WSLL at Your Service: August 2011

The August issue of the library newsletter, WSLL @ Your Service, has been published. Highlights include: 

• What's New: WSLL @ Your Service Receives AALL Marketing Award; State Bar Honors State Law Librarian; MLRC Staff News; Upcoming Classes;
• This Just In…: New and updated library materials;
• 1836 – 2011: Celebrating Our History: Gilson Glasier: Fifty Years of Faithful Public Service; 
• Tech Tip in Brief: IE 8 Accelerators; On the Web; 
• WSLL Recommends: Federal Practice & Procedure
• Odds 'n' Endings: Alice in Wonderland references in judicial opinions; August notables

New Classes for Fall

Start planning for your fall CLE training now and sign up for any of the 3 free CLE classes on offer from the Wisconsin State Law Library. 

• Westlaw @ WSLL
  August 10, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
• Google Scholar
  Sept. 21, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
• HeinOnline: The Information Source You Need, Where You Need It
  October 12, 9:00-10:00 a.m. 

More details are on our Classes page. Space is limited so register online or print and return a registration form to claim your seat early.

WSLL Recommends: Federal Practice and Procedure

Are you looking for expert commentary on federal court rules? Or are you hoping to find legislative history or a committee report on a rule change? Turn to a classic: Wright & Miller's Federal Practice and Procedure.

This set spans over 70 volumes, covering criminal and civil rules; rules of evidence; judicial review of administrative actions; and jurisdictional matters. The set also includes the Federal Practice Deskbook, a one-volume reference on venue, pleadings, process, discovery, trials, judgment and appeals, etc. in federal court.

The library provides both print and electronic access to this essential staple of legal research. Printed volumes circulate to all authorized borrowers but patrons can also access Federal Practice and Procedure through our Westlaw subscription. Westlaw is available free to any on-site user on six computers throughout the Wisconsin State Law Library in Madison, as well as the Milwaukee and Dane County Legal Resource Centers.

Notary Public Commissions, Trademarks Transferred to WDFI

As discussed in a July 15, 2011 WI State Bar Practice Tip:

"Under the recently passed 2011-13 biennial state budget act, responsibility for issuing notary public commissions and registering trademarks and trade names has transferred from the Secretary of State to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (WDFI)."

Source: State Bar of Wisconsin practice tip: WDFI will now issue notary public commissions, register trademarks

Links to forms, directories, and other information have been updated on our Notaries / Electronic Signatures / Authentication and Trademarks legal topic pages.

Monthly New Book Lists

Did you know that we compile a list each month of new additions to the library? We link to each new book list at the end of the "This Just In" column in our newsletter, WSLL @ Your Service. You can also get regular updates via an RSS feed reader, or catch up on any of the previous year's new book lists through our online catalog.

July's new book list includes:

• Advanced discovery and evidence 
• Business uses of the Freedom of Information Act
• Judges helping judges 
• Medical records law  
• Patent it yourself: your step-by-step guide to filing at the U.S. Patent Office 
• Representing the bankrupt taxpayer
• Wisconsin attorney's desk reference 
• Wisconsin special education law
  

WSLL at Your Service: July 2011

The July issue of the library's newsletter, WSLL @ Your Service, has been published. 

Highlights include: 

• What's New: Small claims changes, Upcoming legal research classes;
• This Just In...: New and updated library materials; new titles list;
• 1836 - 2011, Celebrating Our History: "Keep the home fires burning";
• Tech Tip in Brief: Securing your smart phone;
• WSLL Recommends: Methods of Practice;
• Odds 'n' Endings: Goldstein on...Fiction?; Costumes of Lady Justice;

New Small Claims Limits

Effective July 1, 2011, 2011 Wisconsin Act 32 (ss. 3484k-3484q) raises the limit for money judgments, replevins, attachments and garnishment actions to $10,000. It also creates a new category of small claims case - Tort/Personal Injury ($5,000 or less). Third-party complaints, personal injury claims, and tort claims may be brought up in small claims if the amount claimed is $5,000 or less.

Our Small Claims legal topic page includes links to several guides and forms from around Wisconsin, some of which may not yet be updated to reflect this new information. We have included the above information at the top of our Small Claims page for reference.