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Introduction
Many lawyers today are becoming aware of the explosive growth of the World Wide Web. The Web is the fastest growing, most graphical part of the Internet. Lawyers are discovering that they cannot ignore this fast growing information resource. Those who are making their way online are finding ways to overcome the obstacles to Internet use that lawyers tend to face.
What is the most efficient way to bring yourself up to speed in this emerging online world? First and foremost, you must take the plunge and get online. Second, you should seek expert advice early in your exploration. This site is designed to help you learn what you need to know to explore the Web, and to give you a place where you can visit, time after time, to find the resources you need to explore the Web.
Overcoming The Obstacles
Lawyers face several obstacles when they turn their attention to using the Internet.
These obstacles can be characterized as motivational, technological, philosophical and
legal and ethical. The motivational obstacles are those that stem from concerns about
using computers and from concerns about the value of what can be found on the Internet.
The motivational solutions to overcoming these obstacles are clear. First, discover the
large quantity of useful legal and business information on the Web. Second, commit to
learning to use the tools necessary to search and retrieve data from the Web. Lawyers are
professionals whose business requires the best information possible, and lawyers must
learn to follow the information as it migrates to the Web.
The second obstacle is technological. There are presently bandwidth limitations that slow
access to information on the Web. The more graphically intensive the site, the slower it
loads. This is no reason not to visit the Web. There are ways to deal with this problem.
Faster modems make a big difference. You can employ search techniques that are designed to
overcome concerns about the speed data is obtained. Security issues exist, but they are no
reason not to explore the Web. Learn where the security problems are and are not. Use good
anti-virus software and update it regularly. Do not connect your network to the Internet.
Technology is advancing rapidly, and it will bring solutions to existing problems and more
problems to solve.
The third obstacle is philosophical. Some believe that the Internet should not be
available at work because employees will waste time on the computer and access
inappropriate material if Internet access is available. Firms must think about
establishing Internet use policies, and must decide how much energy and money they will
devote to Internet access and Internet training. Because uniformed employees may make
mistakes in how they use the Internet that could prove embarrassing or worse, some
investment in training seems prudent.
The last obstacle is one special to lawyers. They have legal and ethical concerns about
Internet use not shared by others. Lawyers have ethical obligations to preserve the
confidentiality of certain communications, and therefore have special concerns about the
insecurity of e-mail that travels over the Internet. Lawyers must comply with ethical
limitations on advertising that vary by jurisdiction and which may influence how they
communicate over the Internet. Lawyers are hesitant to give advice freely in Internet
discussion groups because they must worry about a host of issues. In informal discussions,
it is hard to run a conflicts check, do a thorough investigation, and be sure of the law
that applies (or even whether the lawyer is appropriately licensed to practice) before
giving advice.
While these concerns are real, they should not be used as an excuse for refusing to
venture out. Instead, they should be seen as compelling reasons to obtain appropriate
training.
The links accessible from this page are designed to accompany an all day program on the
Internet that The Practical Professor Incorporated puts on in locations around the United
States.
The Quickstart page is designed to familiarize
the novice Internet user with online resources that are useful to the beginner and to
demonstrate the variety of material currently available online.
The Lecture Links page features legal resources
available online. It is designed for use by lawyers interested in expanding their
knowledge of the use of the Web in the practice of law.
The Site Construction Links page features
resources that someone interested in creating their own home page on the Web would find
useful. This page also features links to lawyer home pages so you can see what others are
doing in the site construction area.
The Legal Issue Links provide links to online
resources that can help you evaluate the various legal issues that are raised by the rise
of the Internet.
The Business Links provide access to a
variety of online business resources. These links provide practical business information
such as access to the Postal Service zip code locator, access to e-mail address finders,
access to company information and access to business travel information.
The Unusual Links page gives examples of some
of the more unusual sites on the Web. They range from the obscure to the comic to the
weird.
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