Cleveland Law Library Weblog

Happy Law Day: May 1, 2022

Happy Law Day 2022 a little early! According to the American Bar Association, "The 2022 Law Day theme is “Toward a More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change.” Commemorated annually on May 1, Law Day is an opportunity to host or participate in discussions about law and its role in society."  In honor of this annual celebration, the Cleveland Law Library created a new Virtual Display with information about Law Day. Click here to view all of the Law Library's virtual displays.

The ABA Issues Opinion on Generative AI

The American Bar Association standing committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility issued formal opinion 512 which identified potential risks for lawyers who are using generative AI technology. The opinion offers general guidance while focusing on professional conduct such as competence, confidentiality, communication, supervisory responsibilities, and fees. The risks associated with the use of GAI can vary, and the opinion mentions specific issues of meritorious claims and candor toward a tribunal. The ABA addresses concerns of GAI tools having "hallucinations", providing responses that have no basis in fact, false citations to nonexistent cases, inaccurate analysis of legal authorities, and many other inconsistencies. Though the Ohio Bar Association has not issued a formal opinion regarding generative AI, the current Ohio rules are similar to the guidelines presented by the American Bar Association. To conclude, formal opinion 512 affirms that lawyers have duties of both legal and technological competence, and lawyers utilizing AI must have a reasonable understanding of GAI tools. 

Happy Law Day Today, May 1, 2024

Happy Law Day!

Law Day is a yearly event sponsored by the American Bar Association, and this year’s theme is
“Voices of Democracy.” This theme “encourages Americans to participate in the 2024 elections
by deepening their understanding of the electoral process; discussing issues in honest and civil
ways; turning out to vote; and, finally, helping to move the country forward after free and fair
elections.” ABA

To celebrate Law Day this year, the Cleveland Law Library has partnered with the Cleveland Public Library to provide a free, educational program about voting rights today at Noon. If you have not already registered to attend in person or online, you can do so here.

International Women's Day 2023

To celebrate International Women's Day, we released a new episode of our podcast, Law Library Insights. Episode 2 focuses on equity in the legal field and parental leave policies. Check it out!

Cleveland Law Library Recognizes Sherlock Holmes Day This Sunday, May 22, 2022

Our Law Librarians are a lot like detectives. We search and navigate through all types of legal resources to find the answers to legal research questions. Although Sherlock Holmes is a legendary fictional character that was created by Scottish writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, there are definite analogies between what law librarians do and what Sherlock Holmes accomplished in solving crimes. We help our patrons find the answers to legal research puzzles, and Sherlock Holmes helped local law enforcement officials find criminal perpetrators. As a result, the Law Library is happy to recognize Sherlock Holmes Day this coming Sunday, May 22, 2022. Although there are many great books and movies, including the movies with Robert Downey, Jr., make sure to try the fourteen film series which originally aired from 1939 through 1946 starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as his trusty sidekick Dr. John Watson.

Cleveland Law Library Reopens Today, June 8, 2020

Dear Members:
Welcome back today. The Cleveland Law Library will be open for business at the Cuyahoga County Courthouse starting today, June 8, 2020. Our temporary hours will be 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Although we will not be open on the 4th floor of the Courthouse on Fridays for a while, our reference librarians will be available to assist you with your reference and research needs by phone at 216-861-5070 and email at [email protected].
Kathy Dugan, Director

Cleveland Law Library Closed June 1st

Dear Members:
Please accept my apologies, but we will not be able to reopen tomorrow on June 1st. Due to events which occurred downtown over the weekend, we have decided to remain closed on Monday for the safety of our staff and patrons. We will take this new challenge one day at a time, re-evaluate on a daily basis, and decide to reopen when it is safe for everyone involved. Please check our blog at clevelandlawlibrary.org for updates, and stay tuned for another email indicating when we will reopen. In the interim, please continue to utilize our virtual reference and research services and databases as you have done since mid-March.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
Kathy Dugan, Director

 

Welcome Back to the Cleveland Law Library Starting June 1st

WELCOME BACK!

I have some very good news to share. The Cleveland Law Library will be finally reopening on the 4th floor of the Cuyahoga County Courthouse on June 1st. Beginning on that day, members will be able to utilize their full library privileges on-site again, including accessing all of our databases and books, requesting assistance from librarians in person, and checking out books.

You may, however, notice a few changes when you return. Everyone who enters the Cuyahoga County Courthouse will be screened, and face coverings are going to be required at all times. Screenings include having your temperature taken, answering a series of questions, and receiving a wristband. In addition, for those who do not have a face covering, a mask will be provided. The County is also posting safety and directional signage throughout the building and stationing concierges in the Rotunda to direct people to their destinations and check people in for court appointments. In addition, only two people will be allowed to use an elevator at one time.

In addition, we have implemented a number of specific safety measures on the 4th floor. In the spirit of 6' social distancing, we have installed plexiglass partitions at our front desk, segregated our patron computers, removed some of the chairs in our Main Room, reduced the occupancy of our conference rooms, and created directional traffic patterns throughout the Law Library. Our staff will also be wearing masks at all times, and they will observe the 6' rule when providing you with assistance. We will be utilizing disposable keyboard and mouse sleeves at all of our patron computers, sanitizing all workstations and conference rooms between uses, and regularly disinfecting all common surfaces every day. There are also multiple hand sanitizing stations located in the Law Library lobby and bathrooms for your use. We have also implemented safety protocols for our books that involve quarantining them for at least 72 hours before they can be returned to the shelves or circulated to a new patron. For at least the first few months of our reopening, we will also be offering curbside pick-up and drop off of books for those who do not otherwise need to enter the Courthouse. Just call ahead to arrange a mutually convenient time with our staff.

In addition, to help all of us transition to this new business normal and ensure time for cleaning, we will be temporarily reducing our hours. For at least the first month through the end of June, we will only be open to patrons on the 4th floor of the Courthouse from Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. However, our staff will still be available by phone and email on Fridays when our offices are closed to patrons. Only time will tell, but I am hopeful that we can resume full operating hours this Summer.

On behalf of our Board members and staff, I would like to thank you very much for your patience and understanding while our law library was closed in the Courthouse, and we were staying home to stay safe. We welcome you back in person and look forward to providing you with reference and research assistance once again.

Kathy Dugan, Director

Cleveland Law Library Celebrates Virtual Law Day

Today, is the American Bar Association’s Annual Law Day, and this year’s theme is “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment at 100.” It is a day to celebrate the right of all people to vote, but especially women, who were unable to vote until the 19^th Amendment was passed 100 years ago. This year’s theme was put to a considerable test in Ohio in early Spring when the Coronavirus pandemic jeopardized the rights of people who had planned to vote in person in the primary election on March 17^th before or after celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. It also tested the separation of powers doctrine when a Franklin County, Ohio Judge denied an order to delay the election, the Ohio Department of Health closed the polls due to public safety concerns, and the Ohio Supreme Court denied a candidate’s challenge to keep the polls open. Thankfully, Ohio decisions to keep poll workers and voters safe also preserved voting rights and Democracy through extended absentee voting.

Ohio Board of Professional Conduct Issues 2 Advisory Opinions

On June 8, 2018, the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct issued 2 Advisory Opinions. Opinion 2018-02 discusses the extent to which out-of-state lawyers can represent Ohio lending institutions in a temporary basis.  The Syllabus of Opinion 2018-03, which addresses settlement agreements, states that:

"A settlement agreement that prohibits a lawyer’s disclosure of information contained in a court record is an impermissible restriction on the lawyer’s right to practice. A lawyer may not participate in either the offer or acceptance of a settlement agreement that includes a prohibition on a lawyer’s disclosure of information contained in a court record. A lawyer is not required to abide by a client’s decision to settle a matter
if the settlement is conditioned on a restriction to practice and must withdraw from the representation."

U.S. News Creates New Lawyer Directory

There is a new online lawyer directory that may soon give Martindale-Hubbell on martindale.com some competition. U.S. News has just released a preliminary version of a directory of lawyers in private practice in the United States. The ABA reports that:

"The directory initially includes tens of thousands of lawyers, but eventually will cover more than 1.3 million private-practice lawyers in the United States, according to a press release. The initial selection is based on law firm directories and bar association lists. Law firms also can supply information.

Currently client reviews are not included, but the feature will be added this summer for lawyers who pay for a premium profile, according to Best Lawyers public relations manager Katie Morgan. Lawyers who pay $30 a month for the upgrade “will have the ability to review client comments and decide which ones, if any, to publish on their profile,” she tells the ABA Journal in an email.

Lawyers do not need to be ranked by U.S. News or Best Lawyers to appear in the directory. Searches can be done by name, legal issue and location. Consumers limit the legal specialty search based on distance from their homes. Lawyers are allowed to link to their directory profile from other websites and social media platforms, including LinkedIn.

There is no charge for a basic listing. Lawyers who pay $30 a month for premium features can display rankings and awards, according to a frequent questions page. Those who pay the premium price will have a profile “with an ad-free experience,” according to a web page describing premium features."