• Interview with our 2011 Caption the Cartoon Contest Winner: Sherry VonBehren from Drake University Law Library

    Date: 2012.06.01 | Category: PLI | Response: 0

    Last year, PLI asked you to caption a cartoon featuring a PLI treatise and be entered to win an iPad.  Ms. Sherry VonBehren of Drake University Law Library was our winner (click here to see her caption) and below, Sherry answers some questions about libraries, librarians, and how technology is changing our field.

    Tell us a little about yourself:

    I’ve been working at the Drake LawSchool Library since August of 1985. When I started, my daughters were nine and twelve years old (almost). Now the older daughter works in the financial industry and has a Masters degree from Drake while the other is a registered nurse.

    I’ve done many jobs at the Law Library, from labeling new books, filing cards into the obsolete card catalog, and making thousands of pages of photocopies of court cases to using a computer program to interlibrary loan items around the country, providing legal material from our electronic databases, and preparing library displays on such varied topics as the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa, visits from Chief Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, and U.S. soldiers getting their wrongful WWII era convictions overturned just a few years ago.

    What is a typical day like for you? :

    First, I process the library’sinterlibrary loan and document delivery requests. I may need to put out anothercollection of “new books” or add recent faculty publications or student publications and awards to the large display cases.

    I’m always developing new displays for the law library. The displays draw attention to library resources, give information on a law school subject, give tips on how to manage final exams stress, highlight law school lectures by visiting legal experts, law school symposiums, other law school activities, etc.

    Why did you choose this career? :

    I’ve loved libraries since I was achild. I had enjoyed my volunteer work at a public library and I liked the idea of doing the detailed work that keeps a library functioning. I had no idea of learning about legal resources when I started at the Law Library, it happened as my responsibilities changed over the years.

    How do you feel technology has changed the field of law and/or librarianship? :

    Technology has certainly changed how legal professionals do their research. Having legal resources available electronically has changed how fast legal sources can be found and has added tremendously to the number and variety of resources we can now access. Libraries must keep up with ever changing methods of finding answers to legal questions.

    Helping law students, law faculty, attorneys and members of the public use electronic legal sources requires the skill to use electronic databases and especially the ability to advise patrons on how to conduct efficient, cost effective, and successful legal research.

    What do you like most about your job? :

    Most of all, I like being able to help people. I feel that providing the legal materials they need is an important job.

    I also like developing informational displays. I’m very fortunate that I have a good amount of freedom to be creative and develop the displays in the manner I think will work to further the mission of the Law Library and the entire Law School.

    How do you think the field of librarianship is changing? How is it staying the same? :

    As ways of accessing legal materials have changed due to our use of computers, so have the options on how librarians must be able to connect with library users and the research skills they must learn. Those research skills must also be continually updated.

    Librarianship is a helping profession. Most library workers are very service oriented. Our sincere desire to help people has stayed the same.

    Do you use your iPad for anything work related, if so, for what? :

    I have not used the iPad at work yet, but other people at the law school do use iPads at work and love them. Several people were quite excited about my winning the iPad.

    Thank you again for such a wonderful gift. I was certainly surprised and excited to get it as well as very appreciative.

    Wish you’d won an iPad?  You’re in luck! We’ll be having another caption the cartoon contest this year so stay tuned for the details on how to submit your caption via the website or stop by our booth at SLA (# 153) or AALL (# 323)!

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Parts I and II of our CI Library One-Hour Briefings are Now Archived

    Date: 2012.05.25 | Category: Just for librarians, PLI, Programs (free) | Response: 0

    Did you miss the PLI/LLAGNY library one-hour briefings on competitive intelligence?  Not to worry!  You can still hear Jennifer Alexander (Business Analysis Manager, McKenna Long & Aldridge   LLP) and Margaret Hennessey (Business Intelligence Analyst, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP) discuss CI and how law librarians can make inroads in this important and growing area by accessing the archived versions of the program here (Part 1) and here (Part II).

  • New Treatise! Corporate Political Activities Deskbook

    Date: 2012.05.22 | Category: PLI | Response: 0

    Corporate Political Activities Deskbook provides a thorough grounding in the current state of the law on federal and state campaign finance, pay-to-play, lobbying, and gift compliance.  A practical manual for in-house attorneys advising corporations about involvement in the political process, this new deskbook draws on the extensive practice and regulatory experience of Skadden, Arps authors Ken Gross, Ki Hong and Lawrence Noble.

    After describing the impact of the seminal 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizen’s United in expanding permitted corporate speech in the political realm, the Corporate Political Activities Deskbook walks the reader through the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) requirements in such areas as:

    • Permitted and prohibited corporate  activity in both the financial and in-kind areas
    • Who makes up the “restricted class” that may be approached for contributions to a corporate PAC
    • What federal dollar limits exist on financial and in-kind contributions to candidates
    • The difference between an “independent” and “coordinated” activity in support of a candidate
    • The specific FEC reporting requirements, including a line-by-line discussion of FEC Form 1, FEC Form 3L and others

    Other chapters of the Corporate Political Activities Deskbook address federal lobbying and gift rules; the Foreign Agents Registration Act; and practice and appearances before the FEC.   An additional chapter addresses state campaign finance, lobbying, gift, placement agent rules and pay-to-play rules, including the national rules affecting those that do business with state or local government entities, such as MSRB Rule G-37 and SEC Rule 206(4)-5.

    The deskbook appendices include helpful model documents, such as sample PAC bylaws, a PAC contribution card, and resolution establishing a PAC.  In addition, summary charts  of the 50 state contribution and lobbying laws are included. Rather than the extensive analytical approach of a treatise, the Corporate Political Activities Deskbook emphasizes the rules and provides practical examples of best practices and “do’s and don’ts.”  In many cases, the suggestions go beyond the black letter requirements to incorporate advice about practices that will help the reader utilize the available avenues of interacting with the government while avoiding negative press, public as well as legal regulatory attention.

    If you have any questions or would like to order this title, please contact the Library Relations Help Desk at libraryrelations@pli.edu or call 877-900-5291.

  • Congratulations Graduates!

    Date: 2012.05.18 | Category: Fun Fridays, PLI | Response: 0

    New York in May means plenty of local schools hosting commencement ceremonies for their graduates.  And with graduations come graduation speeches.  Check out Brooklyn Law School’s list of commencement speakers for our area law schools.  PLI Library Relations congratulates all graduates.  Onward and upward!

  • Course Handbooks Published in April 2012

    Date: 2012.05.04 | Category: Course Handbooks, New Title!, PLI, PLI Publications | Response: 0

    Listed below are the PLI Course Handbooks that were published during the month of April 2012:

    Commercial Law and Practice Series

    Corporate Law and Practice Series

    Intellectual Property Series

    Litigation and Administrative Practice Series

    New York Practice Skills

    Tax Law and Estate Planning

    If you have any questions or would like to order a title, please contact the Library Relations Help Desk at libraryrelations@pli.edu or call 877-900-5291.

  • April 2012 Treatise Updates

    Date: 2012.05.02 | Category: New Title!, PLI, PLI Publications, Treatise, Treatise Supplements | Response: 0

    In April 2012, PLI published new editions of the following treatises:

    In addition, the following PLI treatises were updated:

    If you are on standing order for any of the above titles, these releases have already been shipped. If you would like to place an order, please write libraryrelations@pli.edu.

  • Happy Law Day!

    Date: 2012.05.01 | Category: Answer Book, Course Handbooks, Law Libraries, PLI Publications, Treatise, Treatise Supplements | Response: 0

    Did you know that May 1st is Law Day? This year’s theme is “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom”, which according to the American Bar Association, “underscores the importance of the courts and their role in ensuring access to justice for all Americans.”

    To celebrate, PLI is offering 35% off all of our publications, including treatises, course handbooks, and answer books. Click here make a purchase or contact PLI’s Library Relations Department by email (libraryrelations@pli.edu).

    How are you celebrating?

  • Free 1-Hour Briefing on Competitive Intelligence in the Law Firm (Part II)

    Date: 2012.04.25 | Category: Just for librarians, PLI, Programs (free) | Response: 0

    PLI and LLAGNY have teamed up to offer free one-hour audio briefings for librarians, researchers, attorneys, and allied professionals.  This spring we are offering a two-part session on Competitive Intelligence.  Part 1 was held on April 25th at 1:00 pm and Part 2 will be on May 9th at 1:00 pm.

    As librarians we know how to find information, but historically we have been asked to provide raw data rather than an analytical report with business projections and actionable conclusions.  The conclusion of this two-part program will help you:

    • Learn about the resources that are currently being used to perform competitive intelligence research
    • Obtain or hone the skills needed to become an effective CI Researcher or Analyst
    • Start a competitive intelligence project or program in your firm
    • Create an analytical report from start to finish

    Please remember to register for this free briefing.  Even if you missed Part I, it’s not to late to register for Part II!

    This briefing, featuring instruction from experts in competitive intelligence, was conceived and created in cooperation with Practising Law Institute (PLI) and the Law Library Association of Greater New York (LLAGNY). This briefing is chaired by Janice E. Henderson, Gitelle Seer and Patricia Barbone.

    What: What is CI?: An Introduction to Competitive Intelligence in the Law Firm Environment – Part II

    When: May 9, 2012 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm EDT

    Speakers: Jennifer Alexander ~ Business Analysis Manager, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP and Margaret T. Hennessey ~ Business Intelligence Analyst, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

    To listen to this program, click here.

  • New Book! Labor Management Law Answer Book 2011-2012

    Date: 2012.04.20 | Category: Answer Book, New Title!, PLI Publications, Treatise | Response: 0

    Increased enforcement of labor and employment laws puts a premium on the reliable guidance required to successfully anticipate and respond to compliance demands in a legally sound and enterprise-friendly manner

    This “one-stop resource” allows you to easily access the vital insights you need to deal with a host of increasingly complex real-world labor management issues, including obligations under executive orders affecting labor relations of federal contractors; federal preemption of state regulation; reporting requirements of unions and employers; protected and unprotected activity; duty to bargain; unfair labor practice case procedures; and regulation of union dues and administration. Labor Management Law Answer Book 2011-12 incorporates planning opportunities and strategies affording you a truly actionable tool you can use to optimize proactive decision-making.

    Updated annually, Labor Management Law Answer Book 2011-12 is a vital compliance tool for in-house and outside corporate attorneys and an important reference for corporate executives and managers.

    To order the book, click here or email libraryrelations@pli.edu.

  • PLI Helps Explain the new JOBS Act

    Date: 2012.04.17 | Category: PLI, PLI Talks | Response: 0

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    On April 5, 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act was signed into law, bringing about significant changes to the regulation of capital formation in the United States.  In response, PLI arranged a dialog with senior staff from the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance and private practitioners (audio only), which you can access here.  In addition, PLI will host a seminar on the JOBS Act on May 30.  Click here to find out more about it and sign up.

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