NCJ Number
6807
Journal
Oregon Law Review Volume: 51 Issue: 4 Dated: (SUMMER 1972) Pages: 665-696
Date Published
1972
Length
32 pages
Annotation
TECHNOLOGY IS BECOMING CAPABLE OF SOLVING BOTH THE QUANTITY AND ACCESS PROBLEMS INHERENT IN LEGAL RESEARCH.
Abstract
THE RAPID RATE OF INCREASE IN WRITTEN LEGAL MATERIALS AND INCREASED SPECIALIZATION OF PRACTICE DEMAND FASTER AND MORE THOROUGH METHODS OF LEGAL RESEARCH. AS PROGRESS IN TECHNOLOGY BRINGS DOWN THE COST OF COMPUTER MEMORY AND OF PUTTING LEGAL MATERIALS INTO THE COMPUTER MEMORY, THE PROBLEM OF QUANTITY CAN BE KEPT WITHIN MANAGEABLE BOUNDS. THE COMPUTER OFFERS TWO APPROACHES TO THE ACCESS PROBLEM - AUTOMATING TRADITIONAL INDEXING, ABSTRACTING, AND CITATING SYSTEMS, AND USING THE WORDS OF THE TEXT OF THE MATERIALS AS CLASSIFICATION. A COMPUTERIZED LEGAL AND REFERENCE SYSTEM CAN BE OF VALUE TO LAWYERS, COURTS, LEGISLATURES, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES.