Entire Issue - National Association of Legal Assistants

PRACTICETIPS
Knowledge Really IS Power
Behold the Power of the Internet
by Patricia J. Gustin, CLA, CFEI
Test Your Internet Knowledge
1. What was the original name of the Internet?
2. What entity created the Internet?
3. When was the Internet first implemented?
4. Which entity(ies) were the initial, primary users?
5. How far-reaching was the Internet in its initial phases?
(Answers are at the end of this article.)
Oh, the power of the Internet!
It’s efficient, practical, all-encompassing, infinite in
wisdom, and so easily accessible. What a wonderful tool to
have at our fingertips. Too bad we didn’t have it until only a
dozen years ago. Look at all the time we could have saved
had we known about it sooner. Well, it’s here today, so let’s
take advantage of it.
Most, if not all, legal assistants use the Internet as a primary
means of finding information and conducting legal
research. It is awesome what you can find with a few key
words, a Web site URL, or the click of a mouse. If it exists, it
likely can be found on the Internet.
Accessing the Internet is easy, but what you need quickly
and on target with your research can be tricky. A major obstacle
to using the Internet as a legal research tool is finding the
information of interest.
Strategies you may find useful include the following:
1. Narrow the search. Have a good idea of the topic, subject,
or issue you are going to search. You can start by
using the Internet Service Provider’s search directory to
find links to Web sites that may be useful. Learn to use
“advanced” as well as “simple” search options.
2. Use search engines and general Web sites to begin your
search. Plug in the key word(s) or phrase(s). The search
engine will search an array of databases and then return
the results to you. Note that no single search engine is
capable of searching the entire Internet.
3. Bookmark (aka:“ Favorites”) the Web sites you like.
Bookmarking will create shortcuts for future searches.
Create folders to better organize your bookmarks, including
search engines. For Internet Explorer, click on
Favorites, then click on “Organize Favorites” from the
menu bar. Click the “Move” button, then click the folder
you wish to store, then click “OK.” For Navigator, click
on the selected folder and hold the mouse button down,
drag the bookmark to the folder, and release.
4. Delete unwanted bookmarks or favorites. Periodically
clean out unwanted or no longer useful Web sites to avoid
confusion and information overload. For Internet Explorer,
choose “Favorites,” then choose “Organize Favorites.”
Click on the folder you want to delete, and then click
“Delete.” For Navigator, click on “Bookmarks,” then click
on “Edit Bookmark.” Select the file you want to delete,
then press “Delete.”
More Tips
1. When downloading, check the Web site for what download
software is used. Many Web sites use Acrobat PDF
format, but there could be exceptions where other types of
software are used. Web sites often direct you to links
where you can download software. Be sure to check if this
download is free or is offered at a price.
2. Check the Web site for terms and conditions of use
before downloading. Many, but not all, Web sites that can
be accessed on the Internet for legal research are free of
charge, but be sure to read the fine print.
3. Use file compression software to compact files for
uploading, downloading and transferring files or folders to
disk. WinZIP is the most widely used file compression
software, and you can access an evaluation download version
at http://www.winzip.com.
4. Verify your research. Check for the date in which the particular
Web site was updated. If you find that it has not been
recently updated, verify your findings through other methods.
Here is a sampling to get you on your way to conducting
the next legal research project.
Search Engines and Web Directories
Starting points for search engines and web directories
include
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FACTS & FINDINGS / AUGUST 2003