NAACP Top 100 Films of the Century (1909-2009)

If you had a little too much fun last weekend at Barrister's Ball and are looking for a relaxing activity this weekend, check out the NAACP's List of the Top Films of the Century. As Black History Month comes to a close, this is the perfect time choose one of these movies that "are by, for or about people of color; films that explore issues and stories relevant to people of color, and that depict the human experience in all its dramatic complexity, dignity, and humor." Once you are done watching the film, go back online and rate it -- the top 100 will be published later.

From Barclay Blog

Listen to Your Casebook!

Eyes tired from reading? Sign up for Audio Case Files and have your casebook read to you! Mortiz is a member, so the service is free!

From CM Law Library Blog

Hotel Sues Law Firm Over Canceled Retreat

Here's a real-life practice question for 1Ls preparing for their contracts final:

As reported by The Am Law Daily, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld booked several rooms at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego for a partner retreat. However, after making the reservation, they realized that, with the economy as it is, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to spend all that money on a fancy get-away, so the firm cancelled the reservation. The hotel sued for breach of contract, claiming $385,950 in liquidated damages for all those rooms that had been set aside for the partners retreat.

Any thoughts on how this might play out?

From Legal Blog Watch

10 reasons to buy a Kindle 2… and 10 reasons not to

To Kindle or not to Kindle? That seems to be the big question for many tech-savvy readers since the launch of the new and improved Kindle 2. If you need help deciding whether you should invest in one of these gadgets, check out these lists of reasons to buy, or not buy, a Kindle.

From Barco 2.0: Law Library Reference

Do Federal Judges Discriminate Against Discrimination Claims?

A recent article from The Wall Street Journal examines how plaintiffs in job-discrimination cases fared in Federal Courts. The article states that these plaintiffs lose more often and have their cases thrown out more often than do plaintiffs of other types of cases.

From WSJ.com: Law Blog

View Neighborhood Maps and Receive Alerts on Crime

The time is quickly approaching when many students will be moving out of old apartments and into new ones. But before you move, you may want to check CrimeReports.com, which tracks crime locations. A quick glance over Columbus might be a good idea!

From WisBlawg

Thousands of New CRS Reports Now Available Online

Government secrets exposed! Well, sort of. The Washington Post recently wrote an article about previously unreleased Congressional Reports that have been leaked onto Wikileaks.org by a confidential source. Some in the government may be concerend about the leak, but Wikileaks assured the Post that it's not going to stop publishing these documents any time soon.

From Due Process: The Georgetown Law Library Blog

And the Most Cited Case Is (Drum Roll Please)...

Brown v. Board of Education with a whopping 16,868 citations! Think you can guess any of the other top 50 from HeinOnline's list?

From CM Law Library Blog

The Am Law 100 -- A Work in Progress

Looking for that high paying, big firm job after graduation? You may want to start your search with The Am Law 100, a list of the highest-grossing firms in the United States from 2008. This is still a work in progress, so keep an eye out for the final list in the May issue of The American Lawyer.

From beSpacific

The Future of Online Networking for Lawyers

Before you accept that Facebook friend request from a partner at your new firm, you may want to check out this edition of the Boston Bar Journal(pdf), published by the Boston Bar Association. This issue looks into how online social networking can work for (or against) lawyers.

From Robert Ambrogi's LawSites

Guantánamo Docket

The New York Times has created a new interactive feature to aid in research on the detainees being held at Guantánamo. The site contains information about each detainee as well as government documents and court records and other reports.

From BarclayBlog.

The Second Amendment and Nunchacku

Ninjas and martial arts enthusiasts take note: the fight against nunchaku intolerance continues. In late January, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held that the US Supreme Court decision District of Columbia v. Heller does not protect the right to possess nunchaku, however an appeal to the US Supreme Court is expected.

From BLS Library Blog.

Who Asks These Questions?

Well, it turns out that there is such a thing as a stupid question. Check out this ongoing list of ridiculous inquiries heard by reference librarians around the country.

From ZiefBrief.

Law Journal Rankings Database Updated

How do the journals at Moritz stack up against other journals around the country? Figure it out at the new and improved Law Journal Ranking website from the Washington and Lee University School of Law.

From Barco 2.0

Why Grammar Matters in Legal Opinions

Here's an interesting article about grammar in modern legal opinions by Professor Robert Farrell of Quinnipiac University Law School.

From Law Librarian Blog.

Gmail Enhancements

Here's a list of 10 Gmail Labs Features that users of Gmail should consider using. Interesting stuff.

From Barco 2.0.

WhoRunsGov Blog

The Washington Post has launched the WhoRunsGov.com blog. The blog states:

With a new presidential administration in town for the first time in eight years, there will be hundreds of new faces appearing on the subway, in congressional hearings, on K Street and of course in the White House. And many of us will be asking: Who Are They?

WhoRunsGov.com hopes to provide you with a quick and easy answer to that question. Simply put: it will be an ever-growing database of government power-brokers containing key information on new administration officials, lawmakers, senior Hill aides and ultimately interest group and think tank experts. We aim to be a single-stop shop for all those interested in the people and personalities who run the government.

From BarclayBlog.