Not sure what to do this weekend? Here’s a couple of things that may be of interest…

SPORTS

Braves v. Marlins

Friday, Aug. 30 / 7:30 pm

Saturday, Aug. 31 / 7:10 pm

Sunday, Sept. 1 / 5 pm

Braves v. Mets

Monday, Sept. 2 / 1:10 p

http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=atl&gclid=CKvor5_KpbkCFazm7Aod3lsAyA#y=2013&m=8&calendar=DEFAULT

Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game

Alabama vs. Virginia Tech

Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013

Georgia Dome, Atlanta

http://www.atlanta.net/sports/chickfilacollegekickoff.html

Labor Day NASCAR Night Race Weekend @ Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia

Sunday, September 1

http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/events/advocare500/

2:30 pm – Gates Open

3:00 – 8 pm – Hospitality tent open

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm – Pit Tours

7:30 pm – race begins

Action Dash : Race to Beat the Cycle of Poverty 5K Run/Walk and Fun Run @ Piedmont Park, Atlanta

Monday, Sept. 2 : 8 am

http://www.actiondash.org/site/TR/Events/General?fr_id=1090&pg=entry

This Labor Day, put on your best super hero costume and join other Action Heroes as they race for the cause. Proceeds from the Action Dash will aid Action Ministries in ending the cycle of poverty throughout Georgia. Action Ministries provides housing and education opportunities and prevents hunger through programs in Atlanta, Athens, Gainesville, Rome, and Augusta.

FESTIVALS IN METRO ATLANTA

Dragon*Con @ Atlanta Marriott Marquis

Aug. 30-Sept. 1

Parade, Saturday, Aug. 31, 10 am: see website for parade route

http://www.dragoncon.org/?q=node/387

Largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe!

Pure Heat Community Festival / Project Turn Around Carnival and Coming Out Party @ Piedmont Park

Sunday, Sept 1  Noon-7 pm

http://www.pureheatcommunityfestival.com/

Pure Heat Community Festival showcases the different meaning of unity with pride. Equipped with Market and Food Vendors, Health Fair, a hair show, sponsor moments, community forums, giveaways, performers & a world re-noun artist, our day of unity brings together a collective spirit of community. We are honored to utilize this opportunity to bring awareness of a community impacted by HIV/AIDS, and spearhead campaigns towards Environment Protection, Youth Mentorship, Education & Career Advancement, Women’s Health & Wellness, and Homelessness Transition. The Pure Heat Community Festival is a front seat into an awesome gathering of people from all walks of life.

Lasershow Spectacular in Mountainvision® @ Stone Mountain Park in Stone Mountain, GA

8:45 pm Saturday, Sunday, Monday nights

Park amenities open 10:00 am – 9:15 pm

http://www.stonemountainpark.com/events/Labor-Day-Weekend.aspx

Great place to hike, run, walk, ride on the cable car or scenic train, explore the many other sites at the park. Finish off the day with a lasershow and fireworks at the mountain. An experience every Atlantan should experience at least once.

Art in the Park @ Historic Marietta Square in Marietta, GA

Aug. 31-Sept 2

http://www.artparkmarietta.com/
This outdoor event boasts plenty of enjoyment for all ages with a large Artist Market, the Children’s Art Alley, the famous Painted Pots, historic sites and nearby dining

8^th annual AJC Decatur Book Festival @ Decatur, Georgia

August 30-September 1

http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2013/index.php

The eighth annual AJC Decatur Book Festival is finally upon us! With over three hundred best-selling authors to a vibrant street fair we’re bringing the heat in 2013.

Backyard Campout @ Chattahoochee Nature Center / 9135 Willeo Road Roswell, GA 30075

Saturday, August 31 – Sunday, September 1, 5:00pm-10:00am

http://www.chattnaturecenter.org/calendar-events/

A close-by staycation at CNC for Labor Day is a perfect weekend!  Sleep out under the stars, enjoy night hikes, play games on the meadow, visit with nocturnal animals, roast marshmallows around the campfire and more!

FESTIVALS WITHIN A TWO HOUR DRIVE

Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival @ Callaway Gardens, near LaGrange, GA

Friday, Aug. 30-Sunday, Sept. 1

http://www.callawaygardens.com/events/signature-events/sky-high-hot-air-balloon-festival

The weekend kicks off with the extraordinary Friday Night Balloon Glow and continues all weekend long. Watch beautiful balloons in flight or hop in a basket for your own tethered balloon ride. Saturday is filled with family-friendly events, including live music, beach activities, a Kids Zone and much more. There’s something for everyone with a classic car show, disc dog demonstrations, a pyrotechnic skydiving demonstration, as well as a 5K Race and Triathlon event. If you’re a photography buff, you can sign up for our hands-on “Mastering Night Photography” course. Plus, you’ll find drink specials and sports on the televisions at the Beach Bar as well as some of Atlanta’s top-rated food trucks throughout the festival. Cap off the weekend with a final balloon glow Sunday night on Robin Lake Beach.

*Free admission to Callaway Gardens on Monday, Sept. 2.

Riverdale Seafood & Beer Festival @ Riverdale Town Center, Riverdale, GA

Saturday, Aug. 31 / Noon-9:30 pm

http://www.riverdaleculture.com/Calendar.aspx?EID=84

The City of Riverdale’s Seafood & Beer Festival is Riverdale’s biggest event of the year! This signature event features live music, international beer stations and an alluring display of fish, crab, scallops, and other seafood to entice the palate. The event also includes activities for children of all ages.

image by flickr user 401(K)2013

Starting on Sept. 1, the online retailer Amazon will begin collecting sales tax from Georgia residents. Georgia is just one of many states to recently pass legislation that affects online sales.

Here’s a quick look at the history of this legislation:

The Georgia General Assembly passed HB 386 in March 2012. This legislation amended the current Georgia code’s definition of the word “dealer” to encompass online retailers. The changes were codified in OCGA 48-8-2 and went into effect in January 2013. More information on the passage of this bill can be found in the Peach Sheets, which are produced by Georgia State University Law Review students and are a source of unofficial legislative history for the state.

Even after you have registered for classes and picked up your books, you still have one more important selection to make – where will you study? Where you will study will have implications on how you do in your classes. While some of you may choose to study outside of the Law Library, I think the library has a couple of nice options for those who choose to spend your time in the library. Here are a couple of options you will have if you choose to study in the Law Library this coming semester.

The Study Carrel 

The tried and true friend of a law student. The study carrel has been around for generations. The perfect place to get “in the zone” and focus on your studies. For your convenience  each of the study carrels located in the library includes an electrical outlet and an network plugin. When it comes to studying, you can always count on old reliable.

The Small Table 

The small table is a great place to work if you like the size of the study carrel, but prefer to have more open space. The small table is also great for studying in small groups of two people.  But watch out, talk too loud and you may suffer the wrath of an angry 3L.

The Big Table 

The big tables are exclusive to the 2nd floor of the library, also known as the Quiet Zone. While we encourage students not to do group work at these tables, they are great if you really want to spread out or have a friend close by.

Soft Seating 

What it lacks in a place to lay your book on, it makes up for with pure comfort. The soft seating can be heaven on your back after a long class. A few of the chairs also have a small end table next to them, so don’t forget to bring that cup of coffee with you.

Study Rooms 

When you need to bounce topics of a friend, there is no better place than one of our 17 group study rooms. All of the study rooms include a whiteboard, and most of them also include a projector that you can hook your Laptop or iPad into. While you don’t need to whisper in these rooms, do remember that the walls are thin, so try to maintain a respectable volume. Study rooms are a hot commodity during the semester, so book in advance. You can book a study room a week in advance, at 3 hours per person, using the Study Room Reservation System.

by Joshua Kahn

Image by Flickr user your_teacher

This post is for all the 1Ls.  We know you are new to campus, wracked by fear of the unknown, overwhelmed by readings, terrified that your entire grade is dependent on a single test… confused about what you’re supposed to do in class, before class  and. . . and. . . and. . . STOP!

Now, take a deep breath and repeat:  It is not that bad.

The faculty will offer a number of talks this semester about how to outline, what it means to take good notes, how to take a test, etc.  And that’s all well and good.  You should go.  Really.  But in the meantime one 3L working at the library would like to offer his short take on surviving and prospering in law school, in addition to all the other worthy advice you’re being bombarded with.  This advice is NOT the official opinion of the library or its staff, but, hopefully, it will help put things in perspective.

To Thine Own Self Be True

First, and most importantly, know your own learning style.  If you find you remember the somewhat esoteric jurisdiction law in civil procedure when you read the cases carefully, great.  If you prefer a hornbook, great.  Right now, try both and see what works for you. That’s probably the most productive thing you can do the first month; experiment with different pieces of advice, see what works for you, stop doing the things that don’t work, and do more of the things that do. That way, you’ll be using your time productively by mid-semester.

Preparing for Class

You do not need to show up every day with a typed brief of every case. You do not need to highlight every word of your casebook in your own special highlighter code. If these things help you, fantastic, but they are not necessary or helpful for most law students.

You do need to read the cases, but remember this:  Every case is designed to illustrate one point of law. The facts of each individual case are only important in so far as they illustrate that point of law. Yes, getting used to seeing how facts and law interact in cases is good general lawyer training, but it’s not the central takeaway for your grade (however, see the “because” section of this post below).

A word on being called on in class. . . don’t worry about it. As long as you don’t go out of your way to seem like you know everything, it’s not embarrassing to be stumped by your professor (if you are that guy/gal who always talks, your classmates will probably indulge in some Schadenfreude when they watch you twist in the wind).

More importantly, being called on is irrelevant to your grades. It helps professors run their classes smoothly when students know the facts of the cases inside and out. For students, however, spending too much time memorizing the facts of a case that is just there to illustrate a point of law takes time away from potentially more helpful studying. (more on this later)

Many 2L or 3L law students read a case, then write down a sentence or a few words reminding them what it’s about and what the main point is. For example: “guy falls down stairs, stairs not up to code, negligence per se?” Please though, READ the cases.

Taking Notes

Every case in your case book is there to tell you some important issue of law. If you can’t write down the point of the case in one sentence after the professor goes through the case in your class, you have probably missed something important.  In many classes, the professor will explicitly tell you what this important point is.

Those individual points of law all build into a complete picture of the area of law you’re studying.  It’s rare that one case will, say, explain all of contract law (although a few later cases are a good review, and many professors will point these cases out).  Nearly all cases either tell you a piece of the basic law (“this is what causation means in torts”), or explain a specific exception to that general rule (“these are the special damage rules for breach of construction contracts”).

You should focus your notes on what each individual point is, and how they all fit together. If you don’t understand these main points by the end of class, ask your professor.  Or, go look at a hornbook later and if you still don’t understand, ask after the next class.

Please, please, please don’t focus on the facts of the cases when you are taking notes.  That’s almost never the important takeaway—it’s just a tool to help you get to that takeaway.  Write the facts down if it’s helpful to you, but know that it’s not the main thing.  The exception is sometimes a brief summary of a case can be helpful later, especially for classes where the reasoning of past important cases matter (in 1L, that’s usually the constitutional law cases in Civ Pro I).  And, it’s always helpful when the professor tests on it.

At the beginning of the semester, ask your professors if they want you to cite cases or statutes on their exam.  Most professors don’t, but if they do, you want to know about it and write that information down.  It’s especially common for contracts professors to want those citations. If they do, be more careful about taking notes on specific cases and placing them in your outline later.

Study Groups

I never went to one and firmly believe they are a huge waste of time. I hear they can be helpful towards the end of the semester for taking practice exams and going over the answers together, but during the year, they can be a massive time-waster with little or no productive output.  But maybe they’ll be good for your social life, so there’s that.

Outlines

You shouldn’t worry much about outlines until mid-semester, but for your piece of mind, they are basically a distilled, organized version of your notes.  You should have your outline formatted so you know how each of the little pieces of law those cases teach you fit together into a whole, and see how they form nice little rules with different tests and factors to consider.

Extra Things that Help: Practice Problems

Probably the most helpful thing you can do with your “extra” study time, especially early in the semester, is do practice problems. The study aid section of the library has plenty of books with practice problems. Personally, I think most students would benefit far more—at least as far as grades go—from spending less time, say, carefully briefing (note: still read!) or going to a study group and using the extra time to do practice hypotheticals.

Taking Notes BEFORE Class

If you want to be extra diligent, one way to do this is to do your readings carefully, and BEFORE class, write down the key “takeaway” point of law from each case as if you had taken notes in class already. If you understand it well enough to do this, you’re in great shape and class will be both a review and a way to help catch whether or not you are wrong.

Outside Sources

I found listening to the life of a law student podcasts well before class while, say, commuting or working out, was helpful. I didn’t take it too seriously, but it exposed me to concepts before class started so my reading and class time was the not the first time I heard an idea. Often, concepts stick more effectively the second and third time you hear or read them, and this is a painless way to get that repetition.

Legal Writing

GSU just finished a massive overhaul of its legal writing program, so I don’t have so much guidance to offer here except the following two tidbits.

First, everyone complains that they spent way more time on their legal writing class than their other classes. It just works out that way, but at least be conscious of it and try not to lose perspective.

Second, I found it helpful to just sit down and try to make a good argument, then go back and make that good argument fit into all the stylistic or formatting points they try to teach you. Getting overly caught up in the formatting can hurt the substance of your writing. That said, DO write in IRAC from the start. They’ll tell you what that is in legal writing class (write you exams in IRAC as well).

 “Because”

Without getting too into final exams, which are still very far away, the most important word to your grade is the word “because.” When you write anything in any law school context, ask yourself if you answered the question “because.”  It is very tempting to just restate the rule when writing an exam, but adding the word “because” and filling in everything after is what will get you an A.

The Librarians Are Your Friends

This may sound self-serving coming from the library, but, really, the librarians are paid to help you. If you’re stuck on a research problem, they’ll help you. If you have no idea where to start looking, they’ll help you. If you have no idea how to BEGIN a legal research project, they’ll teach you from scratch if necessary.  This is more important second semester when you start having to do more serious legal research for your writing class, but if you’re stuck on something, ask them.  Very few students take advantage of the librarians’ help.

Summary: What You Should Be Doing Regularly

*Read for class—in whatever depth is helpful to you—focusing on picking out the important point of law the casebook author is trying to teach you.

*Write down sufficient notes on the cases to remember what they were about. This could be a little as a few words or as much as a few paragraphs. But for most people, it’s a few words to a sentence.

*Listen in class, and write down the key point of law each case illustrates. If possible, write how that relates to the other points of law you’ve already learned.

*Take notes on whatever else your professor tells you will be on the test.

*If you don’t understand these key points of law, ask your professor and/or consult a hornbook.

*Optional: Do practice problems, found in the study aid section of the library.

*Optional: Listen to a podcast on the subject matter like http://www.lifeofalawstudent.com.

*Later:  About mid-semester, begin outlining.

*Even Later:  Towards the end of the semester, take practice exams.

Flicker photo by cali.org

Before you begin your first week of classes, you will need to register for several different research systems. You should have received authorization codes for each of these systems during the Technology Introduction of New Student Orientation. If you have trouble registering your account, please contact Reference/Student Services Librarian Austin Williams.

Westlaw

1. Go to lawschool.westlaw.com.
2. Click Register Password on the lawschool.westlaw.com sign-on page.
3. Click the link next to Registering for the First Time?
4. Type your email address in the text box and click Go.
5. Type your Westlaw password in the text box and click Go.
6. Type the information requested, read the agreement, and click I Agree. You will receive a confirmation message and a follow-up email.
7. One your account is set up, you can log-in to Westlaw or WestlawNext with your Username and Password at lawschool.westlaw.com.

Lexis Nexis

1. Go to http://register.lexisnexis.com/lawschool.
2. Enter GSU’s registration code.
3. Click submit.
4. A new window/tab will open with your temporary ID and temporary Password credentials.
5. Follow the steps on this screen in order to create your new custom ID and Password at www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool.
6. One your account is set up, you can log-in to Lexis Advance with your ID and Password at www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool.

Bloomberg Law

1. Go to http://bloomberglaw.com/activate.
2. Look for “Authorization Code” located at the top of the screen (in a blue box).
3. Enter your authorization code.
4. Follow the steps to create an account. (You will need to register using your GSU email).
5. Once your account is setup, you can log-in to Bloomberg Law with your Username and Password at http://about.bloomberglaw.com/.

CALI

1. Go to www.cali.org.
2.  Click on “Create new account,” located on the right side of the screen.
3. Follow the steps to create a new account. (You will need to register using your GSU email).
4. You will receive a verification email after you have set up your account.
5. Once your account is setup, you can log-in to CALI with your Username and Password at www.cali.org.

Welcome to all our new 1Ls! We are so glad you’re here, and hope you’ll find the library a valuable resource throughout your time in law school. Here are just a few of the things we do to try to make your life just a little better during law school:

• Fun stuff to borrow, including DVDs, board games, and chargers
• A “quiet zone” on the upper level for diligent studying
• Group study rooms that you can reserve online
• A book exchange for some casual reading
• Textbooks on Reserve that you can use for 3 hours at a time
• A hot and cold water fountain, for all your lunchtime needs
• Help with your Legal Bib homework during reference hours, both live and via chat
• And we have a tour video to show you around too:

flicker photo by PureGeekery

A desk is where most people get their work done. A person’s desk is a mash-up of utility, comfort, and personality. The traditional desk has always been a table with a few drawers attached and a chair. While this has worked perfectly for people over the past few decades, we now live in a world where people like options. If you can customize the car you drive to work and the computer you use, why can’t you also customize your desk? For those of you who are looking for alternative types of desks, here are a few options that might interest you.

Standing Desk

The standing desk provides an alternative to those who jobs require them to be behind a desk for a majority of their workday. The standing desk helps combat the negative consequences from sitting all day long. Some standing desks can move up and down, allowing users to sit or stand.

Treadmill Desk

A close cousin to the standing desk is the treadmill desk. This works great for people who want to kick the chair to the curb and lose a few pounds. Don’t think you can run and type? Don’t worry, most people simply keep it set on a very slow walk.  If you get tired of walking, you can always stop the treadmill, and the desk turns into a regular standing desk.

Lap Desk

The lap desk has been on the market for years. As one of the most versatile desks, the lap desk can be used in a chair, on the couch, or in bed, as well as used as a tv tray, a laptop desk, or a simple writing desk. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in portability.

Laptop Desk Cart

The laptop desk cart provides users with a mobile cart and tray that they can place their laptops on. Several employ extra space for a mouse or a keyboard to optimize comfort and usability. Generally on wheels, these desks can be moved all over the room.

image by flickr user h080

Things are a bit quiet in the library these days, since there are no classes happening for a few weeks. To reflect this, our hours are a bit shorter than usual. Here’s the scoop on when we’ll be open during this time:

Library Hours (through August 10)

• Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Library Hours (August 11 – 18)

• Monday – Friday: regular hours
• NOTE: closed to the public for orientation

Reference Hours (through August 11)

• Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: closed

We return to our full regular schedule on Monday, August 19.

image by Flickr user flow14

As you’re already well aware, Will and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, welcomed a baby boy yesterday. The baby, the Prince of Cambridge, is now third in line for the throne behind his grandfather, Prince Charles, and his father, Prince William. Prior to the baby’s birth, Prince William’s younger brother Harry was third in line. And thanks to some recent legislation, the child was assured that position in the line of succession regardless of its gender.

The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 (UK) received Royal Assent on April 25, 2013. In addition to granting both male and female children born after October 28, 2011 the same position in the line of succession (Sec. 1), the Act also removes a prior restriction about marrying a Roman Catholic (Sec. 2), and limits royal assent on a marriage to only the first six people in the line of succession (Sec. 3), amongst other provisions.

If you’re interested in looking at more UK legislation, take a look at the full legislation.gov.uk website, which has legislation going back to the 13th century.