INTERNET LEGAL
RESEARCH WEEKLY
July 16, 2006
Tom
Mighell
Welcome to Issue #237 of the Internet Legal Research Weekly, a newsletter that delivers relevant and timely legal research information, and other fun stuff, to your inbox every Sunday. If you like what you read, please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested, and encourage him or her to do the same! To subscribe, all you have to do is visit Inter Alia and fill out the subscription form -- it's free!
I'm taking what I think is a well-deserved vacation next week -- so look for the next issue on July 30!
News Update -- from the Inter Alia Weblog
It has been a slow news week here -- so I'll move right along to the:
Blawgs of the Week
Continuing from last week's review of some of the best weblogs from June (and the first part of July):
- You probably know Carolyn Elefant from her amazing My Shingle blog, but you probably don't know that she's also blogging about her practice, at the LOCE Wind and Wave Energy Weblog. It's the web's first ocean and offshore wind energy weblog, and "like the ocean itself," it's continuously renewed.
- Graham Alig, a registered patent agent living in Princeton, New Jersey, is providing commentary, opinion and advice on U.S. and PCT patent prosecution practice at Stand Pat.
- First, Gregory Bowman, an Assistant Professor at Mississippi College School of Law, is writing about law schools, careers in law, and alternative career options for lawyers at the Law Career Blog.
- The HIPAA Blog features a "discussion of medical privacy issues buried in political arcana." It's authored (since 2002, I might add) by Jeff Drummond, a Dallas lawyer with Jackson & Walker.
- Here's an IP blog with an international bent: IP Factor is the blog of Dr. Michael Factor, an Israel patent attorney.
- The National Security Crimes Blog comes from uber-blogging criminal defense firm McNabb Associates. As you might imagine, here you'll find news about criminal law and national security.
- Susan McDonald is a Tennessee attorney who provides legal research and writing services to lawyers around the country. Her appropriately-titled Legal Research and Writing features practical insight and commentary on the topic.
- Current Copyright Readings is published by M. Claire Stewart, the head of Digital Media Services at Northwestern University Library. The blog is essentially a bibliography of current articles on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the TEACH act and other copyright issues.
- The Marcus Letter, by professional services expert Bruce Marcus, has long been a must-see website on marketing and business development issues. Now he's got a blog -- The Marcus Perspective presents a contrarian's view of professional services, marketing and management.
- Finally, it's great to see a paralegal weblog; there aren't many out there. The ParalegalGateway's Weblog is written by Jeannie Johnston, a paralegal placement specialist in Atlanta.
Help Desk
Save 10 Minutes Today with this tip -- Here's a quick tip on handling your e-mail, from Michael Linenberger over at Fast Company:
He says that when you're moving through your Inbox, the thing that bogs you down the most is figuring out how to deal with the e-mails that call for action. His solution? A simple one -- just edit the Subject line of the e-mail and move it to your Tasks folder.
Editing a subject line is easy, at least in Outlook. Just open the e-mail, highlight the subject, re-name it as necessary, and close out of the e-mail, making sure you save it when it prompts you. It's as easy as that.
Do you have a question about searching the Internet or your computer in general? Drop me an e-mail at tom(at)inter-alia(dot)net – I’ll post your question (don’t worry, I won’t use your real name) and try to get an answer for you!
Legally Relevant – Sites on the Internet
Intellectual Property Rights Search
I certainly wouldn't expect to find this search tool on the Customs and Border Protection site, but this is a bit different. This database contains public versions of U.S Customs and Border Protection intellectual property rights recordations. You can filter searches based on keywords, even the law firm that did the work. You can also limit your search to trademarks, copyrights, tradenames, or exclusion orders. I don't understand all this IP stuff, but it looks like a great database.Journal of Experimental Medicine
This journal publishes important new advances in research areas that include but are not limited to immunology, infectious disease, inflammation, hematopoiesis, cancer, stem cells, and vascular biology. Like the majority of online medical journals, you'll have to pay for access; $8 for a single article, and $25 for 2-week access to all content. Even better, there's an RSS feed, which will alert you to new articles as they become available.Texas Lemon Law
Okay, here's a site for my Texas readers -- it's a part of the Texas Department of Transportation web site, and it provides information on how to take action if you have problems with your motor vehicle. Learn about the complaint process, view the actual statutes that apply to warranties, view or listen to public service announcements on the subject, and learn how to file a complaint against a dealer.MedPage Today
This site bills itself as "the only medical news service for physicians that links consumer medical news and the professional medical analysis needed by clinicians." Though it's designed for medical professionals, there's no reason we can't also take advantage. You'll find the news by specialty, on subjects from allergy and immunology to surgery. Each topic area contains a number of "Teaching Briefs," designed in part by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. The Teaching Briefs provide news items in that area, along with "Action Points," which are great pieces of advice physicians can give to their patients. This is a great way to provide continuing education to medical professionals.National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The NACDL advances the mission of criminal defense lawyers, and has more than 12,500 direct members. Much of the content is provided for free, including news, issue articles on various criminal defense topics, and information on indigent defense, federal and state legislation, white collar crime, and more. If you're a member, you have access to the brief and motion bank, as well as a mailing list that discusses criminal defense matters.
Finally, a game to while away a Sunday afternoon:
StandRay is a bizarre little game -- you have to find the right combination that will make the little boys all stand up at the same time.
Well, that’s it for Issue #237 – I hope you liked it! If you did, pass this along to anyone you think might be interested, and encourage him or her to subscribe. Also, feel free to drop me an e-mail any time if you have questions, or if you have websites or other topics you want included in a future issue.
Tom Mighell
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Questions? New websites? Just want to talk? Send me an e-mail at tom(at)inter-alia(dot)net.