After Hours Library Access

Wisconsin Attorneys: Would you like the convenience of using the State Law Library later in the evening or on weekends? If so, subscribe now to our After Hours Service. Are you already a subscriber? Now is the time to renew for 2011!

A calendar-year subscription includes access to the library from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and a key fob for convenient entry into the building.

As an After Hours subscriber:

• Gain access to the general library collection
• Use the electronic resources available on our public access PCs
• Make photocopies
• Check out circulating library materials

See our After Hours page for more details, or download a first-time subscription or renewal form now.

Libraries Closed: November 25 and 26

The Wisconsin State Law Library, Milwaukee Legal Resource Center, and Dane County Legal Resource Center will be closed on November 25th and 26th. Thursday, November 25th is a state holiday and Friday, November 26th is a state furlough day.

To submit a question to the Wisconsin State Law Library while we are closed, you may call us at 608-267-9696 or Ask a Librarian online. We will respond to questions and requests the following week.

WSLL Recommends: WI Attorneys Desk Reference

The Wisconsin Attorney's Desk Reference, published by the State Bar's division of Continuing Legal Education, provides the main substantive and procedural elements of 11 diverse subjects. General practitioners can use this as a quick reference on a particular point of law. It also provides a useful overview for attorneys expanding into a new practice area or for attorneys out of practice looking for a refresher.


The Desk Reference compiles the expertise of many authors into its 2 volumes. A list of additional resources can be found in the introduction of every chapter and legal authority citations are included throughout. There is no index for this resource; the best way to navigate the Desk Reference is to have a general familiarity with the topics covered and then skim the detailed tables of contents to find particular subjects.



Wisconsin Attorney's Desk Reference



The 11 main topics are

• Administrative Law,
• Appellate Procedure,
• Business Law,
• Civil Litigation,
• Creditor/Debtor,
• Criminal Law,
• Estate Planning and Probate, Family Law,
• Intellectual Property,
• Real Estate and Property,
• Miscellaneous (Mental Health Act, Animal Law, How to Cite)

Circulating copies of the current edition are available at the Wisconsin State Law Library, the Milwaukee Legal Resource Center, and the Dane County Legal Resource Center.

Upcoming Class: Ethics Research via Westlaw

Sign up now for our free December CLE class, Ethics Research via Westlaw. 

Details: 
Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. 

Review Westlaw sources and learn online searching techniques for researching ethics and professional responsibility questions. Westlaw offers many legal ethics databases, including ABA opinions, case law, and Restatements. This hands-on class will provide you with an opportunity to try searching techniques while learning about specialized databases on Westlaw.

Registration is limited to 8 people, so register now - sign up online or print and send in a registration form.

Please tell us what additional classes we should offer! Contact Heidi Yelk, Reference/Electronic Services Librarian.

Library Catalog Down for Scheduled Maintenance

On Tuesday, November 9th, from 5-6 p.m., the library catalog may be unavailable due to scheduled server maintenance. 

If you need assistance, contact the Wisconsin State Law Library at 608-267-9696 or Ask a Librarian online.

New Location: Milwaukee Legal Resource Center

The Milwaukee Legal Resource Center (MLRC) is in a new location within the Courthouse: Room G10-1, on the ground floor near the cafeteria and across the hall from the Civil Division of the Clerk of Courts office.

MLRC's hours, phone and fax numbers remain the same.

WSLL at Your Service: November 2010

The November issue of the library newsletter, WSLL @ Your Service, has been published. 

Highlights include: 

• What's New: MLRC relocates; Holiday closings; Library staff attend LLAW institute; 
• This Just In...: New and updated library materials; Monthly new titles list; 
• Tech Tip in Brief: Web tools worth checking out - Leechblock, Converting PDF to Word; 
• WSLL Recommends: Wisconsin Crimes: Elements, Definitions and Penalties; 
• Odds 'n' Endings: Elections Division website; Keeping up with state agency news