NCJ Number
44488
Journal
American Bar Association Journal Volume: 63 Dated: (DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 1737-1742
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND IN THE LAW OFFICE ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE APPLICATIONS OF THE COMPUTER IN THE LEGAL 'INDUSTRY' ARE VARIED. AUTOMATED COURT CALENDARS HAVE ELIMINATED THE NEED FOR MANPOWER TO PERFORM TEDIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS. IN THE LAW PRACTICE, THE COMPUTER HAS APPLICATIONS IN WORD PROCESSING AND ACCOUNTING, LEGAL RESEARCH, AND LITIGATION SUPPORT. THE MOST CRITICAL APPLICATION IS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DOCUMENTS FOR LITIGATION. COMPUTERIZED LITIGATION SUPPORT IS PRIMARILY A RESPONSE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THE CLIENT'S SITUATION. WHILE OTHER BENEFITS OF AUTOMATION ARE SHARED THROUGHOUT THE LAW FIRM, COMPUTERIZED LITIGATION SUPPORT MAY BE USED BY ONLY A FEW IN A LARGE FIRM. AS A PROCESS, COMPUTERIZED LITIGATION SUPPORT CAN RESULT IN GREATER DELEGATION OF WORK TO PARAPROFESSIONALS, BUT CAN ALSO CREATE GREATER RELIANCE ON COMPUTER PROFESSIONALS. FROM A TECHNICAL STANDPOINT, COMPUTERIZED LITIGATION SUPPORT REQUIRES GREATER REFINEMENT OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE COMPUTER THAN DO OTHER APPLICATIONS IN THE LEGAL FIELD. THE ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERIZED LITIGATION SUPPORT ARE: MORE INFORMATION ABOUT A DOCUMENT APPEARS IN THE INDEX; THE SEARCH TAKES SECONDS RATHER THAN DAYS; AND INFORMATION ABOUT A CASE IS STORED IN THE COMPUTER, THUS LESSENING THE IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL TURNOVER ON A CASE. FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED BY LAW FIRMS IN DECIDING WHETHER TO USE COMPUTERIZED LITIGATION SUPPORT ARE NOTED, INCLUDING THE RELATIVE ADVANTAGES OF IN-HOUSE COMPUTERS AND COMPUTER UTILITIES.