NCJ Number
168982
Journal
ABA Journal Volume: 82 Dated: (September 1996) Pages: 54-57
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article provides examples of how attorneys are using the Internet to improve the speed and breadth of their services.
Abstract
A variety of law practices have made extensive use of the Internet, the global grid of computer bulletin boards. There are scores of practical uses of the Internet that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a law practice. Some examples of Internet uses are to communicate within the office, between offices, or with clients and outside contacts; marketing services to clients and prospective clients; conducting legal and nonlegal research; locating experts in obscure fields; and staying on top of daily developments that affect clients in government, business, and within regulatory agencies. The examples of Internet use provided in this article include the expansion of a solo practice into a nationally recognized immigration law firm; an in-home solo practice that uses the Internet to acquire environmental regulatory information and disseminate this information with comments to clients via e-mail; and a seven- lawyer firm that competes successfully with large international firms by having a network of several dozen lawyers around the world who are linked via the Internet and Counsel Connect, a commercial online service for lawyers operated by LEXIS/NEXIS.