Class recorded April 29, 2022

In this class, learn what to consider before filing a lawsuit for libel or slander (defamation). If someone makes untrue, damaging statements about you that may be grounds for a defamation lawsuit.  But these types of lawsuits are notoriously difficult to litigate successfully, are subject to many potential defenses, and often result in unintended blowback for a plaintiff. Learn from an experienced civil litigator who has brought and defended many significant cases involving defamation claims in federal and state courts. 

Class covers:

• How to determine if you have a viable defamation claim
• Libel vs. slander: different types of defamation
• How to assess whether the possible benefits of bringing a defamation lawsuit outweigh the costs
• Common defenses to a defamation claim
• Where and how to file, and important deadlines and time limits
• Calculating damages in a defamation lawsuit

Presented by: Michael Dore, Litigation Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below. A staff member will email you the course materials (usually within one business day)."

Registration fee: FREE

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Class recorded April 29, 2022

The U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide – or has recently decided – several controversial cases, exercising its “province and duty…to say what the law is,” in the words of its famous 1803 decision in Marbury v. Madison. These cases come as the ideological makeup of the Court has changed, with justices generally viewed as conservative-leaning now holding a 6-3 advantage. In this class, hear from a prominent Supreme Court commentator and litigator about how the Court’s new and upcoming decisions on issues like abortion, gun ownership, religion in publicly funded schools, and voting rights, among others, could affect our constitutional and other important rights.

Class covers:

• An overview of major upcoming, and recently decided, U.S. Supreme Court cases
• The issues in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the major abortion rights case, and how the Court may decide
• New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen, a case that could change Second Amendment gun ownership rights
• Why the recent decision Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, applying the Voting Rights Act, is so important
• Other cases affecting our constitutional and other important rights

Earn 1.0 hour general California participatory MCLE credit: After registration, a staff member will email you the course materials, an evaluation form, and your Certificate of Attendance (usually the next business day). Register first, then watch the recording to the end and answer the questions provided in the popup to verify your attendance.

Presented by: Amy L. Howe

Registration fee:  $25, Non-refundable.

Class recorded April 29, 2022

The U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide – or has recently decided – several controversial cases, exercising its “province and duty…to say what the law is,” in the words of its famous 1803 decision in Marbury v. Madison. These cases come as the ideological makeup of the Court has changed, with justices generally viewed as conservative-leaning now holding a 6-3 advantage. In this class, hear from a prominent Supreme Court commentator and litigator about how the Court’s new and upcoming decisions on issues like abortion, gun ownership, religion in publicly funded schools, and voting rights, among others, could affect our constitutional and other important rights.

Class covers:

• An overview of major upcoming, and recently decided, U.S. Supreme Court cases
• The issues in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the major abortion rights case, and how the Court may decide
• New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen, a case that could change Second Amendment gun ownership rights
• Why the recent decision Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, applying the Voting Rights Act, is so important
• Other cases affecting our constitutional and other important rights

Presented by: Amy L. Howe

Registration fee: FREE

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below. A staff member will email you the course materials (usually within one business day)."

Video Recordings: We recognize that not everyone can attend in person classes, so even if you can't make it in, please watch any of these recordings and remember that we are still here to help! Call us at (213) 785-2513, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or chat with us online to get help finding information and resources on any legal (or not-quite-legal) question. Access to the video recordings is free.

Dated Material: Please note that the law changes. The original recording date for each class is provided on the display page. To be certain that you receive up-to-date information, please attend the in-person class, or contact us for help researching or updating your specific legal issue.

Class recorded May 18, 2023

Receive hands-on instruction on how to use a popular all-in-one source for legal research. Lexis’ newly designed research platform has been described as “cleaner and easier to use” with their “big red search box” and other features.

Class covers:

• Formulating, filtering, and narrowing search queries
• Finding cases, statutes, and secondary sources
• Options to review and deliver results
• Hands-on exercises

Presented by: Kathleen O'Laughlin, Managing Librarian, Reference and Research

Registration fees: FREE

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below. A staff member will email you the course materials (usually within one business day)."

Video Recordings: We recognize that not everyone can attend in person classes, so even if you can't make it in, please watch any of these recordings and remember that we are still here to help! Call us at (213) 785-2513, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or chat with us online to get help finding information and resources on any legal (or not-quite-legal) question. Access to the video recordings is free.

Dated Material: Please note that the law changes. The original recording date for each class is provided on the display page. To be certain that you receive up-to-date information, please attend the in-person class, or contact us for help researching or updating your specific legal issue.