And check the charge! Anything below 12.0V should be replaced. Any auto parts store will be happy to check the charge for free!

Snow tires

In Kansas, this really isn’t much of an issue since we don’t have constant snow on the ground. But if you are headed to, say, Boulder, CO for your vacation time, you might want to consider changing your tires. And regardless of the type of tires you have on your vehicle, make sure they are inflated properly! Remember that air contracts in cold weather and expands in hot.

Windshield

Just go ahead and replace your wiper blades and put a clear coat on your windshield. This will make it easier to keep your windshield clean. You also might want to replace your wiper fluid with something that contain anti-freeze. But be careful as some hard-core fluids can damage your paint.

Emergency kit

If you were to do only one thing, this is the one you should do. Make yourself an emergency kit!

  • Flares
  • Blankets
  • Boots
  • Radio
  • Flashlight
  • Energy bars
  • Water
  • First aid kit
  • Candles and matches
  • Collapsing shovel

Also make sure your cell phone is fully charged before you head out!

So you have just over a week to get all of this done before Thanksgiving break! Go to it!

W. Blake Wilson
Instructional & Research Services Librarian