Date: November 9th 2009

King County Law Library E-News
November 2009 - Volume 8, Issue 2

New E-Filing Training Classes in December

We are developing a two-part class to provide training on how to use the King County Superior Court’s E-Filing system. There will be two 45-minute sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays beginning December 2nd. Part One will cover how to navigate around the E-Filing site, how to set up an account, how to begin a new case and related topics. Part Two will go over how to add files to an existing case, technical issues concerning document preparation, and other troubleshooting topics. Following each 45-minute session, there will be 15 minutes for optional hands-on practice and questions.

The class is free of charge. Due to limited seating, pre-registration is required. All class sessions will be held in the Legal Research and Training Center in the Seattle library on the sixth floor of the King County Courthouse at 516 3rd Avenue, Suite W621. Call the Library at 206-296-0940 to sign up.

Part 1:
Wednesday, December 2nd 12:15 pm-1:00 pm
Wednesday, December 9th 5:15-6:00 pm
Wednesday, December 16th 12:15 pm-1:00 pm


Part 2:
Friday, December 4th 12:15 pm-1:00 pm
Friday, December 11th 5:15-6:00 pm
Friday, December 18th 12:15 pm-1:00 pm

Holiday Hours

The Seattle and Kent libraries will be closed for Veterans Day, November 11, Thanksgiving holidays on November 26th and 27th. We will also be closed Christmas Day, December 25th, and New Year’s Day, January 1st. The Kent library will be closed the afternoons of November 20th and December 15th for staff meetings. Seattle’s regular hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00-5:00 and Kent is open Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00.

Tech Tip – Making .PDF Docs for E-Filing!

The Law Library has two ways to make existing electronic documents into .PDFs that can then be e-filed. Both of these methods are available to anyone who owns a computer; the only real difference is the cost.

Using Adobe Acrobat
If you’re willing to spend the money and have the need for the additional capabilities the software offers, you can purchase a copy of Adobe Acrobat from Adobe. You will have the ability to turn just about any type of electronic document into a .PDF. There is one catch: the E-Filing system only accepts .PDFs compatible with Version 5 or earlier. Since the latest version of Acrobat is Version 9, you’ll need to use its Reduce File Size option to reformat the .PDF. This option is available under the Document main menu drop-down list.

Using CutePDF Writer
If you’re not willing to spend the money for a full-fledged software package like Acrobat and are willing to forego access to its many other functions, you can download the simplified and free version of CutePDF Writer from CutePDF. CutePDF can turn existing electronic documents into .PDFs. You’ll need to download CutePDF Writer and its accompanying converter. When the software is installed, it adds a new printer to your computer called CutePDF Writer. To convert an electronic document to a .PDF file, simply print it to the CutePDF Writer printer. At KCLL, we’ve adjusted the properties of the Cute PDF Writer printer so that it’s using a resolution of 144 dpi, a resolution setting recommended by the Clerk’s Office.

Training Classes

Skip Tracing: Finding Business and Personal Information will be held on November 16th from Noon to 1:30pm.

Suing Mad: Commencing an Action will be held on November 20th from Noon to 1:00 pm. This new class will give basic information about beginning an action in Superior Court.

Call us at 206-296-0940 to reserve your spot!

Check out our current training calendar for all scheduled classes. We hold all training in the Seattle KCLL location at 516 3rd Ave, Suite W-621. All classes are free-of-charge. If you want us to bring any class to your location, please contact us and we will see if we can accommodate you.

Podcast News

KCLL's SideBar, the library’s podcast service, has two new episodes online:

Episode 34: Passing the Bar - In our October episode of KCLL’s SideBar, Rita K. talks about some of her favorite podcast episodes and says good-bye as she passes KCLL’s SideBar on to its new producers. Craig, in his “Reel Verdict” segment, reviews a documentary he watched recently called “A Lawyer Walks into a Bar.” The movie is about law students trying to pass California’s bar exam.

Episode 35: E-Filing Explained – In the November episode of KCLL’s Sidebar, Rick talks about the process of E-Filing in King County Superior Court and the most frequent questions the library receives regarding this new system. Craig, in his “Reel Verdict” segment, reviews a documentary he recently watched called “The Trials of Law School”. This movie follows the lives of law students as they negotiate the theories and practice of law in a school setting. “The Trials of Law School” is available in our library.

Blog Post of the Month - Green River Flood Alert Sites

KCLL Klues, our Washington state research blog, keeps you apprised of interesting legal news and great research links. In October, Rita wrote about internet sites where you can register your phone number or email address to receive alerts about the flooding in the Green River or other emergencies. The threat of flooding of the Green River is real. Registering with these sites will give you a heads up in case the threat becomes a reality. Click here to read the full posting.

New Books in the Library

Children and the Law:
Runaway and Homeless Youth and the Law: Model State Statutes

Contract Law:
Alternative Clauses to Standard Construction Contracts, 3rd Ed.

Education Law:
Educating Children without Housing: A Primer on Legal Requirements and Implementation Strategies for Educators, Advocates and Policymakers

Labor Law:
The Essential Guide to Handling Workplace Harassment & Discrimination
Healthy Employees, Healthy Business

Medical Law:
Bioethics and Law in a Nutshell

Practice of Law:
The 12 Secrets of Persuasive Argument

Real Estate Law:
Real Estate from A-Z (CLE)

Securities Law:
Securities Regulation in a Nutshell, 10th Ed.
Response to Ponzi and Other Schemes: Alternative Investment Funds Under Scrutiny

Taxation:
Corporate Income Taxation, 6th Ed.

Plus, don’t forget to check out our Legal Eagle collection of DVDs.