Month: January 2026

Who Says Insurance Is Boring? The Surprising World of Insurance Fiction

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Insurance law may sound technical, but it has inspired far more storytelling than you might expect. From mysteries and thrillers to romance and science fiction, the law library’s insurance fiction collection shows how insurance and the people behind it can drive compelling plots and unforgettable characters. Take a look at one of the library’s most unusual collections—and discover why insurance is anything but boring.

 

One of the law library’s most unusual collections is its insurance fiction collection. The law library has an extensive insurance collection, covering insurance law practice, risk assessment, historical materials, and materials on the insurance industry. The insurance fiction collection contains works where insurance or people who work in the insurance industry play a role in the plot. 

 

Many books in this collection are mysteries, where insurance is the motive for murder or kidnapping. Insurance investigators are common protagonists, as are detectives. Most books in this collection are mysteries or thrillers, but there are also romance, comedy, science fiction, and fantasy novels. Some books, such as Risk Pool and Mutual Life & Casualty focus less on insurance, but use concepts or roles in the insurance industry as metaphors for characters’ personality traits or relationships. 

The law library has been highlighting various collections in celebration of its centennial this year. This month, stop by the display on the main floor to see some of the books in this collection.  

Law School, Live on TikTok: Student Blogger Arianna Barker’s Inside Look

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We’re excited to welcome 1L and valued library employee Arianna Barker as a guest blogger! Also known to thousands online as “Starianna” on TikTok, she documents law school life with creativity, honesty, and a touch of music. Originally from Florida’s Panhandle, Arianna brings a strong commitment to public service, a passion for civil rights, and a belief that law school doesn’t have to come at the expense of creativity.  Below, Arianna shares her experiences in her own words – from her path to UConn Law to building community and creativity through TikTok.

“My name is Arianna Barker, also known as “Starianna“ on TikTok.  I am from the Florida Panhandle. I attended the University of South Florida, where I double-majored in psychology and political science. After graduation, I worked at the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office for two years. While it is unique to see a Floridian move to Connecticut, a place with a near-opposite climate, I ultimately chose UConn Law because it emphasized community, valued diversity, and supported me with financial aid.

 

My end goal is to become a civil rights attorney who works for marginalized communities. I am heavily inspired by individuals such as Ben Crump and Bryan Stevenson. Moreover, I grew up in a military family, so I have always felt acquainted with public service and justice.

Arianna’s first day of law school!

During my time at UConn Law so far, I have experienced and learned a variety of things. In addition to learning about Bluebook citations and diversity jurisdiction, I learned that law school is not the most creative environment, however, it doesn’t have to be this way.

Arianna performing at her high school’s graduation ceremony,

When I was younger, I sang at multiple venues and performed in my school’s plays. I have a huge passion for singing and songwriting that I hope to always keep with me, even as a future lawyer.

I started documenting my life, both inside and outside of law school, on TikTok. TikTok has served as both a creative outlet and a community filled with other law school students across the nation. On top of creating content around my life, I also post singing videos. My biggest video to date, with almost 1.5 million views, is a singing video about the concept of negligence written in the tune of “Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé (my all-time favorite singer!).

 

 

As well, I use my TikTok account to share law school admissions resources, since I am a first-generation college/law school student who knows the struggle of navigating resources for law school.

 

Arianna at a Beyonce concert – her favorite singer and inspiration for some of her videos.

Law school inevitably changes you. It forces you to work harder, study longer, and balance life in a new way. As a creative person, I thought law school would eliminate my creativity. Surprisingly, law school has made me even more creative! I hope to be an example of someone who didn’t give up their passions for law school.”

 

 

Law School, Live on TikTok: Student Blogger Arianna Barker’s Inside Look

Posted on by
We’re excited to welcome 1L and valued library employee Arianna Barker as a guest blogger! Also known to thousands online as “Starianna” on TikTok, she documents law school life with creativity, honesty, and a touch of music. Originally from Florida’s Panhandle, Arianna brings a strong commitment to public service, a passion for civil rights, and a belief that law school doesn’t have to come at the expense of creativity.  Below, Arianna shares her experiences in her own words – from her path to UConn Law to building community and creativity through TikTok.
“My name is Arianna Barker, also known as “Starianna“ on TikTok.  I am from the Florida Panhandle. I attended the University of South Florida, where I double-majored in psychology and political science. After graduation, I worked at the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office for two years.
While it is unique to see a Floridian move to Connecticut, a place with a near-opposite climate, I ultimately chose UConn Law because it emphasized community, valued diversity, and supported me with financial aid.
My end goal is to become a civil rights attorney who works for marginalized communities. I am heavily inspired by individuals such as Ben Crump and Bryan Stevenson. Moreover, I grew up in a military family, so I have always felt acquainted with public service and justice.
Arianna’s first day of law school!

During my time at UConn Law so far, I have experienced and learned a variety of things. In addition to learning about Bluebook citations and diversity jurisdiction, I learned that law school is not the most creative environment. I learned it doesn’t have to be this way.

Arianna performing at her high school’s graduation ceremony,

When I was younger, I sang at multiple venues and performed in my school’s plays. I have a huge passion for singing and songwriting that I hope to always keep with me, even as a future lawyer.

I started documenting my life, both inside and outside of law school, on TikTok. TikTok has served as both a creative outlet and a community filled with other law school students across the nation. On top of creating content around my life, I also post singing videos. My biggest video to date, with almost 1 million views, is a singing video about the concept of negligence written in the tune of “Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé (my all-time favorite singer!).
As well, I use my TikTok account to share law school admissions resources, since I am a first-generation college/law school student who knows the struggle of navigating resources for law school.
Arianna at a Beyonce concert – her favorite singer and inspiration for some of her videos.

Law school inevitably changes you. It forces you to work harder, study longer, and balance life in a new way. As a creative person, I thought law school would eliminate my creativity. Surprisingly, law school has made me even more creative! I hope to be an example of someone who didn’t give up their passions for law school.”

 

 

Laws from New Year’s Past and Present: New Laws Taking Effect in 2026

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It's a New Year, which means that more than 20 new Connecticut laws will take effect in whole or in part on Jan. 1, 2026. Laws passed by the legislature have effective dates of July 1, Oct. 1 and Jan. 1 each year, and certain parts of a law can have effective dates at different times.  There are a number of laws that became active January 1st, 2026. Law are passed throughout the year at the state capital, but only a handful of the bills signed went into effect immediately.  Many kicked in Oct. 1, and more still become active on the first day of 2026. 

Check out the latest summaries published by Republican and Democratic legislative offices which together provide a comprehensive picture of the new laws now in force.

If you are interested in what happened before these were passed, check out our research guide which provides step-by-step guide on how to locate legislative history in Connecticut. You can check out a recent blog post featuring Jonathon the Husky's testimony before State Legislature, which is part of legislative history as well! Read here:  Advocacy on All Fours - UConn Mascot Jonathon XV's Testimony Before State Legislature. 

With these new laws now in effect, the start of 2026 brings fresh developments for legal practice and study. Whether you’re tracking changes in policy or gearing up for the next semester, it’s a perfect time to explore how this year’s legislation will shape the legal landscape.

Happy New Year from UConn Law Library!