Law Library Hours: Final Exams

Hi, everyone! The Zief Law Library team wishes you luck on all of your final assignments and exams for the semester. To help support your studying, the law library will have regular hours and research help during the final exam period:

Monday – Thursday: 8:00am – 11:00 pm;

Friday: 8:00am – 8:00pm;

Saturday: 9:00am – 8:00pm;

Sunday: 10:00am – 11:00pm.

Zief Research Services:

Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm

Good Luck!

National Library Week 2023

“Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities.”

David Lankes

Happy National Library Week! This year’s American Library Association theme is “There’s More to the Story” celebrating libraries’ expansive materials, services, and resources beyond print books. This week, learn how to use your library card to its fullest potential and celebrate with Zief Law Library!

National Library Week 2023 Logo

Events at Zief

All Week Activities

  1. Pick up a Zief-themed word search by the Brain Break table on the first floor!
  2. Vote on your favorite library, law school, or poetry themed haiku written by USF law students by April 27th, 3:00 p.m.! The winner receives a Green Apple Books gift card!
  3. Share your favorite books from childhood with the Communal Children’s Book Library! Located on the first floor near the Circulation Desk.
  4. Guess how many books are in Zief Law Library and win a prize!
  5. Pick up freebies from Lexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg, and more!

San Francisco

San Francisco Public Library

Continue reading “National Library Week 2023”

Tax Day

In observance of Tax Day, on April 18 this year, Zief Library takes a brief look at the legal history of our federal income tax system and highlights Zief tax research resources and opportunities for further study.

Federal Income Taxes: A Brief History:

Did you know the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) came into existence on July 9, 1953?  Its main function is to determine, assess, and collect internal revenue in the United States.

A few other facts about the IRS and the modern federal income tax system:

  • The first U.S. Congress created the Department of the Treasury in 1789. It has the authority to administer and enforce the internal revenue laws of the U.S.
  • Modern individual income taxes are largely a result of the Revenue Act of 1913, which President Woodrow Wilson signed into law. The act restored federal income taxes and lowered tariff (taxes on imported goods) rates, which President Wilson considered to be unfair taxes.
  • Earlier Revenue Acts had given Congress the power to tax personal income, including the first, The Revenue Act of 1861, which was signed by President Lincoln (to pay for the Civil War). It lacked an enforcement mechanism and was later repealed. A flat rate Federal income tax was enacted in 1894, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional because it was a direct tax not apportioned according to the population of each state.
  • The 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution resolved this issue when it was ratified in 1913. It granted Congress “the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes,…, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration”.
  • The IRS came into existence in 1953 after President Harry S. Truman called for a reorganization of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, created after the Civil War.
  • Congress gave the Treasury Department the authority to administer and enforce the internal revenue laws of the U.S. in 1954, and that authority is governed by Internal Revenue Code Section 7801. The IRS is organized to carry out the responsibilities of the U.S. Treasury Secretary.
  • The first Form 1040 was introduced in 1913, and the standard deductions on Form 1040 were created in 1944.
  • Filing & Payment Dates: Although April 15 is the official annual individual federal income tax filing deadline, the date varies due to weekends and holidays. This year the deadline is Tuesday, April 18 for most Americans. Federal income taxes were originally due on March 1 after the passage of the 16th Amendment in 1913, but the deadline was changed five years later to March 15. The tax system was overhauled in 1954 with the passage of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and the date was again moved to April 15.

Research Resources:

Many of the legal research databases and other resources you are already using provide access to tax-related research materials. A few, however, are worth mentioning for their special focus on tax materials:

Checkpoint Edge: Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Edge provides access to information on U.S. federal and state tax laws, regulations, and cases. USF Law students and faculty can access it from on campus.

Lexis Tax: Lexis Tax, which is part of your Lexis+ subscription, allows you to run single searches across multiple tax resources in one of three subjects: Federal, State & Local, or U.S. International Tax law. These include primary sources and specialized secondary materials, including tax analysis, tax commentary, tax news and other information required to practice tax law. By putting all tax materials in one place, Lexis helps you simplify your search process.

Zief Federal Tax Research Guide: For help finding federal tax related materials, check out the library’s handy research guide on federal tax research.

Interested in Pursuing a Career in Tax Law?

Did you know USF offers graduate programs in tax law for students who have already earned a law degree? Many students who want to focus their careers in tax law enroll in one of these programs after earning their JD’s. Check out the USF’s LLM and Graduate Tax Programs for more information.

Student Discounts

This week, ZiefBrief takes a look at how to take advantage of your student status and save on professional tools, supplies, and clothing.

Student Discount Services

As you are gearing up for your summer internships and post-bar employment, take advantage of your student status to build your professional wardrobe and toolkit. Before purchasing professional attire, check if Student Beans or UniDays offers a student discount. Brands like Coach, Footlocker, Marc Jacobs, and Charles Tywhitt are available on Student Beans and UniDays. Be sure to check for discounts on stationary or tools, like Muji Stationary, The Happy Planner, or Logitech. This post will focus on professional attire and tools, but continue to explore these sites for other products and services that may help in your overall success, such as health, travel, and more.

Tips on Student Beans and UniDays

  1. Student Beans
    1. Choose a category on the menu, such as “Fashion” or “Home and Tech.”
    2. Choose which discounts you want to search for on the side bar, such as “Student” or “Freebie” to filter out general sales from student discounts.
    3. If you are about to graduate, check out Grad Beans for discounts!
  2. UniDays
    1. Use the top menu bar for drop-down menus on each category.
    2. You’ll find a sample of their offerings and can continue searching by clicking “View All” usually located on the right side of the page.

Additional Discounts

Professional Apparel

If you have not found  what you need through Student Beans and UniDays, these shops offer discounts directly through their websites and stores.

  1. J. Crew offers 15% off with a valid college ID.
  2. Madewell offers 15% off online and in-store purchases.

Office Supplies

Stay on top of your goals with proper organization and tools.

  1. Papier:  10% off for planners, notebooks, and other stationary.
  2. Moleskine: Up to 15% off sitewide

Recreation and Mental Health Services

Adjust to your internship, job, or bar study with mindfulness. Remember you are a person first and give yourself time to breathe.

  1. Headspace uses science-backed mindfulness and meditation tools and has been proven to lower stress levels by 14% in 10 days. As a student, you can access Headspace for $9.99/year (85% off!).
  2. If you have an interview and do not want to rely on the SF Muni or rideshare services, ZipCar’s student plan can save you up to $55/year.
  3. Find new ways to explore the city with the San Francisco Public Library’s Discover and Go! Register for free passes to museums, movies, the zoo, and more!

Tech

As a law student, you’re likely to make a tech purchase. Remember to check student discount service websites first and check the following companies for their direct discounts.

  • Adobe: Over 60% off Creative Cloud All Apps plan for students and teachers.
  • HP: Up to 40% off everyday savings.
  • Samsung: Up to 30% off select items with the Education Offers Program.
  • Razer: 20% off Razer gear, PC parts and accessories, 10% off gaming chairs and 5% off laptops.
  • Microsoft: Up to 10% off select tech for students and parents.
  • Apple: College students can get a discount on select tech starting at $50 off, 20% off AppleCare+, credit with Apple Trade In and more.

 

Scrabble letter pieces spelling out "Slay Queen"

New Resource: Dual Monitor Workstations

The Zief Law Library Is Excited To Announce A New Resource: Dual Monitor Workstations

Dual monitors stock image

The Zief Law Library is happy to announce two new dual monitor workstations located in corrals on the first floor of Zief. Having two computer screens allows users to view multiple documents in full screen simultaneously instead of having a split screen on one monitor – perfect for reading eBooks while taking notes! Additional HDMI port adapters will soon be made available at the library Circulation Desk. Please feel free to visit the Zief Law Library Circulation Desk for more information. Happy Studying!