Latest & Greatest – ABA Trial Preparation Resources

By Bruce W. Felmly

Published by American Bar Association Section of Litigation and First Chair Press (2015)

KF 8915 .F47 2015

In support of its mission of making practical resources available to members of the legal profession, the American Bar Association has published two resources that assist lawyers with trial preparation: Preparing for Trial: 60 Days and Counting and One Hundred Days Before Trial: A Family Lawyer's Guide to Preparation and Strategy.

In his book, Preparing for Trial: 60 Days and Counting, Bruce W. Felmly walks the reader through a trial scenario from the moment the notice setting trial is received to the morning of the trial. Breaking down the 60 days into smaller increments, Felmly explains the tasks that need to or should be performed, such as scheduling, planning trial presentation techniques, conducting mock trials, preparing the pretrial filings, drafting a version of the opening statement, attending the pretrial conference, and preparing the client and witnesses. Following Felmly’s systematic approach will make the task ahead not seem so daunting.

By Steven N. Peskind

Published by the American Bar Association Section of Family Law (2015)

KF 505.5 .P47 2015

For the family lawyer, help comes in the form of Steven Peskind's One Hundred Days Before Trial: A Family Lawyer's Guide to Preparation and Strategy. Peskind guides the reader through the steps and preparations that must be or should be completed during the 100 days leading up to the trial of a family law case. Organized by segments based upon some suggested time periods, the author proposes certain tasks that lawyers should perform. For instance, witnesses, both lay and expert, should ideally be considered 60 days before trial, and 30 days prior to trial would probably be a good time to prepare opening and closing statements and draft any final pretrial motions. At the end of each chapter, there is a checklist to keep track of what has been done and what has yet to be done. This book is a great resource not only for the family lawyer but also for any lawyer who needs a bit of help with staying on track and keeping organized.

Look for both of these titles at the Harris County Law Library!

Reinheitsgebot - 500 Years of the Law of Beer

Happy International Beer Day! In honor of the day, our blog post features a ancient law from medieval Germany that has influenced how this popular adult beverage has been crafted over the last half millennium!

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Bavarian Dukes Wilhelm and Ludwig, who issued the original German Beer Purity Law in 1516.

Reinheitsgebot - Ancient German beer law that still holds sway

Celebrating its 500th anniversary this year is the Bavarian beer purity law known as Reinheitsgebot. The law was issued by the Dukes Wilhelm and Ludwig of Bavaria in 1516 to ensure that beer was brewed with only three ingredients - barley, hops, and water. Whether it was done to promote public health (yes, beer was a health food in the 1500s) or to drive down the price of wheat to make bread more cheaply, the lasting effects of the law are undeniable. Today, the American brewery Sam Adams proudly reports on its website that it's Boston Lager was the "first American beer sold in Germany" after passing Reinheitsgebot regulations in 1985!

For more on Reinheitsgebot, visit In Custodia Legis, a blog from the Law Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Magazine, from the Smithsonian Institution.

Space Law Month @ HCLL

August is Space Law Month at the Harris County Law Library. Visit the library all month long to view our Space Law exhibit, which is currently on display in the library lobby. The exhibit features a variety of primary source materials, including NASA's founding legislation, a Texas regulation on voting from outer space, the Outer Space Treaty which was signed by more than 100 countries, and Title 14: Aeronautics and Space of the Code of Federal Regulations. Also featured is a stunning full-color poster, pictured here, which you can download from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Website. For more information about the exhibit, please visit the Law Library's Events page.

Latest & Greatest – The 2016 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide

By Sharon D. Nelson, John W. Simek, and Michael C. Maschke

Published by American Bar Association Law Practice Division (2016)

KF 320 .A9 N457 2016

To kick off ABA Resources Month, we are featuring one of the ABA’s annually-updated books, The 2016 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide. Simply because you are a small firm or solo attorney, you are not insulated from the technological advances that are happening around you. In fact, the ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct mandate that a lawyer should be competent with relevant technology. Keeping up with technology seems like a cost-prohibitive and daunting task, but the folks at the Law Practice Division of the ABA have made it easier for you with their 2016 Guide. The Guide offers information and recommendations to allow attorneys to find the technological equipment that will give them the most bang for their buck. From hardware to software to smartphones and anything else in between, the Guide takes the guesswork out of purchasing the computer equipment that is most appropriate for your office and business. Not sure which type of case management software is right for you? Turn to Chapter Fourteen to find descriptions of the offerings available. Chapter Fifteen will help you decide which time and billing software is right for you. Confused by cloud computing? Check out Chapter Nineteen for an explanation and some considerations. Want to know more? Come to the Harris County Law Library and look for The 2016 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide in our ABA Resources display or ask for it at the reference desk.