Where's the computer revolution?

September 9, 2002

JCA wonders law research is stuck somewhere back before the computer age. I have no doubt that this is something that is changing-- Lexis and Westlaw have moved from expensive proprietary systems to expensive web-based systems. As the courts and lawyers get more familiar with technology, I expect that democratization of information will reach legal research in the next few years, but there will alwyas be a market for premium information services.

I'm wondering when law schools are going to give up on paper casebooks. As much as I prefer reading on paper to reading on screen, each of these casebooks weighs in the vicinity of 5-6 pounds. Why schlep 2 or 3 of these to the law school every day when I could have a hyperlinked and searchable version on my computer (which is smaller and lighter than any single casebook)? Copyright problems? License them to the school and increase tuition by $500. However, Ball State University studied The Usability of eBook Technology and found that students were not impressed with the implementation.