Be an Einstein. Use the Library.

Happy Birthday to Albert Einstein, who was born on this day in 1879. Celebrated as a brilliant theoretical physicist and one of the greatest minds of the 20th century, Einstein's very name is synonymous with genius, but in some ways, he was just a regular guy. He enjoyed smoking his pipe, took great pleasure in riding his bicycle, and encouraged playfulness as the key to discovery and creative thought. He also placed great value in visiting the library.

Einstein claimed to possess no special talents but described himself as "passionately curious." What better way to satisfy one's curiosity than to visit the library? He once said, "The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library," a sentiment that we at Harris County Law Library share. Knowing where to access accurate, authoritative, and trustworthy sources of legal information is critical for both legal professionals and the public. Those who represent the best interests of their clients need not only information but a supportive environment in which to work, and those representing themselves need unrestricted access to unbiased sources of information to help them address their legal needs.

In the digital age, libraries have changed tremendously, evolving from the traditional institutions that Einstein would have known to vibrant, dynamic hives of activity where people from all walks of life come in search of not only information but for guidance, services, education, training, support, and community. We at Harris County Law Library take the needs of our visitors very seriously, and we continue to expand our range of offerings on an ongoing basis.

For guidance, we partner with the Houston Volunteer Lawyers to offer our pro se patrons access to attorneys at no expense (Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm). Our reference staff provide services and support 11 hours a day, 5 days a week by assisting self-represented litigants in finding forms for a variety of legal needs. Our Legal Tech Institute, an ongoing series of free learning opportunities for attorneys and the public, provides legal tech education and skills training in both face-to-face and virtual settings. 

We aim to cultivate a sense of community for our regular visitors, both attorneys and the public, and to create an environment conducive to productivity, exploration, problem-solving, and achieving justice. Knowing where to find this kind of environment and the resources it offers is a must. We like to think that Einstein would agree. 

Women of Legal Tech

March is Women's History Month, and the Harris County Law Library is celebrating. All month long, we are paying tribute to a woman of distinction, Camille Elizabeth Stanford Openshaw. View our digital exhibit to learn about the achievements of this remarkable woman. Reflect on Ms. Openshaw's contributions to the field of law and the role she played in paving the way for smart, ambitious women to excel as attorneys nearly 100 years later. Take a moment to consider the tremendous evolution in legal practice over the last century and the role of technology in shaping the profession as we know it today.

Women have continued to make great strides not only in the practice of law but also in developing their knowledge and skills in the area of legal tech. Bob Ambrogi declared 2017 the Year of Women in Legal Tech, and the role of women in the legal tech sector is only continuing to grow.

In an effort to "celebrate the women currently in the legal tech space, and to encourage more women to join the ranks," the ABA's Legal Technology Resource Center has recognized "Women of Legal Tech" annually since 2015. The nomination period for this year's honorees just closed on March 1st. The 2018 list of innovative, entrepreneurial, tech-savvy women will be announced later this month. Follow the LTRC on Twitter and Facebook, and the Law Technology Today blog to see the list of 2018 honorees as soon as they are announced.

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day, a celebration of the social, cultural, political, and economic contributions of women throughout the world. It is also a call to action for people everywhere to engage in events that promote gender parity and equal rights in all aspects of life, both professional and domestic. On International Women's Day, we recognize those women of the past whose achievements have been overlooked as well as the accomplishments of those who are making positive changes in women's lives today. It is a day for recognizing women in leadership positions who #PressForProgress, paving the way for other women who seek opportunities to lead. 

Finally, International Women's Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women in the legal profession, just as the Harvard Women's Law Association has done for the last several years by recognizing women in the fields of law and policy. The 5th Annual Harvard Law School International Women’s Day Portrait Exhibit features 25 inspiring women from widely diverse backgrounds who are champions for vulnerable populations and advocates in the areas of immigrant rights, legal aid, indigenous peoples' rights, social justice, civil and human rights, LGBT rights, and animal rights. This distinguished assembly of accomplished women is an impressive and awe-inspiring group of honorees. As people around the world continue to #PressForProgress, the examples of these 25 remarkable women inspire and challenge us all to work for change that benefits women (and all people) around the world.

In addition to celebrating International Women' Day, the Law Library is celebrating Women's History Month. Visit the Law Library to view our exhibit which pays tribute to the life and accomplishments of a remarkable woman, Camille Elizabeth Stanford Openshaw. At a time when women’s educational and career options were very limited, Ms. Openshaw excelled not only as an attorney but as a leader in the local legal community. An accompanying digital exhibit can be viewed on the Law Library's website.

Also, a previous Ex Libris Juris blog post focused on the great number and variety of institutes, organizations, and professional alliances that now exist to support and promote women in the law. These organizations, including those listed below, call attention to the legal aspects of issues long-championed by women rights advocates such as education, employment, economic security, child care, and reproductive rights. 

• Center for Women in Law
• Ms. JD
• National Association of Women Lawyers
• National Women’s Law Center

Court News: March Madness Research Guide, Promoting Successful Brackets for All

March Madness has struck, and the Harris County Law Library has a cure. If you are a Houston Bar Association member who is participating in the Bracket Challenge, or just a college basketball fan in need of some guidance in completing your bracket, the Harris County Law Library can help! We have assembled a March Madness Research Guide with information and links to insider data from sports experts at ESPN, SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, FoxSports, the Bleacher Report, and more. Get the inside scoop from experienced basketball pros, such as statisticians, researchers, and correspondents, as well as former players who know the game from the inside out. On the line-up are:

Chris Dobbertean: College basketball contributor and resident bracketologist at SBNation and editor of Blogging the Bracket

Reid Gettys: Part-time NCAA basketball analyst for ESPN, lead attorney for ExxonMobil, and part of the "Phi Slama Jama" era of the early 1980s, who participated in three Final Fours and had two national championship appearances. Follow him on Twitter @reidgettys.

Joe Lunardi: College basketball analyst for ESPN who is best known for creating Bracketology. He correctly predicted all 65 teams to appear in the 2008 NCAA Tournament and all 68 teams for the 2013 tournament. Wow!

Jerry Palm: Resident Sports Geek at CBS Sports and a pioneer in predicting the March Madness bracket and in understanding the tournament selection process. Follow him online at CBS Sports, NCAA Basketball.

John Rothstein: College Basketball Insider for CBS Sports and host of the College Hoops Today podcast, as well as a driving force behind Bleacher Report. Get the app here for Apple and Android.

Check out what these and other NCAA basketball experts have to offer in helping you build your bracket. Click on the image above to view the Harris County Law Library Research Guide for even more tips from the pros. Good luck, bracket hopefuls. May the best bracket win!

Introducing EVA: Artificial Intelligence from ROSS

ROSS is an advanced legal research tool that leverages the power of artificial intelligence to make legal research more efficient. ROSS covers three areas of law: Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property, and Labor & Employment, providing you with on-demand answers to your legal questions. Best of all, ROSS uses natural language processing so you can enter your search queries using familiar language, not specialized search terms, connectors, or commands.

In recent weeks, ROSS Intelligence has launched its second standalone AI application called EVA, a free tool that allows users to upload legal briefs for analysis and review. After uploading a brief, EVA will check if cited cases are still good law and find cases that use similar language. EVA will also hyperlink all cases within the brief so they can be easily accessed and viewed in the ROSS database. Users can request a General Overview of any selected case at the click of a button, revealing the positive and negative treatment of the case and extracting key points of law within the case that closely answer any substantive question you ask. 

Artificial intelligence is gaining popularity in all fields, and the law is no exception. As users become familiar with AI as a legal research tool, the possibilities for "robot lawyering" will expand. Robots are unlikely to replace lawyers any time soon, if ever, despite media reports that sometimes sensationalize the impact of AI technologies. However, there is no doubt that technology will continue to shape the practice of law. EVA is just the latest development in AI technology to impact the legal profession in a very real and accessible way. Eliminating the cost barrier to accessing such sophisticated technology is a true benefit for EVA users.