Articles Posted in General Legal Research Resources

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In response to the person who asked (in a Comment to this post – and thank you for the question – it is an excellent one!) the difference between a session law and a code, specifically between the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) and the Oregon Laws, I offer this. It is about as brief a description as can be made, but it is followed by suggestions for further reading.

(Keep in mind, that this is interesting stuff to law librarians and not necessarily to others, so you can always visit your local law library to see and hear and not just read about these government publications. We love this stuff: a previous Washington D.C. tour highlight for a bunch of us law librarians was a visit to the Office of Law Revision Counsel that prepares the U.S. Code (not to be confused with the session law, the U.S. Statutes at Large).

Oregon Laws: a chronological compilation of laws passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. Published officially by Oregon in a set called, Oregon Laws.

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The following legal writing blog has come to my attention: Set in Style.

The number of legal writing blogs and web sites is growing. Take a look at Set in Style’s sidebars to see just how many. Here is another good place to turn, Evan Schaeffer’s legal-writing posts.

There is money (and winning) in good (legal) writing and there is joy. Of course, for those law students who have not yet been initiated, there is also Fred Rodell, who wrote: “There are two things wrong with almost all legal writing. One is its style. The other is its content.”

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beSpacific also posts about the University of California’s eScholarship Repository, which is an amazing collection of scholarship, commentary, research, wisdom, and I’m sure even foolishness.

I’ve blogged before about the University of Oregon’s Scholars’ Bank.

Universities were at the forefront of web content management, which the legal community appreciates greatly (see e.g. Cornell, Michigan, and hundreds of other educational institutions that have been adding value to the web since there was a world wide web to manage – and making the information freely available).

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I’ve blogged before about HeinOnline, but still run into local attorneys and legal historians and legal researchers who don’t know what HeinOnline is and who don’t know they have free access to it using their public library card (see below for who is eligible):

Contains full-text databases, including:

* Law journals (issues back to their inception)

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We (meaning my stupendous library assistants and I) have finally released a copy of our How to Find a Lawyer in Oregon – in 6 Easy Steps. (If this direct link to the PDF doesn’t work, try from my library’s hompage, and click on the Legal Research Resources Overview tab.)

This guide started out around 3 pages and we cut, and cut, and cut (no one wants to read 3 pages on finding a lawyer!), so maybe it is too bare bones now. But give it a try and send along suggestions we’ll consider for a future update.

And for Washington County residents (lots of Mult Co listings too), the 2008 Community Action Find guide is out too. You can search it online at their excellent database, but my library and others keep a print copy handy. It is a fabulous resource and complement to our How to Find a Lawyer guide.

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Many but not all Oregon attorneys know about the terrific 3 volume set of Will and Trust Forms (Oregon Version), compiled by Joseph J. Hanna, Jr. and Campbell Richardson and published by the US Bank Private Client Group.

Rumors have been swirling that there is a 2006 edition, but upon inquiry we were informed that this is incorrect and the 2003 edition is still the latest one. (In 2006 I was told no update was in the works so a new edition is still likely a ways off.)

This is good news for most of us. The set is not cheap (but is excellent value) and must still have a good and long life ahead in its current form. Some changes may have occurred in filing requirements, so don’t forget to check the OSB practice and course materials, the statutes (the 2007s expected within a few weeks), and (of course) the court where you are filing to make you are using the correct forms.

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Good heavens, what next? A non-jurisprurient U.S. Supreme Court book that will possibly become a best-seller, at least among the wonkish: legal, political, librarian, and chattering all.

Thanks to Law Librarian Blog for the link to the law dot com (Legal Times, 11/27) story, “Scalia to Join Supreme Court Book Club.”

Excerpt from the article:

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The Oregon Federal Public Defender has this report, Developments in Federal Search and Seizure Law, and much more at their web site (including an Oct 2007 Blakely/Apprendi and State v. Ice update).

Many more Oregon legal news stories where this came from: Go to Justia’s Blawg Search, type Oregon in the search box, click on Sort by Date.

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