Upcoming U.S. Law Webinars – October 2023

Posted on September 28, 2023September 26, 2023 by Taylor Gulatsi

As we continue into the fall season, the Law Library of Congress is offering more educational webinars in the month of October. The Law Library of Congress’s next offering in its Orientation to Legal Research Webinar Series will focus on an overview of the tracing of U.S. federal statutes. Following the Orientation to Legal Research Webinar, the Law Library of Congress will offer its next presentation on Congress.gov.

Orientation to Legal Research Webinar: U.S. Federal Statutes

Date: Thursday, October 12, 2023, 1:00 p.m. EDT – 2:00 p.m. EDT

Content: This entry in the series provides an overview of U.S. statutory and legislative research, including information about how to find and use the U.S. Code, the U.S. Statutes at Large, and U.S. federal bills and resolutions.

Instructor: Jason Zarin – Legal Reference Specialist. Jason has a B.A. in economics from Tufts University, an M.A. in economics from UCLA, a J.D. from the University of Southern California, an LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University, and a master of science in information systems from the University of Texas at Austin.

Congress.gov Webinar

Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023, 2:00 p.m. EDT – 3:00 p.m. EDT

Content: This orientation is designed to give a basic overview of Congress.gov. While the focus of the session will be searching legislation and the congressional member information attached to the legislation, the new features of Congress.gov will also be highlighted.

Instructors: Barbara Bavis and Robert Brammer. Barbara is the bibliographic and research instruction librarian at the Law Library. She holds a B.A. in history from Duke University, a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and a master of science in library and information science with a specialization in law librarianship from Catholic University. Robert is the chief of the Law Library’s Office of External Relations. He holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Kentucky, a J.D. from Wayne State University, and a master of library science from Florida State University.

To learn about other upcoming classes on domestic and foreign law topics, visit the Legal Research Institute.

Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

Upcoming US Law Webinars – March 2022

Posted on February 15, 2022February 8, 2022 by Anna Price

In March, we are introducing a new addition to our orientation to legal research webinars. To date, this series has included recurring classes on navigating legal resources from the U.S. government’s three branches: statutes, administrative laws, and court opinions. Our new class on federal legislative history will offer a deeper dive into a bill’s lifecycle, and discuss the types of documents that are considered “legislative history.”

More information about the Law Library’s upcoming U.S. law webinars and registration links can be found below.

A black and white sketch of Elizabeth Cady Stanton speaking before a Senate committee, in a room full of both men and women. — Address of Elizabeth Cady Stanton before the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections. New York Daily Graphic, Jan. 16, 1878, p. 501. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C., //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b08655

Orientation to Law Library Collections

Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2022, 1:00 p.m. EST – 2:00 p.m. EST

Content: This webinar provides information about the Law Library’s wide range of online resources, as well as our print collections. Some of the resources attendees will learn about include the Law Library’s research guides, digital collections, and the Guide to Law Online, among others.

Instructor: Anna Price – Senior Legal Reference Librarian. Anna holds a BS in communications from Ithaca College, a JD from the University of Washington School of Law, and an MLIS from the University of Washington iSchool.

Orientation to Legal Research: Federal Legislative History

Date: Thursday, March 24, 2022, 11:00 a.m. EDT – 12:00 p.m. EDT

Content: This webinar will discuss how to find debates, hearings, reports, and other documents that may reflect a bill’s legislative intent as it moves through Congress. The presentation will focus largely on how to find these documents through online government resources, including Congress.gov, govinfo.gov, and Law.gov.

Instructor: Barbara Bavis – Barbara is the bibliographic and research instruction librarian at the Law Library. She holds a BA in history from Duke University, a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science with a specialization in law librarianship from Catholic University.

To learn about other upcoming classes on domestic and foreign law topics, visit the Legal Research Institute.

Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

Upcoming US Law Webinars – October 2021

Posted on September 23, 2021September 21, 2021 by Anna Price

Next month, the Law Library of Congress will present a webinar on researching federal case law. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about historic American legal traditions, how to use print and online resources to find court decisions, and researching court materials, including dockets and filings, to name just a few subjects.

Also in October, Law Library staff will host a webinar discussing Congress.gov. The presentation will feature some of Congress.gov’s functions, as well as recent updates to the site. More information about the content of both webinars and registration links can be found below.

A black-and-white image of the Polk County Courthouse exterior, located in Iowa — Polk County Courthouse, Fifth & Court Streets, Courthouse Square, Des Moines, Polk County, IA. Documentation compiled after 1933. Historic American Buildings Survey, creator. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.ia0061/photos.068720p

Orientation to Legal Research: U.S. Case Law

Date: Thursday, October 14, 11:00 AM EDT – 12:00 PM EDT

Content: An introduction to legal sources and research techniques regarding U.S. case law research, including information about the U.S. federal court system, the publication of court opinions, methods for researching case law, and information about locating records and briefs.

Instructor: Margaret M. Wood – senior legal reference librarian. Margaret holds a BA in history from Oberlin College and a Master of Science in Library Science from Catholic University.

Congress.gov Webinar

Date: Thursday, October 28, 2:00 PM EDT – 3:00 PM EDT

Content: This webinar provides a basic overview of Congress.gov with a demonstration of how to conduct a search and information on setting up alerts for legislation, members, and saved searches. Recent enhancements to Congress.gov will also be covered, such as the addition of historical content from the Bound Congressional Record and other updates discussed at our recent Congress.gov Virtual Public Forum.

Instructors: Barbara Bavis and Robert Brammer. Barbara is the bibliographic and research instruction librarian at the Law Library. She holds a BA in history from Duke University, a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science with a specialization in law librarianship from Catholic University. Robert is the chief of the Law Library’s Office of External Relations. He holds a BA in political science from the University of Kentucky, a JD from Wayne State University, and a Master of Library Science from Florida State University.

To learn about other upcoming classes on domestic and foreign law topics, visit the Legal Research Institute.

Ring in 2021 with Law Library of Congress U.S. Law Webinars

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Barbara Bavis

The Law Library’s Public Services Division staff is welcoming the new year by providing two legal research webinars this month, and we invite you to celebrate with us! Please see further information about these webinars, below.

New Year's reception, 1921. National Photo Company collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. — New Year’s reception, 1921. National Photo Company collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/npcc.22539/

Orientation to Legal Research: U.S. Case Law

Date: Thursday, January 14, 2021, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST

Content: Provides participants with an introduction to legal sources and research techniques regarding U.S. case law research, including information about the U.S. federal court system, the publication of court opinions, methods for researching case law, and information about locating records and briefs.

Instructor: Barbara Bavis – bibliographic and research instruction librarian at the Law Library. Barbara holds a BA in history from Duke University, a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science with a specialization in law librarianship from the Catholic University of America.

Registration: Please register online by clicking here.

Orientation to Law Library Collections

Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST

Content: Provides participants with a basic overview of the Law Library’s collections and services, focusing particularly on our online resources.

Instructor: Margaret M. Wood – senior legal reference librarian. Margaret holds a BA in history from Oberlin College and a Master of Science in Library Science from the Catholic University of America.

Registration: Please register online by clicking here.

Further, we suggest visiting our Legal Research Institute page for information on classes throughout the year, including the Law Library’s Foreign and Comparative Law webinars, for which we will publish separate blog posts.

October 2020 Law Library Webinars

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Margaret Wood

Once again we are publishing a brief post with information about the webinars being presented by the Law Library’s Public Services Division staff in October 2020. We have three webinars this month, including an introduction to Congress.gov, the Library’s legislative website. We will continue to publish separate posts about upcoming Foreign and Comparative Law webinars and you can always visit our Legal Research Institute page for information on classes throughout the year.

Great Hall, second floor, north. Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C. Carol M. Highsmith. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/highsm.13970

Orientation to Legal Research: Tracing Federal Regulations

Date: Thursday, October 15, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EDT

Content: Provides participants with information about the notice-and-comment rulemaking process, including the publication and citation of federal regulations as well as exploring how to trace a federal regulation.

Instructor: Ann Hemmens – senior legal reference librarian. Ann holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, and earned both her JD and Master of Science in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Registration: Please register online by clicking here.

Orientation to Law Library Collections

Date: Tuesday, October 20, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EDT

Content: Introduces participants to information about the Law Library’s wide range of online resources, as well as our print collections.

Registration: Please register online by clicking here.

Congress.gov Webinar

Date: Thursday, October 29, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDT

Content: Provides a basic overview of Congress.gov with a demonstration on general searching and information on setting up alerts for legislation, members and saved searches. Recent enhancements to Congress.gov will also be covered such as the addition of hearing transcripts and the bound Congressional Record.

Instructors: Barbara Bavis and Robert Brammer. Barbara is the bibliographic and research instruction librarian at the Law Library. She holds a BA in history from Duke University, a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and an Master of Science in Library and Information Science with a specialization in law librarianship from Catholic University Robert is the chief of the Law Library’s Office of External Relations. He holds a BA in political science from the University of Kentucky, a JD from Wayne State University, and a Master of Library Science from Florida State University.

Registration: Please register online by clicking here.

Join Us for Our Next Orientation to Legal Research Series Webinar, Tracing Federal Regulations, on July 16, 2020, at 11:00 AM EDT

Posted on July 7, 2020July 2, 2020 by Barbara Bavis

Activities of the Internal Revenue Dept. to enforce prohibition Dr. A. B. Adams, head of the division of technology of the Internal Revenue. [between 1920 and 1930]. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division. — Activities of the Internal Revenue Dept. to enforce prohibition Dr. A. B. Adams, head of the division of technology of the Internal Revenue [between 1920 and 1930]. Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ds.00158

The Law Library of Congress’s next offering in its Orientation to Legal Research Webinar Series will focus on the laws created by the Executive Branch of the U.S. federal government—rules and regulations. In the “Tracing Federal Regulations” webinar, scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., attendees will learn about the notice-and-comment rulemaking process, particularly the publication and citation of federal regulations. The webinar will then explore how to trace a regulation, delineating how to take a section found in the Code of Federal Regulations back to its notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register, and then use that information to find the regulation’s department or agency docket.

This webinar will be presented by Barbara Bavis, the Law Library’s bibliographic and research instruction librarian. Barbara holds a BA in history from Duke University, a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and an Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS) with a specialization in law librarianship from Catholic University.

Join Us for an “Orientation to Legal Research” Webinar on Federal Regulations

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Barbara Bavis

The following is coauthored by Anna Price, a legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress.

Harris & Ewing, photographer. "Wage-Hour Administrator and assistants. Washington, D.C., Sept. 14..." 1938. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2016874005/ — Harris & Ewing, photographer. “Wage-Hour Administrator and assistants. Washington, D.C., Sept. 14…” 1938. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2016874005/

Recently, the Law Library of Congress started a new webinar series on U.S. laws and legal resources. We welcome you to attend the next entry in this series, regarding tracing federal regulations, which will take place on Thursday, April 9, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

This webinar will provide an overview of U.S. federal regulations, including information about the notice and comment rulemaking process, the publication and citation of regulations, and the tracing of regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations, to the proposed rule in the Federal Register, to the regulation’s docket.

This webinar will be presented by the Law Library’s bibliographic and research instruction librarian, Barbara Bavis. Barbara holds a BA in history from Duke University, a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and an Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS) with a specialization in law librarianship from Catholic University.

To register for the webinar, please click here or call (202) 707-5080.

New Series of Webinars: Join Us on Feb. 20th for an Orientation to Legal Research on U.S. Case Law

Posted on February 11, 2020February 11, 2020 by Barbara Bavis

The following is a guest post by Anna Price, a legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress.

Harris & Ewing, photographer. SUPREME COURT, U.S. COURTROOM. [between 1905 and 1945]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. https://www.loc.gov/item/2016857862/.

The Law Library of Congress is pleased to announce a new series of webinars on U.S. laws and legal resources. These classes are taught by reference librarians and designed to give a basic introduction to legal sources and research techniques. The upcoming webinars are an offshoot of our orientation to legal research classes, which were formerly available only to those who could visit our DC campus in person.

Our first webinar, on February 20, 2020, will provide an overview of U.S. case law research, including information about the U.S. federal court system, the publication of court opinions, methods for researching case law, and information about locating records and briefs.

This webinar will be presented by Barbara Bavis, the Law Library’s bibliographic and research instruction librarian. Barbara holds a BA in history from Duke University, a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law, and an MLIS with a specialization in law librarianship from Catholic University.

To register for the webinar, please click here or call (202) 707-5080.

Research Guides In Focus – How to Find Free Case Law Online

Posted on August 20, 2019August 20, 2019 by Barbara Bavis

The following is a guest post by Anna Price, a legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress.

We are back again to focus on the Law Library’s Research Guides. This time we are discussing another popular guide, How to Find Free Case Law Online.

How to Find Free Case Law Online - Introduction Page — Introduction page of *How To Find Free Case Law Online*, guides.loc.gov/free-case-law.

Until a few years ago, case law generally was not freely-available online. Researchers had to find an accessible law library and then either learn how to search a subscription database or study the library’s print collection of reporters and digests. Recently, however, various organizations have been working to make state and federal court opinions, as well as associated case materials, available electronically without charge. This guide offers clear direction on using those resources.

The guide walks users through some popular online databases, with a focus on Google Scholar, CourtListener, FindLaw, Justia, and the Public Library of Law. Each section instructs users on navigating the resource and lists its tools, coverage, and unique features that may be helpful for various researcher needs. For example, did you know that CourtListener maintains the RECAP Archive, which includes selected case and docket information from federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts? Or what about FindLaw’s collection of Supreme Court briefs?

As an added bonus, the Google Scholar section includes a video demonstration from Law Library of Congress employees Robert Brammer and Barbara Bavis, who show viewers how to find a case on the Google Scholar platform.

We hope you will find this guide helpful in your research. As always, if you have any questions, please contact us through Ask A Librarian.