NCJ Number
64995
Journal
LAW AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY Dated: (JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1974) Pages: 16-28
Date Published
1974
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE BRIEFLY DISCUSSES THE IMPACT OF THE COMPUTER ON LEGISLATION AND THE COURTS AND EXAMINES THE COMPUTER AS A RESEARCH TOOL FOR THE PRACTICING LAWYER AND AS A BUSINESS MACHINE IN THE OFFICE.
Abstract
COMPUTERS, USED EXTENSIVELY BY STATE LEGISLATURES AND COURTS, ARE BECOMING USEFUL TO ATTORNEYS AS LEGAL KNOWLEDGE EXPANDS. ALTHOUGH COURT DECISIONS ARE TRADITIONALLY INDEXED FOR RESEARCH, COMPUTERS MAKE POSSIBLE THE STORAGE OF FULL TEXTS OF DECISIONS AND SIMPLIFY THE RETRIEVAL OF ALL INFORMATION ON A DECISION. EXISTING COMPUTERIZED RESEARCH PROGRAMS FOR LAWYERS TRAIN THEM TO DO COMPUTER SEARCHES, OR PROVIDE THEM WITH TERMINAL ENTRY INTO FULL-TEXT STORAGE SYSTEMS. THE U.S. AIR FORCE AND GOVERNMENT HAVE UNDERTAKEN SEVERAL COMPUTER LEGAL RESEARCH PROJECTS. COMPUTERIZED ESTATE PLANNING PROGRAMS NOW AVAILABLE CALCULATE TAX INTERRELATIONSHIPS AND PROVIDE CLIENTS WITH DIRECT TERMINAL USE TO PLAN THEIR ESTATES. COMPUTERIZED TAX RETURN SERVICE SAVES ATTORNEY OR STAFF TIME AND IMPROVES ACCURACY, ALTHOUGH MANY USERS COMPLAIN OF DELAYS IN OBTAINING COMPLETED FORMS. IN LARGE CASES, COMPUTERS CAN BE USED TO STORE AND CORRELATE EVIDENCE OR ANALYZE TESTIMONY FOR INCONSISTENCIES. COMPUTERIZED OFFICE MANAGEMENT, INVOLVING A THOROUGH STUDY OF OFFICE FUNCTIONS, CAN HELP ATTORNEYS ACCOUNT FOR THEIR TIME; STORE OFFICE RECORDS; AND PREPARE DOCUMENTS, PLEADINGS, AND BRIEFS. MOREOVER, MAJOR FIRMS NOW PRODUCE WORD PROCESSING MACHINES DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR THE LEGAL PROFESSION. (PAP)