Coleman Karesh Law Library
Reference Librarians/Legal Research Professors
"The most useful knowledge concerning the law is to know where to find it."
- Frederick C. Hicks
The Law Library Faculty of the School of Law includes five librarians who specialize in legal bibliography, research, and scholarship. Each of the reference librarians holds both a Juris Doctor and a Masters in Library and Information Science. In addition to providing legal reference services to the law school, the university, and the public, they also teach semester courses on Introduction to Legal Research and Advanced Legal Research and conduct specialized legal research seminars.
Legal Reference Services
Student Services
A reference librarian is available at the reference desk Monday-Thursday from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM and Fridays from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM to answer reference questions and to assist students in developing research plans for particular projects. Students may contact the reference desk by phone at 777-5902 or via e-mail at lawref@gwm.sc.edu.
Students may attend seminars and workshops conducted by the reference librarians throughout the school year on specific legal research topics and online databases. Students may also take advantage of the various research aids posted on the law library's website.
Faculty Services
The Law Library offers the following reference and research services in support of the law school's mission to produce quality legal scholarship:
- Reference Services
- Faculty and their research assistants may ask legal reference questions of the Law Library's Reference Librarians by contacting the Law Library Reference Desk at 777-5902 or lawref@gwm.sc.edu between 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM, Monday-Thursday, and 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on Friday.
- Faculty Research Support
- Law Librarians are available to consult individually with faculty and their research assistants to suggest relevant resources or search strategies for particular research projects. Law Librarians also conduct formal legal research training for research assistants in the spring before summer research projects begin and regularly assist research assistants with locating difficult-to-find materials. In addition, legal research seminars are offered throughout the school year on topics and databases to supplement the Introduction to Legal Research course. For extended research assistance, contact Greg Flowers, Office of Scholarly Research Support at 777-7785 or flowersw@gwm.sc.edu.
- Course Related Research Instruction
- The Law Librarians will provide customized guest lectures for your substantive law classes to familiarize students with key research sources in specific areas of law. Please provide as much advance notice as possible. To submit a request for a guest lecture either email lawref@gwm.sc.edu or contact an individual Law Librarian.
- Online Database Training
- The Reference Librarians will conduct training workshops for faculty on available online databases, such as LexisNexis and Westlaw, HeinOnline, LexisNexis Congressional, BNA, CCH, ELR and others. Blackboard and TWEN courseware instruction is also available for faculty. Please send your requests for training to lawref@gwm.sc.edu. If you are having difficulty with your LexisNexis or Westlaw account, please contact Rebekah Maxwell at 777-1725 or rkmaxwell@gwm.sc.edu.
Courses in Legal Research
Legal Research LAWS 537 - 1 Hour
All law students take Legal Research during the fall semester of the first year. The course covers print and electronic materials used for researching judicial, statutory, administrative, and secondary sources, both state and federal.
Advanced Legal Research LAWS 562 - 2 Hours
The Advanced Legal Research course is offered as an elective to all students during the second and third years. Students further develop their ability to critically select and use the primary and secondary sources discussed in the Legal Research course and also learn new research materials and techniques involving finding tools, forms, court rules, practice aids, and legislative history. Research strategies and efficient and cost-effective use of resources are also covered.
Legal Research Faculty
- Rebekah K. Maxwell, M.L.I.S., J.D.
- Associate Director for Library Operations/Assistant Professor
- maxwell@law.sc.edu
- Pamela Rogers Melton, M.S.L.S., J.D.
- Associate Director for Administration/Assistant Professor
- melton@law.sc.edu
- Terrye Conroy, J.D., M.L.I.S.
- Reference Librarian /Assistant Professor
- conroy@law.sc.edu
- Stacy Etheredge, J.D., M.L.I.S.
- Reference Librarian/Assistant Professor
- etheredg@law.sc.edu
- David Lehmann, J.D., M.L.I.S.
- Reference Librarian/Assistant Professor
- lehmann@law.sc.edu
|
