Employment Law ResearchEmployment Law ResearchSeptember 17, 2007September 17, 2007

Laura L. LeavittLaura L. Leavitt

Human Resources & Labor Relations LibrarianHuman Resources & Labor Relations Librarian

50 Law College Building & 425 South Kedzie Hall50 Law College Building & 425 South Kedzie Hall

517-355-4647517-355-4647

leavitt9@msu.eduleavitt9@msu.edu

Slides available online: http://www.lib.msu.edu/staff/leavitt9/EmploymentLaw.ppt

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

Basic U.S. Court StructureBasic U.S. Court Structure Legal Citations & Legal Citations &

TerminologyTerminology Secondary SourcesSecondary Sources Employment Discrimination Employment Discrimination

Cases Cases (in BNA’s Labor & (in BNA’s Labor & Employment Law Library online Employment Law Library online and LexisNexis Academic)and LexisNexis Academic)

Section 1Section 1

Library “Basic Facts”Library “Basic Facts”

Library BasicsLibrary Basics

Librarian – Laura L. Librarian – Laura L. LeavittLeavitt

Contact information:• 517-355-4647• leavitt9@msu.edu• AIM: lleavitt5968

Office hours in 425 S. Kedzie Hall:Office hours in 425 S. Kedzie Hall:• Tuesdays 9am – 6pmTuesdays 9am – 6pm

I can usually be found in the Business Library. I am also available to meet with you on an individual basis…just

contact me to schedule an appointment.

Library BasicsLibrary Basics

• Location of Materials:Location of Materials:– Business LibraryBusiness Library – Ground floor of – Ground floor of

the Law College Buildingthe Law College Building• Librarian’s office, reference collection Librarian’s office, reference collection

(non-circulating), books, current print (non-circulating), books, current print periodicals & bound journalsperiodicals & bound journals

– Main Library 3EastMain Library 3East (“the stacks”) (“the stacks”) • Some books & bound journalsSome books & bound journals

– OnlineOnline

Library BasicsLibrary Basics

• Remote AccessRemote Access– 24/7 access24/7 access– Accessible from ANY computerAccessible from ANY computer– Login required Login required

(authentication)(authentication)– For more details, see library’s For more details, see library’s

Off Campus Access webpage– HELP : 1-800-500-1554HELP : 1-800-500-1554

The Business Library is on the ground floor of the Law

College Building.

Metered Parking is available in the lower levels of the ramp

directly to the west of the building.

The Main Library is located here.

Section 2Section 2

Basic U.S. Court StructureBasic U.S. Court Structure

U.S. Court SystemU.S. Court System

Source: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/court.html

U.S. Courts - linksU.S. Courts - links

Brief description of federal Brief description of federal courts:courts:

http://public.findlaw.com/library/legal-system/fcourts-basics.html

U.S. Circuit & District Courts U.S. Circuit & District Courts maps: maps: http://www.uscourts.gov/courtlinks/http://www.uscourts.gov/courtlinks/

http://www.law.emory.edu/index.php?id=2997/http://www.law.emory.edu/index.php?id=2997/

Court ReportersCourt Reporters& Case Citations& Case Citations

Reading Legal Citations Reading Legal Citations http://www.cjed.com/citations.htmhttp://www.cjed.com/citations.htm

Boston College Law Boston College Law School Guide on Legal School Guide on Legal CitationsCitationshttp://www.bc.edu/schools/law/library/meta-http://www.bc.edu/schools/law/library/meta-elements/pdf/researchguides/citations.pdfelements/pdf/researchguides/citations.pdf

Legal Terminology & Legal Terminology & DictionariesDictionaries

Common TerminologyCommon Terminology• id id oror ibid – ibid – refers to the case or note immediately aboverefers to the case or note immediately above• suprasupra – refers to a case or note cited earlier in a court case, article or – refers to a case or note cited earlier in a court case, article or

chapterchapter• infrainfra – refers to a case or note cited later in a court case, article or – refers to a case or note cited later in a court case, article or

chapter chapter • cert dencert den – “certiorari denied” is used in citations when the case was – “certiorari denied” is used in citations when the case was

appealed to the Supreme Court and they declined to hear it.  The Court appealed to the Supreme Court and they declined to hear it.  The Court of Appeals decision stands. of Appeals decision stands.             Example: 648 F.2d 1129,             Example: 648 F.2d 1129, cert dencert den 454 U.S. 969 454 U.S. 969

Legal Dictionary onlineLegal Dictionary onlinehttp://dictionary.law.com http://dictionary.law.com

Section 3Section 3

Employment Law ResearchEmployment Law Research

Secondary SourcesSecondary Sources

Reading about a legal issue in a secondary source (such as a Reading about a legal issue in a secondary source (such as a textbook or handbook) is a good starting point when doing your textbook or handbook) is a good starting point when doing your assignments.  They give an assignments.  They give an overview, or big pictureoverview, or big picture, of the , of the issues.  Besides issues.  Besides background information, landmark court casesbackground information, landmark court cases are identified.  Most people find this easier than reading all court are identified.  Most people find this easier than reading all court cases on a subject, without any previous knowledge or experience, cases on a subject, without any previous knowledge or experience, and reaching their own conclusions on the legal significance. and reaching their own conclusions on the legal significance. 

These secondary sources are These secondary sources are not the end of your researchnot the end of your research and and will not be cited in your paperwill not be cited in your paper.  You will use them to identify some .  You will use them to identify some of the federal court cases to be read in full.  You will cite only the of the federal court cases to be read in full.  You will cite only the actual cases read and used.  Lexis-Nexis Academic and the BNA actual cases read and used.  Lexis-Nexis Academic and the BNA employment law reporters are good sources of the text of the employment law reporters are good sources of the text of the cases.  You may also be using and citing such things as EEOC cases.  You may also be using and citing such things as EEOC decisions, EEOC guidelines, and federal legislation and regulations decisions, EEOC guidelines, and federal legislation and regulations that you have found in your research.that you have found in your research.

Secondary SourcesSecondary Sources

Employment Discrimination Employment Discrimination by Lex K. Larson and Arthur by Lex K. Larson and Arthur Larson Larson (loose leaf, 10 volumes + index)(loose leaf, 10 volumes + index)Location: LIR Reference Collection Location: LIR Reference Collection

Employment DiscriminationEmployment Discrimination by Barbara Lindemann and by Barbara Lindemann and Paul Grossman Paul Grossman (2 volumes + supplement)(2 volumes + supplement)Location: LIR Reference CollectionLocation: LIR Reference Collection

Employment Coordinator Employment Coordinator (loose-leaf, 17 volumes, index in 17(loose-leaf, 17 volumes, index in 17thth volume)volume)Location: LIR Reference CollectionLocation: LIR Reference CollectionThis is an updated This is an updated analytical encyclopediaanalytical encyclopedia on all aspects of labor on all aspects of labor and employment law. Significant court cases are cited along with and employment law. Significant court cases are cited along with the discussion of the current interpretation of the law. Background the discussion of the current interpretation of the law. Background and developmental information is generally and developmental information is generally notnot included. included. Employment discrimination law is in volumes 5-8.Employment discrimination law is in volumes 5-8.

Finding Cases: BNA online

Start at http://www.bna.com Select the Labor & Employment Law

Library from the drop-down menu Enter Username & Password Concentrate on FEP cases…may also want to

look at IER & AD cases later on Another search tip: Don’t forget to search the

Classification codes!!