Wisconsin State Law Library

The December issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Please send any comments or suggestions to Carol Hassler.

In this issue:

Indigenous Peoples Law Research

To celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November, we set up a display in the David T. Prosser Jr. Library featuring some of the books from our indigenous law collection. Stop by the library to browse the display through the end of December. Read more

Use the Library After Hours

Would you like the convenience of using the Wisconsin 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 2022! Read more

New Books

Our two featured books this month are Legal research: how to find and understand the law and The law of easements and licenses in land. Our full new book list is also linked from this article, with new books on court procedure, civil rights, and trusts. Read more

Tech Tip

Are you hoping for a new phone or computer this holiday season? If so, you may be wondering how to prepare your old device for selling, re-gifting, or recycling. We link to some recent articles to give you some guidance. Read more

Library News

We share recent staff news with you in this month’s article. Be sure to add the upcoming state holidays to your calendar as well. Read more

December Snapshot

While we eagerly await the arrival of the winter solstice and gradually lengthening days, it's nice to bask in the illuminated snowflakes lining downtown Madison. Read more

The August issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Please send comments to the editor, Carol Hassler. 

In this issue: 

While our in-person classes are on hiatus, we'll continue to provide you with opportunities to learn online. watch our classes page for new opportunities. 

On March 1st, attend 60 Tips, Sites, and Apps in 60 Minutes, a rapid fire presentation of search tips, websites, and apps of interest to the legal researcher. Presented by Beverly Butula from Davis & Kuelthau, this session focuses on introducing attendees to resources that will assist both their online efficiency and day-to-day production.

Tuesday's Advanced Westlaw class has been canceled due to poor travel conditions.

This class will be offered again on Tuesday, May 15 from noon - 1 p.m. Learn more and register on our Classes page.

On Thursday, February 1 the Milwaukee County Law Library will offer a free CLE class on Filing an Electronic Real Estate Transfer on the Department of Revenue's Website.

Time: Thursday, February 1, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee Public Library - Central branch, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave

In addition to a transfer document, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue now requires electronic submission of the real estate transfer return pursuant to Section 77.22(2) of the Wisconsin Statutes. Whether you are a private citizen or an attorney, this course will show you how to successfully maneuver through the Department of Revenue's website for a real estate transfer involving owner-occupied property.

Registration is suggested through the Milwaukee Public Library and space is limited. Call 414-286-3011 to register. These are demonstration classes.

There is still space available in Introduction to Westlaw, a free CLE class offered on Tuesday, January 16 from noon to 1 p.m. You can register online to save your spot. 

Learn how to best utilize Westlaw in this course by: Finding Specific Cases, Statutes and Regulations by citation; Learning how to quickly find and search specific resource; Learning about plain language searching on Westlaw; Utilizing result list filtering to narrow your search results; Exploring document features, including new "Copy with Reference"; Learning about new Westlaw history; Reviewing the basics of the Westlaw Citator - KeyCite
FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is limited to 8. 

Register for this class today and check out our schedule of classes for 2018 on our website.

A representative from the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection will present information on identity theft and data breach awareness in this early December seminar. All are welcome to attend this free class! Registration is encouraged, but not required. You can register online or print and drop off a registration form.

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Identity Theft & Data Breach Awareness
Tuesday, December 5, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: David T. Prosser Jr. Library rare book room

There were 1,093 reported data breaches last year - approximately 36 million records exposed. The more you understand about the common causes of data breaches and the associated identity theft risks, the less vulnerable you are. A representative from the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection will present information on identity theft and data breach awareness. This one-hour program includes a look at recent data breaches and their common causes. The program will also explain the different types of identity theft, how to recognize it and how to prevent it - including information about Fraud Alerts and Security Freezes. 

A representative from the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection will present information on identity theft and data breach awareness in our newly added December seminar. All are welcome to attend this free class! Registration is encouraged. You can register online or print and drop off a registration form.

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Identity Theft & Data Breach Awareness
Tuesday, December 5, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: David T. Prosser Jr. Library rare book room

There were 1,093 reported data breaches last year - approximately 36 million records exposed. The more you understand about the common causes of data breaches and the associated identity theft risks, the less vulnerable you are. A representative from the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection will present information on identity theft and data breach awareness. This one-hour program includes a look at recent data breaches and their common causes. The program will also explain the different types of identity theft, how to recognize it and how to prevent it - including information about Fraud Alerts and Security Freezes. 

And just a reminder - we have one more great class scheduled this fall for Milwaukee. Don't miss Books UnBound and Fastcase on Thursday, November 2, Noon - 1 p.m. All Milwaukee classes are free and held at the Milwaukee Public Library's Central Library location.

Watch our classes page for updates and new classes!

You know it's officially fall when the first leaf is spotted in the library!

We like to shelve books. It helps us understand how our collection is used.

Fall Classes

We have a full schedule of classes lined up for the fall in Milwaukee and Madison. Learn more and sign up on our Classes page.

In Milwaukee: 

Advanced Legal Research with Westlaw
Thursday, October 5, Noon - 1 p.m.

Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility Research in Westlaw
Thursday, October 5, 1 - 2 p.m.

Books UnBound and Fastcase
Thursday, November 2, Noon - 1 p.m.

In Madison:

Advanced Westlaw
Tuesday, October 17, Noon - 1 p.m.

Wisconsin Briefs Online
Wednesday, November 8, Noon - 1 p.m.

What's New on Westlaw
Tuesday, November 21, Noon - 1 p.m.

The September issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. As always, your comments are welcome. Please direct them to the editor, Kristina Martinez.

In this issue:

Log In to LLMC Digital

For the first time, you can now log in to LLMC Digital from outside the library with a Wisconsin State Law Library card. LLMC Digital is a searchable archive of historical primary legal sources for Wisconsin, the United States, and other jurisdictions. Read more

New Books

Drones across America : unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) regulation and state laws and Commercial drone law : digest of U.S. and global UAS rules, policies, and procedures are our two featured titles this month. As always, don't miss our new book list. Read more

Tech Tip

This month’s tech tip suggests a way to rid yourself of carrying loyalty and customer cards without losing all the benefits. Read more

Library News

The schedule for CLE classes is available online on our classes page. There is a variety of classes offered, ranging from Wisconsin Briefs Online and Books Unbound to using Westlaw. Read more

September Snapshot

Eclipse through a colander, August 2017. Read more

Get our fall CLE classes on your schedule! Our Milwaukee CLE program is scheduled through November with new classes on using Google tools and search tips to enhance productivity. Two advanced Westlaw classes await learners in October, and our November class focuses on Fastcase and Books Unbound, which is available to users on library computers.

Registration is suggested through the Milwaukee Public Library and space is limited. Call 414-286-3011 to register for these demonstration classes.

Get the full schedule on our website: http://wilawlibrary.gov/learn/classes.html

There's still time to sign up for our two free, CLE-credit classes on How to Research Legislative History. Learn how to research law sources, drafting files, budget bills, and Supreme Court rule orders in these free classes. The first class is offered on Wednesday, June 14th.

Introduction to Wisconsin Legislative History
Wednesday, June 14, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin State Law Library rare book room

I need the legislative history of a Wisconsin statute. Where do I start? What do I do? Get answers to these questions and more by attending, Researching Wisconsin Legislative History: Sources and Strategies. Participants will look at the primary resources used to research Wisconsin legislative history, navigate the online Wisconsin legislative drafting files, and learn some helpful tips and tricks along the way.
FREE. 1 CLE credit. Register Online | Print Registration Form

Advanced Wisconsin Legislative History
Wednesday, July 12, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin State Law Library rare book room

I need the legislative history of a Wisconsin statute. Where do I start? What do I do? Participants will look at the primary resources used to research Wisconsin legislative history, learn about the online Wisconsin legislative drafting files, and learn some helpful tips and tricks along the way. This advanced class covers additional search strategies, budget bills, advanced use of drafting records, and Supreme Court rule order research.

FREE. 1 CLE credit. Register Online | Print Registration Form


If you can't make our Madison sessions, don't miss our Milwaukee class:

Researching Wisconsin Legislative History: Sources and Strategies
Thursday, July 6, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee Public Library, Central Library

FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is suggested through the Milwaukee Public Library and space is limited. Call 414-286-3011 to register. These are demonstration classes.

Don't forget to register for these three CLE classes in May!

Topics in International Law
Thursday, May 4, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee, Milwaukee Public Library, Central Library

FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is suggested through the Milwaukee Public Library and space is limited. Call 414-286-3011 to register. These are demonstration classes.

Advanced Westlaw
Tuesday, May 16, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin State Law Library training room

Learn how to best utilize Westlaw in this course by: Learning about advanced search and field searching on content category search pages; Harnessing the power of advanced annotation features such as highlighting and foldering; Incorporating Key Numbers and Key Number Searching into your research; Exploring headnotes and other editorial enhancements, such as notes of decisions and statutes index; Covering advanced options for Alerts and Automated searches; Utilizing advanced customization features for "Copy with Reference", Highlighted terms, Result list display, and Document Delivery; Learn how to access Westlaw from other devices.
FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is limited to 8. Register Online | Print Registration Form

HeinOnline - What's New and What's Improved
Wednesday, May 24, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Madison, Wisconsin State Law Library training room

HeinOnline offers an extensive legal research collection, including law reviews, legal periodicals, federal regulations, congressional record, classic treaties and more. In this session, participants will learn about the new features offered from HeinOnline.
FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is limited to 8. Register Online | Print Registration Form

Space is still available for our March Westlaw class, "What's New on Westlaw," taking place next Tuesday, March 21 from noon to 1 p.m.

This 1 hour CLE credit class updates and refreshes attorneys on Westlaw, and shows new tools, features, and content available. The new tools and content enhancements also assist the attorneys in providing more cost effective researching to their clients.

What's New On Westlaw
Tuesday, March 21, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin State Law Library training room

The objective of this course is to update and refresh attorneys on Westlaw, and show new tools, features, and content available. The new tools and content enhancements will also assist the attorneys in providing more cost effective researching to their clients.
FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is limited to 8. Register Online | Print Registration Form

Several free CLE classes are now open for registration through April, with new Westlaw classes just added for our Madison location. Here is what is going on in February:

Introduction to Research on Westlaw
Thursday, February 2, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee Public Library, Central Library

FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is suggested through the Milwaukee Public Library and space is limited. Call 414-286-3011 to register. These are demonstration classes.

Westlaw: Subject Area Research
Thursday, February 2, 1 - 2 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee Public Library, Central Library

FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is suggested through the Milwaukee Public Library and space is limited. Call 414-286-3011 to register. These are demonstration classes.

Advanced Wisconsin Legislative History
Wednesday, February 15, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin State Law Library training room

I need the legislative history of a Wisconsin statute. Where do I start? What do I do? Participants will look at the primary resources used to research Wisconsin legislative history, learn about the online Wisconsin legislative drafting files, and learn some helpful tips and tricks along the way. This advanced class covers additional search strategies, budget bills, advanced use of drafting records, and Supreme Court rule order research.
FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is limited to 8. Register Online | Print Registration Form

Advanced Westlaw
Tuesday, February 21, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin State Law Library training room

Learn how to best utilize Westlaw in this course by: Learning about advanced search and field searching on content category search pages; Harnessing the power of advanced annotation features such as highlighting and foldering; Incorporating Key Numbers and Key Number Searching into your research; Exploring headnotes and other editorial enhancements, such as notes of decisions and statutes index; Covering advanced options for Alerts and Automated searches; Utilizing advanced customization features for "Copy with Reference", Highlighted terms, Result list display, and Document Delivery; Learn how to access Westlaw from other devices. 1 hour
FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is limited to 8. Register Online | Print Registration Form

Get a jump on next year's resolutions and sign up for our winter CLE classes now. We'll continue to add new classes in the next couple of months, so check our Classes page for new additions. 

Fall classes have arrived! Sign up for free CLE classes through the library. Classes are offered in Madison and Milwaukee over the lunch hour.



Wisconsin State Law Library Website
Thursday, September 8, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee Public Library, Meeting Room 1

FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is suggested through the Milwaukee Public Library and space is limited. Call 414-286-3011 to register. These are demonstration classes.

Intermediate Westlaw
Tuesday, September 20, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin State Law Library training room

Learn how to best utilize Westlaw in this course by Discovering the power behind WestSearch plain language searching; Utilizing "Find a case by party name" feature; Learning about result list sorting and advanced filtering techniques, such as "search within results"; Exploring headnotes and other editorial enhancements, such as notes of decisions and statutes index; Covering advanced options for filtering Citing References; Learning about content category pages in the "Browse" menu.
FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is limited to 8. Register Online | Print Registration Form

Power Search
Thursday, October 6, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin State Law Library training room

Save time and money by searching in the right place first. This class will survey search techniques and results for free websites (like Google) and specialty sites (like Westlaw and HeinOnline). Learn search shortcuts for your favorite websites and understand the kind of information you can get from each source.
FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is limited to 8. Register Online | Print Registration Form

Westlaw Classes
Thursday, October 13
Advanced Legal Research with Westlaw, Noon - 1 p.m.
Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility Research with Westlaw, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee Public Library, Meeting Room 1

FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is suggested through the Milwaukee Public Library and space is limited. Call 414-286-3011 to register. These are demonstration classes.

What's New on Westlaw
Tuesday, October 18, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin State Law Library training room

The objective of this course is to update and refresh Westlaw users on Westlaw, and show new tools, features, and content available. The new tools and content enhancements will also assist attorneys in providing more cost effective researching to their clients.
FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is limited to 8. Register Online | Print Registration Form

Wisconsin Briefs Online
Wednesday, November 2, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin State Law Library training room
Using the Internet to Research Companies
Wednesday, November 10, Noon - 1 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee Public Library, Meeting Room 1

FREE. 1 CLE credit. Registration is suggested through the Milwaukee Public Library and space is limited. Call 414-286-3011 to register. These are demonstration classes.