Let’s All Go to the Lobby

Have you ever wanted to see a list of all the DVDs your law library has to offer?

If so, good, you are about to have your questions answered.

If not, well….”you learn something new every day if you pay attention,” so if you have not reached your quota read on.

1.      You need to go to the Law Library Catalog located on the Charlotte school of Law homepage under the “Law Library” drop down list

2.      Search for “Feature Films”

3.      Browse our excellent DVD collection of films and television shows

4.       Always be on the look out for new releases as we add to the collection

~Aaron Greene~

Join in and Vote for Your Favorite Legal Movie!

Recently, I found an old ABA article that listed the Greatest 25 Law Movies of All Time and thought it was a great list… But which movies would be on my list if I had one?  Which movies would be on your list?

Here’s the top 25, by the ABA.  Choose your favorite – and let us know if you have a favorite not listed. We are always open to suggestions and love to expand our legal film collection.

And here’s the list of Honorable Mentions, if you’re interested in some additional write-in contenders.

• THE ACCUSED (1988) Jodie Foster is a woman who is gang-raped in a bar and, when the rapists go free, goads a reluctant prosecutor to pursue the patrons who urged them on.

• ADAM’S RIB (1949) George Cukor’s mannered comedy, with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as married lawyers who oppose each other in court.

• BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT (1956) Dana Andrews is a writer who sets himself up on a murder rap to reveal the shortcomings of circum­stantial evidence.

• THE CAINE MUTINY (1954) Humphrey Bogart is riveting in this adaptation of Herman Wouk’s complex novel about military authority and moral duty.

• CLASS ACTION (1991) A father and daughter clash in and outside the courtroom as they square off in a volatile product liability case.

•  THE CLIENT (1994) Susan Sarandon is an underwhelming lawyer who finds herself representing a young boy who has witnessed a Mafia hit.

• COUNSELLOR AT LAW (1933) John Barrymore is a workaholic lawyer who is in danger of losing his family in this William Wyler film.

• THE COURT-MARTIAL OF BILLY MITCHELL (1955) Otto Preminger directs Gary Cooper in this tale of the real-life maverick general who thinks an airplane can sink a ship—and is court-martialed for proving it.

• THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE (1997) A new attorney introduced into the world’s most powerful law firm discovers that its managing partner is morally challenged.

• THE FIRM (1993) Tom Cruise is recruited by a prestigious law firm that he gradually learns has a very sinister background.

• THE FORTUNE COOKIE (1966) Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon romp in this Billy Wilder comedy about a sleazy lawyer who talks a relative into feigning injury for the sake of a lawsuit.

• GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI (1996) The true story of efforts to bring to justice Byron De La Beckwith for the 30-year-old murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers.

• INTOLERABLE CRUELTY (2003) The Coen brothers reveal their take on divorce law. George Clooney is at his toothy best.

• JAGGED EDGE (1985) Defense attorney Glenn Close gets close to a client, played by Jeff Bridges, who is on trial for the murder of his heiress wife.

• JFK (1991) Oliver Stone takes on New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison’s efforts to solve the Kennedy assassination. History yields to riveting storytelling.

• LEGALLY BLONDE (2001) Reese Witherspoon became one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood after ridiculing the elitism of Harvard Law.

• LIAR, LIAR (1997) A hilarious vehicle for Jim Carrey, who plays a lawyer who finds he is physically incapable of telling a fib.

• MICHAEL CLAYTON (2007) George Clooney shines in this look at the dark underbelly of big-firm law.

• MUSIC BOX (1989) Hungarian immigrant Mike Laszlo, accused of being a war criminal, asks his daughter (Jessica Lange) to defend him in court. She learns more about him than she wants to know.

• NORTH COUNTRY (2005) It’s one wom­an against the system: The extra­ordinary Charlize Theron plays a miner who sues the company.

• THE PELICAN BRIEF (1993) A law stu­dent discovers a plot to assassinate U.S. Supreme Court justices in this John Grisham adaptation.

• THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT (1996) Cameos abound in this portrayal of the trial of the renowned porn publisher.

• PRIMAL FEAR (1996) Richard Gere is the attorney and Edward Norton a young altar boy accused of killing a priest in a story whose plot twists and turns.

• THE RAINMAKER (1997) Another John Grisham lawyer fights the system, this time with Matt Damon starring and Francis Ford Coppola directing.

• A TIME TO KILL (1996) An earnest retelling of the Grisham novel about a racially charged killing in the Deep South. Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock spark

I also discovered that a book was about to be published entitled Lawyering Skills From Classic Films, by Professor Kelly Lynn Anders. The author is the director of communications and diversity at Creighton University of Law. The movies reviewed in Professor Anders’ book were all produced before the 1960s, which is when the modern rating system was established. Anders only wanted to use wholesome movies, those that did not include graphic violence, offensive language, or nudity. The movies included were chosen because they offered useful insights into skills needed to be a successful lawyer.

Here is a link to the National Law Journal article which reviewed  the book entitled Lawyering Skills From Classic Films: http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202537122970&slreturn=1

Some of the movies listed in Anders’ book illustrate these lawyering skills:

1. To Kill a Mockingbird-Compassion
2. 12 Angry Men-Negotiation Skills
3. Witness for the Prosecution- Negotiation Skills
4. Judgement at Nuremberg
5. Inherit the Wind
6. Pinky
7. The Paradine Case
8. Salesman-Marketing
9. The Talk of The Town-Flexibility
10. Legally Blonde
11. My Cousin Vinny

So what do you think?

~Jane Fraytet~

How About a Movie?

As some of you may know, the Law Library has a number of DVDs in our collection. Most of these films have law related themes; however, in the coming year one of our goals in the Law Library is to expand this collection to contain more current materials and to expand the scope of the collection. We welcome your suggestions for films and you can make your recommendations on the Law Library website with the Book Suggestions link.  Be sure to click Other in the format section.

If you are curious about what we currently have in our DVD collection you can always use a Subject search, looking for the heading “Feature Films”

Remember that Charlotte School of Law students, faculty, and staff can check out our DVDs for seven days.

Hey!  That is a better deal than Redbox or Blockbuster. Come check out a cool film from the Law Library Circulation desk and don’t forget to pick up some popcorn.

~Kim Allman~

Optimists get more…

More what?  Health, prosperity and happiness.

March is National Optimism Month and International Mirth Month.

Optimism:  Hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something; a tendency to take a favorable or hopeful view.

Mirth:  Pleasurable feeling; enjoyment, gratification; joy, happiness.

*Definitions courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Learning the law is serious business but optimism and humor can help take the edge off on tough days.  Tired?  Lack focus?  Invite optimism and mirth into your life.

Come to the Charlotte Law Library and check out the comedy classics in the DVD collection.  Need to turn your volume switch to 11?  If you don’t get that one, then it’s time to check out This is Spinal Tap. Browse the library catalog to see more available titles.  (Advanced search:  keyword=films and material).  Maybe Elle Woods in Legally Blonde is the one who can make you laugh and optimistic again:

Elle’s Mother: Honey, you were First Runner-Up at the “Miss Hawaiian Tropics” contest. Why are you going to throw that all away?
Elle: Going to Harvard is the only way I’m going to get the love of my life back.
Elle‘s Father: Oh, sweetheart, you don’t need law school. Law school is for people who are boring and ugly and serious. And you, button, are none of those things.

This month, the library display near the elevators features optimistic and humorous resources in our collection.  Stop by for ideas or one day you may need The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law by Mark Herrmann. [Located in Treatises at  KF300 .H47 2006]

“Research proves optimists achieve more health, prosperity and happiness than pessimists.  Use this month long celebration to practice optimism and turn optimism into a delightful, permanent habit.” -Chases’s Calendar of Events Ask our Technical Services Team to check this book out. [Located in Tech. Services at GT4803 .C48]

- Mary Susan Lucas -