Academic Success Collection at Zief

Posted on by Tim Sanzi

Academic Success Collection at the Zief Law Library

At the Dorraine Zief Law Library, we’re committed to providing our law students with the resources they need to excel in their academic careers. Our Academic Success Collection is specially curated to support your studies and help you navigate the challenges of law school.

Key Features of Our Collection

Comprehensive Study Aids: Our collection includes over 180 eBook study aids from the Aspen Learning Library, featuring popular series like Examples & Explanations, Glannon Guides, and Emanuel Outlines. These resources offer highlighting, note-taking, and printing options to enhance your study experience.

LexisNexis Digital Library: Our students have access to more than 100 eBook study aids and casebooks covering over 50 law school subjects, including all first-year and California Bar exam topics. This collection also features audiobooks for those who prefer auditory learning.

Subjects Covered

Our Academic Success Collection spans a wide range of legal topics, ensuring comprehensive coverage of your 1L and upper division curriculum. Some key areas include:

  • Constitutional Law
  • Contracts
  • Torts
  • Criminal Law and Procedure
  • Civil Procedure
  • Property Law
  • Legal Writing and Research

How to Access the Collection

As a USF law student, you can easily access these resources either in print or through our A-Z Database List located on the Zief Law Library homepage. Simply log in with your USF credentials to start exploring the wealth of materials available to support your studies. If you are having trouble accessing any database, please contact a research librarian.

Beyond the Collection

Remember, the Academic Success Collection is just one part of our commitment to your success. Our research librarians are always available to provide expert research assistance and training to help you make the most of these resources. We encourage all USF Law students to take advantage of this valuable collection. Whether you’re preparing for exams, working on a paper, or simply looking to deepen your understanding of a legal concept, the titles in our academic success collection are here to support your academic journey. Visit the Zief Law Library today and discover how our Academic Success Collection can enhance your law school experience!

Group Study Rooms and Interview Rooms Available

Posted on by Tim Sanzi

Are you looking for a new place to study? Try one of our nine Group Study Rooms or our Virtual Office Hour/Interview space on your next visit to the library. Our study rooms offer a variety of features to help you and your colleagues work or study collaboratively.

The “Five-A’s” of Zief’s Group Study Rooms:

Access: Our group study rooms are available to all current USF law students, faculty, and staff. Each offers a variety of essential resources. Group Study Rooms can accommodate 2 to 8 people for up to two hours at a time and are equipped with large tables, whiteboards, power outlets, and big-screen TVs suitable for screen sharing. Our Virtual Office Hour/ Interview space offers students a private, professional environment for virtual meetings.

Continue reading “Group Study Rooms and Interview Rooms Available” →

Law Library Hours: Fall Semester and Labor Day Holiday

Posted on by Tim Sanzi

Hi All!

The law library will have the following hours for Fall 2024 and adjusted hours for the upcoming Labor Day Holiday:

Fall 2024 Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 8:00am – 11:00pm

Friday: 8:00am – 8:00pm

Saturday: 9:00am – 8:00pm

Sunday: 10:00am – 11:00pm

Adjusted Labor Day Hours:

Saturday-Sunday, August 31 and September 1: 10:00am-6:00pm

Monday, September 2: Closed

For a full calendar view of our current and upcoming hours, visit our Law Library Hours of Operations website. We look forward to seeing you this Fall!

Welcome, Students – Write A Letter to Your Future Graduating Self!

Posted on by Mike Muehe

The Zief Law Library team welcomes our new 1Ls, LLMs, and returning upper-level law students to a brand new school year! We hope you’ve had a restful summer and are ready to start the semester off strong. Stop by and let us know what you were up to!

As always, the law library has a wealth of resources you can use, including:

  • Legal research help and instruction from your amazing librarians, in-person, online, or by phone;
  • Access to Lexis+, WestLaw Precision, Bloomberg Law and HeinOnline;
  • Study aids (in print books, eBooks, and audiobooks) to help supplement your courses and bar studying;
  • Digital resources you can access anywhere, anytime;
  • Course textbooks;
  • Ignacio, the library catalog of Zief and Gleeson Libraries;
  • Study Room Reservations and three floors of study space;
  • Printers, copiers, and scanners (and the free LexisNexis printer);
  • Charging station for phones, tablets, and computers;
  • Puzzles, coloring supplies, and study-break materials;
  • And much more

Additionally, stop by the library to write your future self a letter, that you’ll get back at graduation!

What is the 1L Letter to Future Self Project?

As you navigate your first year in law school, take a moment to capture on your personal, professional, and academic aspirations by writing a letter to your future self. The library staff invites you to document your current ambitions, challenges, and dreams for your legal education and goals. In a few years, as you celebrate graduating from the University of San Francisco School of Law, read the letter you wrote to your future self and reflect on why you embarked on this challenging yet rewarding path. How to Participate?

Visit the letter-writing station across from the Circulation desk on the first floor of the library for materials. At the station, you’ll find pens, University of San Francisco School of Law letterhead, and envelopes. Once you finish your letter, seal the envelope and write your name and projected graduation year. At the end of your final year of law school, you can pick up your letter at the Circulation desk. For example, if you are beginning your 1L year today and predict your graduation date to be 2027, please stop by the Circulation desk in May of 2027.

If you prefer to email your letter, please email Access Services Lead, Steffi Ando, at sando@usfca.edu. She will print and seal your letter. Submit your letter by Friday, October 4, 2024 at 5 p.m. PDT.

New Books At The Zief Law Library: July 2024

Posted on by Randall Seder
A collage of ten book covers from the list of new books at the Zief Law Library added during July 2024.
A collage of book covers from the new books list at the Zief Law Library.

The Zief Law Library added new books to its collection in July 2024. Topics from July include: abortion laws; administrative laws; animal rights; anti-racism; antitrust; artificial intelligence; business and corporations law; civil procedure; constitutional law; courts and judiciary; criminal law; cultural heritage; data protection and privacy; education; election law; employment; energy law; evidence; family law; gender and sexuality law; human rights; intellectual property; internet law; immigration and emigration; law enforcement; legal ethics; legal history and philosophy; legal research and writing; property; sports law; tax law; torts; video game law; and women’s rights.

Click the titles below or explore our monthly New Books at Zief Law Library webpage for the complete list of recent arrivals. On this site, you will find new additions to the Zief Library print and digital collections. Navigate the site by using the tabs to the left. New books are organized by date of arrival. 

New Books At The Zief Law Library: June 2024

Posted on by Randall Seder
The image shows a collage of ten book covers from the June 2024 New Books list at Zief Law Library.
Collage of book covers from the June 2024 New Books list at Zief Law Library.

The Zief Law Library added new books to its collection in June 2024. Topics from June include business law; career planning; constitutional law; courts and judiciary; criminal law; cultural heritage; discrimination and exclusion; drug laws and policies; employment; family law; healthcare and abortion laws; housing; humanitarian law; indigenous rights; intellectual property and art; laws of war and the military; legal research; libraries and archives; maritime law; tax law; and technology.

Click the titles below or explore our monthly New Materials at Zief Law Library webpage for the complete list of recent arrivals. On this site, you will find new additions to the Zief Library print and digital collections. Navigate the site by using the tabs to the left. New books are organized by date of arrival.

New Books At The Zief Law Library: May 2024

Posted on by Randall Seder
The image shows a collage of eight book covers from the May 2024 New Materials list at Zief Law Library.
Collage of book covers from the May 2024 New Materials list at the Zief Law Library.

The Zief Law Library added over 200 new titles to its collection in May 2024! Topics from May include administrative law; alternative dispute resolution; animal law; antitrust law; art law; Asian law; bankruptcy; business law; charities and nonprofits; civil law; commercial law; comparative law; constitutional law; contracts; corporation law; counterterrorism; criminal law; cybersecurity law; emigration and immigration law; employment; environmental law; European law; family law; globalization; health law; human rights; insurance law; intellectual property; international law; internet law; laws of war and the military; legal education; legal ethics; legal philosophy; oil and gas law; political science; property; public law; real estate law; sexuality and the law; sports law; tax law; torts; trade law; and trial advocacy.

Click the titles below or explore our monthly New Books at The Zief Law Library webpage for the complete list of recent arrivals. On this site, you will find new additions to the Zief Library print and digital collections. Navigate the site by using the tabs to the left. New items are organized by date of arrival.

New Books At The Zief Law Library: April 2024

Posted on by Randall Seder
The image shows a collage of 10 book covers from the April 2024 New Materials list at the Zief Law Library. 
Collage of book covers from the April 2024 New Materials list at the Zief Law Library

The Zief Law Library added new materials to its collection in April 2024. Topics from April include: animal rights; artificial intelligence; aviation law; blockchain; civil law; civil procedure; constitutional law; corporations; criminal law; criminal procedure; disability law; emigration and immigration law; environmental law; finance and tax law; health law; human rights; insurance law; intellectual property; art law; cultural heritage; international law; legal education; legal ethics and professional responsibility; oil and gas law; real estate law; and technology.     

Click the titles below or explore our monthly New Materials at Zief Law Library webpage for the complete list of recent arrivals. On this site, you will find new additions to the Zief Library print and digital collections. Navigate the site by using the tabs to the left. Items are organized by date.

Habeas Corpus Cried the Porpoise

Posted on by Troy Cook

One fine day in May at the Zief Law Library, a quite singular event took place. One might even call it unthinkable. To get right to it: a porpoise (and curiously enough, a harbor porpoise) slithered its way into the library; it quickly and brashly slid under the gate. But that’s not the most extraordinary thing about the whole affair; it shouted, “Habeas Corpus!” Of all the creatures to shout “Habeas Corpus”, it had to be a porpoise with a purpose. What are the odds?

At the circulation desk stood Randall drinking coffee from an L.L Bean coffee mug, Troy who was actually sitting not standing, Maddy wearing a cast on her arm, Steffi frowning a little bit, and Yuni waving her arms. In their offices, busily toiling away with their research was John, Tim, and Mike. Suzanne and Shannon were in their offices in the back. The porpoise interrupted the circ. staff debating the merits of a good toast rack; the sides were split on the benefits of this breakfast table necessity when the porpoise barged in.

“Habeas Corpus!” cried the porpoise.
Continue reading “Habeas Corpus Cried the Porpoise” →

The Zief Law Library Celebrates Law Day: Legal History, Events, and Resources

Posted on by Randall Seder

Are there issues with this text? Email the author: Randall Seder, rseder@usfca.edu.

The image depicts Lady Justice raising scales. The image is titled "Lady Justice background," and it is credited to the Tingey Injury Law Firm, West Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
Lady Justice background. Tingey Injury Law Firm, West Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV, USA. Unsplash.com.

LEGAL HISTORY

The Zief Law Library joins the University of San Francisco School of Law community in celebrating “Law Day.” This national holiday recognizes the significant role that the law, legal processes, and legal education play in the United States. These topics contribute to the country’s ongoing efforts to provide justice and extend civil liberties to all Americans. Law Day is celebrated annually on May 1st, but many events and programs are held the week(s) before or after. Continue reading “The Zief Law Library Celebrates Law Day: Legal History, Events, and Resources” →

Helpful New Library Materials and Resources

Posted on by Troy Cook

This spring the library purchased some useful and much needed items to make the Zief Law Library an even more pleasant and useful studying space.

One of the more appealing items are “Happy Lights,” tabletop lamps with alternative lighting to help with mood, focus, and energy. These are located at the Zief Circulation Desk and can be checked out for in-library use; there are nine of them for your convenience.

An image of the "Happy Light" lamp.
A “Happy Light” lamp, available at the Zief Circulation Desk.

Practicing for oral arguments or a presentation? Zief now has four new tabletop lecterns, allowing you to keep your documents at the ready. These are available for checkout at the Zief Circulation Desk.

Photograph of a rectangular, mahogany lecturn.
New lecterns, available at the Zief Circulation Desk.

Another purchase to help with study-comport is thirty-five replacement task chairs to replace the worn-out/failing chairs. This will make study-time more comfortable and practical.

Three standing desks were purchased per student request. One is located on each floor to accommodate your needs. Also purchased were four podiums for presentations and oral arguments: these are located at the circulation desk for check-out.

We added fifty power-strips to study carrels, giving you easy access to outlets for all of your electronics.

We also added privacy screens for the main floor open computers and the four dual-monitor carrels; these are intended to help those working on sensitive or confidential matters and to keep information private. (Please note, we did not install them on the classroom computers).

We hope these new additions will make Zief a better study space. Good luck on finals everyone!!

New Books at The Zief Law Library: March 2024

Posted on by Randall Seder
The image shows a collage of five book covers from the March 2024 New Materials list at Zief Law Library.
Collage of book covers from the March 2024 New Materials list at Zief Law Library.

The Zief Law Library added new titles to its collection in March 2024. Topics from March include: artificial intelligence; legal education; student wellness; intellectual property; reparations; and global politics. Click the titles below or explore our monthly New Materials at Zief Law Library webpage for the complete list of recent arrivals. 

New Books at The Zief Law Library: February 2024

Posted on by Randall Seder
The image shows a collage of two book covers from the February 2024 New Materials list at Zief Law Library.
The two new titles added to Zief Law Library’s collection in February 2024.

The Zief Law Library added new materials to its collection in February 2024. Topics from February include intellectual property and internet law. Click the titles below or explore our monthly New Materials at Zief Law Library webpage for the complete list of recent arrivals.