Latest & Greatest – The 2016 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide

By Sharon D. Nelson, John W. Simek, and Michael C. Maschke

Published by American Bar Association Law Practice Division (2016)

KF 320 .A9 N457 2016

To kick off ABA Resources Month, we are featuring one of the ABA’s annually-updated books, The 2016 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide. Simply because you are a small firm or solo attorney, you are not insulated from the technological advances that are happening around you. In fact, the ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct mandate that a lawyer should be competent with relevant technology. Keeping up with technology seems like a cost-prohibitive and daunting task, but the folks at the Law Practice Division of the ABA have made it easier for you with their 2016 Guide. The Guide offers information and recommendations to allow attorneys to find the technological equipment that will give them the most bang for their buck. From hardware to software to smartphones and anything else in between, the Guide takes the guesswork out of purchasing the computer equipment that is most appropriate for your office and business. Not sure which type of case management software is right for you? Turn to Chapter Fourteen to find descriptions of the offerings available. Chapter Fifteen will help you decide which time and billing software is right for you. Confused by cloud computing? Check out Chapter Nineteen for an explanation and some considerations. Want to know more? Come to the Harris County Law Library and look for The 2016 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide in our ABA Resources display or ask for it at the reference desk.

Latest & Greatest – Strategic Legal Research

By Tobin A. Sparling

Published by Wolters Kluwer Law & Business (2015)

KF 240 .S63 2015

The Harris County Law Library is proud to feature the latest edition of Strategic Legal Research: Finding the Information You Need Efficiently and Cost-Effectively by Tobin A. Sparling, a Professor of Law at Houston College of Law (formerly South Texas College of Law). Sparling’s book stands out from other legal research resources in that he stresses a research methodology that focuses on thinking through the issue before jumping in and simply beginning the research. He suggests ten basic steps that will enable you to perform legal research more efficiently and economically. He identifies the advantages and disadvantages of various resources, such as print, in-house electronic, Bloomberg Law, and other internet research sources. Sparling also discusses the common features found in the major research databases like Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law. The remainder of material in the book is dedicated to researching specific resources, such as statutes, court rules, administrative law, and nonlegal authority. Naturally, Sparling devotes some discussion to researching Texas materials and understanding the Texas legal system.

Latest & Greatest – Federal Information Disclosure

By James T. O’Reilly

Published by Thomson Reuters (2016)

KF 5753 .O74 2012

In conjunction with the Law Library’s celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), we are highlighting some resources that will enhance your understanding of the scope and limitations of FOIA. Sometimes referred to as the “Bible of FOIA,” Federal Information Disclosure answers many questions surrounding the public’s “right to know” and the issue of governmental transparency. From the origins of the Freedom of Information Act with its adoption in 1966 to its inevitable expansion with the Privacy Act (1974), the Federal Advisory Committee Act (1972), and the Government in the Sunshine Act (1976), the author examines all aspects of FOIA as well as court decisions interpreting its provisions. The author explains the procedural aspects of FOIA, including the content of a request, the processing of the request, and the search limitations involved with the requests and addresses FOIA litigation and aspects of judicial review, such as de novo review, summary judgment, and the myriad issues that may arise during this review process. He also discusses the nine statutory exemptions to FOIA and how the courts have routinely interpreted those exemptions.

The author wisely avoids the political facets of FOIA and its progeny by simply explaining the process behind the disclosure of government information and how the United States courts have interpreted the statute and have balanced the public’s “right to know” with the government’s desire from some level of secrecy. His book is meant to be “an essential tool” for the seeker of federal information.

Latest & Greatest – The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 & The Founders’ Constitution

The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787

Edited by Max Farrand

Published by Yale University Press (1937)

KF 4510 .U574 1937

To close out Constitutional Law Resource Month here at the Harris County Law Library, we would like to highlight two titles in our collection that provide some historical insight into the drafting of the United States Constitution: The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 and The Founders’ Constitution. Read together, these two multi-volume titles set the stage for the creation and drafting of perhaps the most important document for our nation. The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 is a chronological documentation of what occurred during the Federal Convention of 1787. It is a day-by-day journal of the proceedings gathered from the notes and manuscripts of those present at the Convention and offers a glimpse into what occurred behind the closed doors of the Convention including the votes tallied, the motions made, the speeches given, and the resolutions proffered.

The Founders’ Constitution

Edited by Philip B. Kurland and Ralph Lerner

Published by The University of Chicago Press (1987)

KF 4502 .F68 1987

The Founders’ Constitution, on the other hand, is a topical treatment of the provisions of the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. From the fundamental documents that provide the basis for the American constitutional model to the various acts that provided the foundation for the Bill of Rights, The Founders’ Constitution traces the arguments, opinions, and philosophical beliefs that underlie the United States Constitution and gave us the document that we have today. The Founders’ Constitution, published by the University of Chicago Press, is a five-volume collection that introduces the principles upon which the Founding Fathers relied when drafting the Constitution. The first volume focuses upon the major themes of the Constitution, such as separation of powers, representation, and rights, equality, and property while the remaining volumes concentrate on the actual articles of the Constitution and the first Twelve Amendments. Each of the volumes contains essays, letters, and articles drafted by respected historical statesmen, orators, and philosophers as George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and John Locke.

So whether you are a legal or historical scholar or simply someone who is interested in learning more about the writings that comprise the foundation of the United States Constitution, come to the Harris County Law Library and have a look at these two titles.