Gives students a first, practical overview of computer; assisted legal research (CALR) before they have hands; on CALR training sessions. Provides, among other things, an in; depth look at strategies needed to integrate traditional print sources and the wide variety of computerized tools. Provides balanced, accurate and integral content. Written by Penny A. Hazelton, Law Librarian and Professor of Law, University of Washington. Part of the American Casebook Series, each designed to illustrate the development of a body of law on a particular subject. Text and explanatory materials accompany cases.

The world of law is a world of information. Rules, judgments, decisions, interpretations, and agreements all involve using and communicating information. Today, we are experiencing a significant transition, from letters fixed on paper to information stored electronically. The digital era, where information is created, stored, and communicated electronically, is quickly approaching, if not already here. The future of law will no longer be found in impressive buildings and leather-bound books, but in small pieces of silicon, in streams of light, and in millions of miles of wires and cable. It will be a world of new relationships and greater possibilities for individual and group communication, an environment where the value of information increases as it is shared. In Law in a Digital world, M. Ethan Katsh explores how these new technologies will alter one of our most central institutions. He considers the different ways in which people will not only electronically read and write, but also interact with our vast storehouses of legal knowledge and information. He envisions how sounds and pictures will play into the largely imageless print world of law, and looks at the future importance of graphic and nontextual communication. He explores how the flexible, personalized organization of data will transform the way we gather information, and whether information can or cannot be contained, raising questions of copyright and privacy. What happens to the law when information is more plentiful and accessible? What happens to those people who suddenly have access to information never before available? Does the use of information in a new form change the institution, the user, and those who come in contact with the user? And, what role does the lawyer play in all of this? For citizens, for lawyers, for all those who will be part of the digital world rushing toward us, Katsh answers these questions while considering the implications of this new era.

Computer Assisted Legal Research describes various research tools available to the legal professional by using the computer. These are presented in three parts of the book: the Internet, Westlaw and Lexis, and CD based materials. Through use of these tools, readers will learn how to perform legal research and enhance their knowledge with word definitions, summaries, and review questions, which are included in each chapter.

Georgia Legal Research is the first book of its kind devoted to the resources and strategies needed to research Georgia state law. Taking a process-oriented approach, the book explains research in Georgia cases, statutes, legislative history, constitutional law, and administrative law and legal ethics research. Additional chapters describe the research process, secondary sources and practical guides, online research and citators. Appendices include legal citation rules, bibliography of legal research texts, and a list of Georgia practice materials. Georgia Legal Research was designed specifically for teaching legal research to first-year law students. Others who will find it helpful include practitioners, paralegals, librarians, college students, and even laypeople. It is clearly written, making even complex ideas accessible. Outlines of the research process and short excerpts from Georgia resources make the book easy to use. Web addresses point researchers to the many sources for finding free Georgia legal material online. Concise explanations of resources needed for researching federal law and the law of other states are provided throughout. Thus, Georgia Legal Research can be used as a stand-alone text or in conjunction with a research text concentrating on federal law. This book is part of the Legal Research Series, edited by Suzanne E. Rowe, Director of Legal Research and Writing, University of Oregon School of Law.

Highlights of the 5th Edition include: New chapters on researching French law, European Union law and Foreign, Comparative and International law New coverage of e-mail as a form of legal writing New section on researching the law of other commonwealth jurisdictions New snapshots of the features and functionality of major information providers in Canada - LexisNexis, Quicklaw, Westlaw, eCarswell, SOQUIJ, REJB, CanLII and CCH Canadian. Some sample search illustrations are included. There is also a snapshot of the Folioviews software, which is the software of choice of most Canadian legal CD ROM products. New coverage of electronic access to full-text periodicals. New section on electronic judgments - features, elements and Specific Electronic Judgment Sources New coverage of electronic citators A completely rewritten chapter on Researching Quebec law.

Explains how to use LEXIS and WESTLAND and other online information sources in finding, reading, and updating the law. Considers the strengths and weaknesses of computer- assisted legal research and how to incorporate online searching into an overall research strategy. Includes list of online and other service providers, and selected list of internet providers.