ZiefBrief

New Databases

We've been adding online research tools steadily over the past year. We now have a searchable database of Chinese law with English translations (LawInfoChina). We've also subscribed to vLex, which provides access to foreign law with particular emphasis on Central and South America and Europe (on campus only). We've been adding content to HeinOnline steadily, including an extensive collection of intellectual property law materials and tax materials.  If you haven't checked out our A-Z list of law library research databases lately, take a look. We also have a "Resources by Topic" list.

HeinOnline App for iPhone & iPad

HeinOnline announced the arrival of its free iPhone/iPad app, which allows researchers to access HeinOnline content on these devices. The app allows you to view PDFs, access HeinOnline content by citation, browse by volume, navigate a volume's table of contents, and use advanced search. I experimented with the app on my iPad and found it very easy to use. One caveat: you do need to be on-campus and logged on to the campus network to access content. 

In-House Counsel Refuse to Pay for First-Year Associates' Work

The Wall Street Journal blog reported today on a growing trend among in-house legal departments: they are flat out refusing to pay for work performed by first-and second-year associates.  The big question is: how will the law firms and law schools respond?  Some firms have already launched apprenticeship programs for their new attorneys. And some law schools are beefing up experiential learning opportunities for their students.  It seems very clear that clients facing economic pressures are only going to become more demanding and sensitive about the bottom line in the future, and the legal market -- both firms and schools -- will have to find a way to respond fairly quickly.