Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Law Firms Cutting Back on Staff, Library Research and Business Development

A recent survey of law firm staffing by Hildebrandt Baker Robbins  concludes that law firms facing tough financial times are cutting back on their "backoffice" overhead costs. These costs include secretarial help, library research, and business development. I would not be a good librarian if I did not plug our Law Library, the Cleveland Law Library, as a substitute for your legal research needs. We can offer solos, small firms, and even large firms hit hard by the economy free in-house use of Lexis and Westlaw, as well as a lot of other databases. Memership is very affordable, and a single yearly fee provides a full 12 months of access. We are high-tech here and always welcome new members to our library. Join, and we can serve as your office away from your office.

U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers Release Top Law Firm Rankings

If you have not already looked at the results, U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers have teamed up to provide their brand new list of the top law firms in the country. The data is available for free on the web, where you can browse the national rankings by practice area, firm name, or location. A quick search for law firms in Cleveland revealed both small and large law firms with tiered rankings. Apparently, the new system of creating tiers for rankings has caused a bit of a stir. Click here to read a summary of how lawyers perceive the new rankings and what the ABA is doing to analyze the new methodology.

Federal Judge and Magistrate Reports Provide Data on Pending Cases

New online reports provide information on how long cases have been pending before various federal district court judges and magistrates. According to the U.S. Court's press release: "In the Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990, Congress required that such reports be prepared and submitted twice a year. The reporting requirements are designed to help reduce costs and delays in civil litigation in the district courts. The information also may be used to evaluate demands on the district courts’ resources."

Courts Are Seeing More Use of Social Media By Judges and Courts

A study I reviewed today from the Conference of Court Public Information Officers (CCPIO) indicates that judges and courts are seeing more use of social media by jurors and others appearing in their courtrooms. A link for the survey can be found on the home page of the CCPIO website or in the September 15th issue of FYI from ohiojudges.org. Some of the media judges and jurors are using include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, iphones, blogs, etc. Not only are a surprisingly high percentatge of judges using these utilities in their personal lives, but some courts are even creating forums using these tools to distribute court information. The survey underlying the report concludes that these numbers will increase and recommends that courts and judicial associations develop online resources, best practices and other tools to "maintain the delicate balance between free speech and open access to courts on one side and fair trial issues on the other."

First Reviews About Lexis Advance for Solos Are In

LexisNexis has launched its new product called Lexis Advance and is solely targeting solo and small firm practitioners with a plan that includes: U.S. and state primary law (cases, codes and constitutions); Shepard's; jury verdicts, briefs, pleadings and motions; Courtlink docket information; and expert witness information. The very first reviews  are in, and they are positive. This plan is not yet available for law firms or libraries. In addition to many other valuable databases for local practitioners, our Law Library subscribes to all of the foregoing databases from LexisNexis, except national dockets, which our members do not seem to need. Our expert witness information is the same that is being offered through Advance, and we aso offer law reviews, state and federal regulations, and many other databases listed within our Lexis patron and staff plans. Lexis is pricing its new plan at $175 per month, while we offer solos robust plans from Lexis, Westlaw and other valuable databases, plus reference assistance, circulation of books, and much more, for just over $200 a year.

Ohio Supreme Court Getting ready for Annual Update to Civil, Appellate, Criminal and Juvenile Rules

The Ohio Supreme Court is getting a head start on annual updates to the rules governing civil, appellate, criminal and juvenile practice in Ohio. Through November 2nd, the Court is accepting comments on proposed changes which would include rules on official transcripts for appeal, oral argument scheduling, magistrate qualifications, and rules for juvenile proceedings. Click here to read the Court's press release, which contains a link where you can read the text of the proposed rules.

Library of Congress taking Its Show on the Road to Ohio Beginning Tomorrow

Starting tomorrow, on October 5th, the Library of Congress will be bringing its traveling exhibit called "Gateway to Knowledge" to Ohio. The show will include copies of some of the Library's major exhibits and information about the millions of resources the Library offers. Traveling by means of an 18-wheel truck that expands to twice its size with a staircase, LOC will be visiting 4 sites in Ohio on the following days:

Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, October 5-6, 2010

Twinsburg Public Library, Twinsburg, Ohio, October 8-9, 2010

Oberlin College, Oberlin College, October 12-13, 2010

Hobart Arena, Troy, Ohio, October 15-16, 2010

Cuyahoga County DR Court's New Mediation Rules Just Became Effective

On Friday, the changes to Local Rule 32 on Mediation from Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court became effective. According to a brief note on the Court's website, Rule 32 changes affect mediation regarding the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities.  Click here for a link to the complete set of Local Rules.

Register for Our Library's Year-End CLE Programs on Foreclosures, Technology and Ethics

Our Law Library is once again sponsoring three (3) year-end CLE programs. This year, we start off the CLE season with a November 19th program on the foreclosure process from start to finish. Our second CLE on December 3rd will cover technologies for the Web 2.0 lawyer, including mobile apps., cloud computing and blogging. We will finish out our CLE year on December 8th with our annual program on Ethics, Professionalism and Substance Abuse. 

Here is our complete lineup, with links to the registration forms:

Foreclosures: Process, Prevention & Preservation, Friday, November 19, 2010

The Web 2.0 Lawyer: Mobile Apps., Cloud Computing & Blogging, Friday, December 3, 2010

Ethics, Professionalism & Substance Abuse, Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Our Fall 2010 Newsletter also contains hyperlinks to the registration forms for the programs.

Retired Judges Assuming Duties of Indicted Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judges

Until at least December 26th, retired Judges William J.Coyne and R. Patrick Kelly will fill in for indicted Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judges Bridget McCafferty and Steven Terry, respectively. McCafferty and Terry were indicted on federal charges in September but are continuing to hold their titles and incomes while the retired judges handle their cases. Although Coyne has already started, Kelly will begin hearing cases today at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center.