The Lawyer's Internet

The Internet has changed the practice of law. E-mail has gone from being a novelty to the norm with electronic document exchange becoming routine in many practices. Research on the Internet has provided invaluable low cost access to primary and secondary legal resources. The articles in the section explore how lawyer's can maximize the benefit of the Internet in their practice.

Ten Things Every Lawyer Should Know About the Internet

Originally published May 1999

Using the Internet can often be a frustrating and intimidating experience for legal professionals. However, the Internet, if used properly, can save time and enhance productivity. To maximize the benefits of the Internet in your office, keep in mind the following:

1. You won't find a lot of historical or archival case law on the Internet. If you rely on historical case law or precedent in your practice, the Internet is no match for WestLaw and LEXIS or traditional legal research. With few exceptions, you won't find pre-1995 cases on the Internet outside of subscription-based (and sometimes costly) services. Law reviews and journals are also scarce. On the other hand, most state and federal courts offer access to post-1995 case law and many sites offer access to pleadings, briefs, interim rulings and other court records, often within hours after they are released. Legal news sites can also provide quick information to breaking developments.
2. General search engines are an ineffective tool for locating useful and specific legal information. There are millions of pages of legal content available over the Internet. Unfortunately, general Internet search engines are of limited utility for locating useful legal resources. A lot of legal content never makes it to a general search engine and developer tricks can skew search engine results. Use a specialized legal specific search engine or directory site to locate legal information. Also, go to sites likely to have links to desired information (bar associations, law schools, etc.). These sites reduce the frustration and ineffectiveness of searches for information that generate tens of thousands of irrelevant results.
3. The Internet is a due diligence gold mine. Use the Internet as a starting point for locating business and individual information. There are a growing number of public and private databases available over the Internet. New "public" information regarding individuals and their affairs that was previously inaccessible is coming on-line every day. Public company information is available at business web sites, the Securities and Exchange Commission Edgar database and hundreds of stock and investment sites. Private company information and news is available at a variety of specialized sites as well. An information dossier on business and individuals can be compiled at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional investigative services.
4. The Internet can help you perform day to day tasks quickly and efficiently. The Internet provides quick and easy access to a number of practical tools that can make your practice run smoother and more efficiently. Yellow and white page directories (including reverse look-ups), package trackers, maps, interest and CPI rate monitors, loan and amortization calculators, real time currency converters, travel information and reservation systems, dictionaries and thesauruses are but a few of the desktop resources available at the click of a mouse. Lawyer and law firm locators can also provide invaluable information regarding counsel in seconds, facilitating the negotiation or dispute resolution process.
5. The Internet is a great tool for retaining and attracting clients and making contacts. Most major business, government and other organizations have had e-mail for years. Desktop Internet access is also becoming the norm in the office environment. E-mail and the Internet offer a great way to communicate with and provide information or resources to clients and contacts. When you e-mail your client reminders, announcements and salutations, developments, cases, articles or Web pages, you let them know you are thinking about their interests. Sending such content via e-mail is quicker, easier and more cost effective than letters or faxes.
6. The Internet is the World's largest job bank. The use of the Internet for recruiting and job searches is growing at a phenomenal rate. Employers are posting positions and accepting resumes on line through company sites and a growing number of general and specialized job portals. Employment recruiters have also flocked to the Web. Some even offer e-mail updates for jobs meeting specified criteria. Once an opportunity is located, a candidate can perform research about the position as well as the organization offering the job without spending hours of time at the local library.
7. Government resources on the Internet abound. The Internet started as a government project and federal, state and local governments have an enormous presence on the Web. Virtually every government department and agency has an Internet site. There are a number of government-specific search engines and directories to facilitate locating government information. Government sites allow you to research laws, rulings and directives, locate government employees, obtain and file forms and access virtually any type of government information available.
8. The Internet offers business and legal forms that can help streamline your practice. The Internet is host to a variety of business and legal forms covering virtually all areas of practice. Some of the forms are located for free at "forms directories" while others are available on a per form or subscription basis. There also an increasing number of brief and form banks available on-line. Finally, many government agencies are posting forms that can be downloaded in seconds. Many forms are in "PDF" format and must be read using a free utility such as Adobe Acrobat while others can be printed right off of the Web.
9. If its new(s) its on the Internet. If it's new or news, you can probably find it on the Internet. Almost every newspaper in the country maintains a web site with traditional and enhanced content. Stories on major news events often appear on the web within minutes after they break. Some news sites continually update their content throughout the day. New products, services and developments are also offered or featured on the Web, in many cases long before they appear in traditional media. Change your home page to a general or legal news site that updates content frequently to stay on top of current developments and stories.
10. The Internet will forever change the practice of law. Like it or not, the Internet is here to stay and it will change the practice of law forever. As information resources allow clients to become more sophisticated, competitive pressures on lawyers will increase. The ability to quickly and efficiently locate and disseminate information accessible over the Internet, as well as mastering Internet e-mail and attachments, will become an essential part of the practice of law. Even if you're not using the Internet, your clients are, opening up a number of new and largely unexplored legal issues - from jurisdiction to e-commerce. So if you're not integrating the Internet into your practice, you will be soon.