BLS Library Blog

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This is International Education Week at Brooklyn Law School!  On Thursday, November 20, at lunchtime, there will be a lively panel discussion on the topic of international careers. Speakers will be: Amy Hsieh, Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law & Executive Director of the Public Service Law Center (BLS), Elizabeth Gradinger, Associate Director of BLS Career & Professional Development (BLS), and Michael Khorsandi ('06), Vice President, Trade and Regulatory Counsel at Ross Stores. These speakers will provide information about various career paths, in both the private and public sectors, available to students interested in international law. Librarian Jean Davis will make available an updated international opportunities handout (which will also become available to all BLS students through BLSConnect on this BLS Career Center page under heading: International Law). There will also be a Book Giveaway!  Looking forward to seeing you at this panel on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 12:45 pm in room 502.  

Please also view BLS Library's digital book display for International Education Week at https://guides.brooklaw.edu/digital_book_displays/international_education

Also, this is the season for law student writing competitions!  If interested, please monitor: https://guides.brooklaw.edu/writing_competitions (updated regularly).

Upcoming law student writing competitions of possible interest include:

2025 National Security Law Writing Competition 

• Sponsor: Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School
• 2025 Competition Topic: Employing and Defending Against Drones in the Contemporary National Security Environment
• 2025 Competition Format requirements include:  "Original and Previously Unpublished Papers" " Entries must be a minimum of 4,000 words and a maximum of 7,000 words, including footnotes"
• Eligibility requirements in 2025 Competition include: "The competition is open to all U.S. and international law school students and graduates."  "Members of the faculty of AFJAGS shall not participate in the contest or review any entry on behalf of an entrant."
• 2025 Competition Prizes: First Place – Cash prize of $3,000; Second Place – Cash prize of $2,000; Third Place – Cash prize of $1,000.  "Winners are free to independently seek public publication in The JAG Reporter or a law review or journal of their choice.  AFJAGS will post the winning papers internally on the Knowledge Management section of FLITE."
• Deadline for submission: "Entries must be submitted by 1630 Central Time on 21 November 2025."

International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition (annual)

• Sponsors: American Society of International Law (ASIL), Global Migration Centre, ASIL Academic Partner Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, International Law Students Association (ILSA), International Journal of Refugee Law & Oxford University Press.
• Topic in current Competition: "Papers may address any topic related to international law and refugees, stateless persons, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and/or forced displacement.  Particular consideration will be given to papers authored by people who have experienced forced displacement and to student scholars in the global south."
• Format in current Competition: "Papers must be written solely by the candidate in English."  "Submissions may range from 7,000 to 12,000 words, including footnotes."   
• Eligibility requirements include: "Student authors must have been enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited university in 2025."
• Prize: "The winner of the International Refugee Law Student Writing Competition will receive complimentary admission to the 2026 ASIL Annual Meeting, to be held in Washington, DC, from April 22-25, 2026; a complimentary one-year student membership provided by ASIL; and a £300 book credit with Oxford University Press.  If the winner subsequently chooses to submit the paper to the International Journal of Refugee Law, it will be promptly reviewed by the Editorial Board and independent reviewers.  If deemed suitable for publication, the Board will work with the winner with a view to bringing the paper forward to publication.  The award will be formally presented at the 2026 ASIL Annual Meeting.  To enable the winner to attend the ASIL Annual Meeting, the Global Migration Centre at ASIL Academic Partner Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies Geneva will contribute up to 400 Swiss francs toward travel expenses."
• Deadline for submission: "The deadline for submissions is 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, January 7, 2026."

New York State Bar Association International Section: Albert S. Pergam International Law Writing Competition (annual)

• Sponsor: International Section of the New York State Bar Association
• Topic in current Competition: "The writing competition, which began in 1988, fosters legal scholarship in international law by encouraging law students and new legal practitioners to write on topics in public or private international law." 
• Format requirements in current Competition include: "The submission must be a piece of legal scholarship (i.e., a law review-style article) primarily focused on an aspect of law in any area of public or private international law or practice."  "Maximum length of 40 pages (including cover page and footnotes), not to exceed 20,000 words inclusive of footnotes."  "The submission must not have been published or be under contract for publication with any other outlet, except for the New York State Bar Journal, the New York International Law Review, or the International Law Practicum...." 
• Eligibility requirements in current Competition include: "Submissions are open to current law students (J.D., LL.M., and Ph.D. candidates) at any law school worldwide at the time of submission."  "Submissions must include proof of enrollment in law school as a J.D., LL.M., or Ph.D. student, along with a copy of the author's resume/CV."
• Prize in current Competition: "The winner will receive: 1) $2,000 USD; and 2) Publication of the article (subject to editorial approval) in the New York International Law Review."
• Deadline for submission in current Competition: "The submission deadline is 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday, January 16, 2026."

Rule of Law Writing Competition (annual) - Librarian Jean Davis wrote to organizer to ask whether this Competition will have a Feb. 2026 deadline.

Trandafir Writing Competition (annual)

• Sponsors: Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems, in conjunction with the University of Iowa College of Law International and Comparative Law Program
• Topic: "[W]orld affairs"  "Any contemporary international business or economic concern."  Website provides examples of recent winning submission topics.
• Format requirements in 2026 Competition include: "Essay"  "There is no minimum page requirement. The essay must not exceed 50 pages, including footnotes."
• Eligibility requirements in 2026 Competition include: "All students currently enrolled in law or graduate degree programs."  "To be eligible essays must be standalone pieces which have not been published or have an outstanding commitment for publication."
• Prize in 2026 Competition: "The winning essay will be published in Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems, a journal of the University of Iowa College of Law.  TLCP reserves the right to work with the winner to edit the winning submission in order to meet the standards necessary for publication."  "[A] $2,500 cash prize [subject to tax withholding] paid upon publication of the winning submission."   
• Deadline for submission in 2026 Competition: March 13, 2026.

Tip: Sponsors/facilitators of student writing competitions provide more detailed instructions and rules at their websites.  Students need to review the information and rules available at these websites.  

BLS Library's team has published a digital book display for Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance. It includes 1) an announcement of the BLS OUTLaws General Body Meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at which attendees will commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance, and 2) descriptions of additional upcoming local events.

Recent BLS Library acquisitions include:

Before Gender: Lost Stories from Trans History, 1850-1950 (2025)

Excerpt from publisher's book description: "Organized into 4 parts paralleling today’s controversies over gender identity (kids, activists, workers, and athletes), Before Gender introduces [30] figures whose forgotten stories transform the discussion: Mark and David Ferrow, 2 of the first trans teens to access gender-affirming medical treatment following overwhelming support from their friends, family, and neighbors; Gerda von Zobeltitz, a trans countess who instigated an LGBTQ+ riot 40 years before Stonewall; Frank Williams, a young trans man who was fired from over a dozen jobs for his gender; [and] Frances Anderson, the world’s greatest female billiards player of the 1910s."

A History of Transgender Medicine in the United States: From Margins to Mainstream (2025)

Ordered by BLS Library (11/11/2025).  Excerpt from publisher's description: "The most comprehensive history of transgender medicine to date, as told by more than forty scholars, physicians, psychologists, and activists from trans, gender-diverse, and allied medical communities."

So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color (2025)

Available as an ebook. Excerpt from publisher's book description: "So Many Stars knits together the voices of [20] trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, and two-spirit elders of color as they share authentic, intimate accounts of how they created space for themselves and their communities in the world." 

In addition, the BLS Library guide: Writing Competitions for Law Students includes updated information about The Dukeminier Awards Student Writing Competition, which "annually recognizes the best law review note written by a student in the field of sexual orientation and gender identity law." The first-place winner will receive a $1,000 prize award (the Jeffrey S. Haber Prize for Student Scholarship) and a publication opportunity in the Dukeminier Awards Journal of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law. This Competition's submission deadline is: Monday, December 22, 2025.  The Competition's guidelines state that: "Entries should not be previously published or scheduled for publication. In addition, students who submit notes promise exclusive submission to the Dukeminier Student Writing Competition until February 1, 2026."

We encourage the BLS community to attend the Native American Heritage Month celebration that will be held in the student lounge at 12:45 PM today, Monday, November 10.  As part of the celebration, there will be giveaways of several books recommended by the BLS Library team.

Do also check out the library’s digital display and our book display for Native American Heritage Month on the first floor of the library. Hope to see you soon!

In November 2025, the library is celebrating Native American Heritage Month. Since official recognition by a joint Congressional resolution in 1990, the month of November has been a time to celebrate the achievements, traditions, languages, and stories of Native Americans as well as to raise awareness of the many challenges tribal communities continue to face.

The library's Native American Heritage Month display can be found on the library’s first floor, near the circulation desk and alcove. Titles on display include A Lenapehoking Anthology, published by the Lanape Center and the Brooklyn Public Library and exploring the personal journeys of people seeking welcome in their ancestral homeland; Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology with stories that revolve around indigenous folklore and traditions, and touch on racism and inequality; the new political novel Big Chief by Jon Hickey; and a feature on Deb Haaland who is running for governor of New Mexico in that state's 2026 gubernatorial election.  

Do also check out the library's digital display in connection with this month's celebration. We hope you find helpful resources that promote understanding of Native American heritage and history here: https://guides.brooklaw.edu/digital_book_displays/Native_American_Heritage_Month   

BLS Library will hold its annual LibraryFest this Thursday, September 25, from 12:30 to 4:30 pm on the first floor of the library. This year, more vendors than ever will be on hand to showcase their legal research platforms to students and give away swag. Lexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg Law, Wolters Kluwer, ProQuest, EBSCO, Oxford University Press, and CALI will all be represented! BLS librarians will also be there to show students a variety of research tools available through the library website. 

This will be an excellent opportunity to learn about the many legal research resources available to BLS students! If you are a 1L, it is a great way to be introduced to the features of these research platforms. If you are a 2L, 3L or 4L, you are likely to discover new resources that will be helpful as you tackle research papers, undertake research projects for your externship, or work on developing practice-ready skills. In addition, students who visit at least four vendors can enter the raffle. Many gift cards and other prizes, including a 50-inch TV, will be raffled off! The library will notify prize winners by email, so you do not have to be present at the drawing to win.

LibraryFest will be a lot of fun, and we hope to see you there! 

• Circulation Desk (1st Floor): Borrow reserve and circulating materials, plus equipment and accessories such as USB-C chargers, portable monitors, rolling white boards, and games.
• Reference Support:
  • In Person: Visit the Reference Librarian on Duty in the Nash Reading Room (3rd Floor)
  • Email: askthelibrary@brooklaw.edu 
  • Text: (718) 734-2432
  • Chat: Use the "Need Help" box on the Library homepage or get started by clicking here
• Library Hours: 
  • For current library hours, please visit: https://libraryreservations.brooklaw.edu/hours 

• Food is now allowed in both the Nash Reading Room (3rd Floor) and the Bernsen Reading Room (1st Floor).
• Food is not permitted in other public areas (study rooms, reading rooms, or other Library spaces).

• Drinks are welcome everywhere when in re-closable, spill-proof containers.
• Other campus dining spots include the Student Lounge (1st Floor), Cafeteria (4th Floor), and the Courtyard.

• Library Food & Drink Policy

• Standing Desks: New standing desks are now available in the Subin Reading Room (3rd Floor), a designated quiet study space.
• Ergonomic Rolling Chairs: 150 new chairs have been ordered to replace older and less comfortable chairs throughout the Library. They are expected to arrive in September. Most of the chairs being replaced are currently located in the cellar. To make it easier for us to roll in the new chairs when they arrive, please avoid moving chairs between library spaces.

Welcome to a new school year! Whether you’re just starting your law school journey or returning for another semester, the library team is excited to support you. We’ve spent the summer getting ready for the months ahead, and we want to make sure you start strong. Below you’ll find helpful information about casebooks and study aids to help you hit the ground running in your first week of classes.

CASEBOOK INFORMATION

Current editions of required print casebooks adopted by BLS faculty & many print study aids are in BLS Library's first-floor "Reserve" collection.  Students can borrow these sources for 2-hours at BLS Library's first-floor circulation desk.  The circulation desk is staffed starting at 8am M-F, and availability of adopted course texts is often good on early weekday mornings.  Also, the BLS student chapter of the National Lawyers Guild organizes a textbook exchange, and BLS students can contact this chapter at nlg@brooklaw.edu

• For more information about casebooks and study aids available through the BLS Library, visit the Casebook and Study Aid Research Guide
• For information on casebooks and study aids specifically for  incoming 1L students visit the 1L Resources, Tips and Tools Research Guide 

Casebook Early eBook Access

Bls has opted into an Early eBook Access Program with two publishers, so you can obtain free, temporary access to current editions of adopted casebooks if they are West Academic, Foundation Press, or Aspen Publishing titles one week before classes start and for the first two weeks of class.  These programs are designed to help with any inventory, shipping, financial aid, or drop/add period issues. Access is currently available. Additional details are below. 

If your textbook publisher is West Academic or Foundation Press:

• You can create an account or sign in with your school email address at eproducts.westacademic.com. Full instructions for access are available here.  If you experience any issues or have specific questions can contact the West Academic Support Team at support@westacademic.com or 877-888-1330.
• If you would like to continue your access after the trial ends, they have the option to purchase a discounted eBook on their bookshelf.   

If your casebook publisher is Aspen Publishing:

• Register with a BLS email address and select “Brooklyn Law School” as your school on the BLS-specific purchase portal created by Aspen Publishing.  If you experience any issues, Aspen Publishing.com provides both “Visit Our Help Center” and “Contact Us” links (near bottom of web page). Note: This portal facilitates purchase of current editions of Aspen course texts.  If your professor has selected a previous edition of a course text, the discount is not available using this portal.
• If you purchase current editions of casebooks directly from Aspen, they offer a 20% discount and free shipping for BLS students. 

STUDY AID INFORMATION

BLS students can also access a digital collection of many study aids in Aspen Learning Library    

• Aspen Learning Library includes titles in the series listed below.  Descriptions of these series and a study guide series comparison chart is available here.
  • Emanuel Law Outlines/Emanuel CrunchTime; 
  • Examples & Explanations; 
  • Friedman's Practice; 
  • Glannon Guides; 
  • Inside Series; & 
  • In Other Words Audio & Video Series.   

Starting Monday, August 11, 2025, BLS Library is changing over to the use of OpenAthens, a secure access management platform that allows users to access electronic resources remotely using single sign-on (SSO). Members of the BLS community will be able to use OpenAthens to access library resources remotely, in place of remote access through the proxy server.  Below, please find an important message from Library Director Brittany Persson detailing the reasons for the change, and resources if you run into issues. The BLS Library Technology: Remote Access guide also provides important information about OpenAthens and links to key resources connected to the transition. 

“On Monday, August 11th, BLS Library will begin our transition to OpenAthens, a new method of accessing library electronic resources remotely. OpenAthens will replace our current remote access system, the proxy server, and will instead use single sign-on (SSO) technology that integrates with BLS accounts.

Why is the Library making this change?

Discontinuing the proxy server and migrating to OpenAthens will improve the research experience at BLS by providing reliable, stable, secure, and streamlined access to library resources from anywhere.*

How will this affect you?

1. When accessing a digital resource through a library website (such as the catalog, the A-Z Databases list and our research guides), you will be directed to an OpenAthens login screen, where you can click "Sign in with your BLS credentials". Once you enter your BLS email and password, you will then be signed into OpenAthens on that browser, even if you navigate to other websites or resources.

2. When accessing a digital resource directly through a database, look for a login link. Login links might include terms like, “Login through your institution,” “OpenAthens,” or “Sign In”.

3. Resources that already require individual usernames and passwords, such as Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg, and CALI, are not migrating to OpenAthens.

What do you need to know?

The migration to OpenAthens will take place from Monday, August 11th to Wednesday, August 13th. During this time, resource links in the catalog, the A-Z Databases list and our research guides will be updated to allow for proper OpenAthens access.

During this transition, some resource URLs may be temporarily broken or unavailable. We appreciate your patience while we ensure that OpenAthens is properly configured and set up.

What do you need to do?

During the first few weeks of the fall semester, you should disable the proxy server. If you have links to subscription resources bookmarked or embedded in class syllabi, they will also need to be updated to comply with OpenAthens. Instructions for disabling the proxy and updating links, as well as more detailed information about OpenAthens, can be found here.

After August 13, if you run into any access problems, please send them to the Library using our Report an OpenAthens Issue form.”

In June, BLS Library commemorates and celebrates Juneteenth, LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and Caribbean American Heritage Month.  

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19 of each year, commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were finally freed, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been effected in 1863. While African American communities have celebrated Juneteenth since the late 1800s, June 19 only became a federal holiday in 2021. For more resources on Juneteenth, visit our digital book display at https://guides.brooklaw.edu/digital_book_displays/Juneteenth

LGBTQ+ Pride Month has its roots in the Stonewall Uprising of June 1969, here in New York City. The first Pride marches took place a year later, in June 1970. Since then, there have been annual commemorations and celebrations in June, to recognize and uplift LGBTQ+ voices and advocate for equality. BLS Library has books on marriage equality, Harvey Milk, legal milestones in LGBTQ+ history, and many other print and digital resources relevant to Pride Month: https://guides.brooklaw.edu/digital_book_displays/LGBTQ_Pride_Month

Caribbean American Heritage Month has been officially recognized and celebrated every year since 2006. The first Presidential Proclamation recognizing Caribbean-American Heritage Month, by then President George W. Bush, celebrated “the great contributions of Caribbean Americans to the fabric of our Nation” and paid tribute to “the common culture and bonds of friendship that unite the United States and the Caribbean countries.”  The many distinguished Caribbean Americans affiliated with BLS include U.S. District Judge Hon. Sparkle L. Sooknanan, '10, who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor for OT 2013. Check out the many print and ebooks in our collection on topics related to Caribbean Americans, at https://guides.brooklaw.edu/digital_book_displays/Caribbean_American_Heritage_Month