The Department of Legal Studies

Legal Information Management

LSLW 572

Spring Y2K

PROFESSOR: Jack Baldwin-LeClair, M.A. Ed.S. J.D.
TIME / LOCATION:
  • Monday 6:45-9:25 P.M. DICKSON 280
OFFICE HOURS: Posted in Legal Studies Office, DI 331 and by appointment.
TELEPHONE:
  • School: 655.7953- Voice Mail; FAX:655-7951
  • Home office: 973.538.2204;

TEXTS:

  • "A"=Allison, G. Burgess - Lawyer's Guide to the Internet, (Chicago: American Bar Association, 19XX). ISBN1-57073-149-7
  • Order from http://www.amazon.com

GRADING:

  • Midterm Examination: 30%
  • Final Examination: 30%
  • Classroom Participation: 10%
  • Homework and Computer Lab Assignments: 30%

PURPOSE OF THIS COURSE

This course is a survey course. No prior computer knowledge is necessary or expected. The purpose of the course is as follows:

  1. To explore the importance of the internet and proprietary services in the acquisition of information.
  2. To acquaint the student with the use of a variety of computer tools available to assist the legal professionals in the performance of daily tasks in managing information.
  3. To understand how a web browsers and web authoring programs can help perform specific tasks useful in a law office.
  4. To teach a basic level of Internet literacy; an understanding of the terminology used by Interent users in the legal field.
  5. To introduce the World Wide Web, proprietary information sources, web authoring programs and their component parts and their functions.

NOTES

  1. Reading assignments must be prepared in advance of the class meeting date.
  2. Not all course material is covered in the Handouts. Examinations may include material covered by lecture, class discussion, handouts, demonstrations or lab sessions in addition to assigned readings.
  3. There will be no makeup examinations.(1)
  4. Grades will be lowered if assignments are completed late.
  5. Class attendance is mandatory and class participation will be rewarded.
  6. Recommended reference books and supplemental reading materials will be assigned.
  7. Students are encouraged to work cooperatively.

TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS

All topics will be covered on a flexible schedule depending on the needs of the class, scheduling of computer facilities and other factors. Preliminary dates are not provided.

DATE - TOPIC - ASSIGNMENT

 

PART I - Introduction to Legal Information Management - The tools, rules, cools, and mules.
Tues- 01.18.00 Overview of the class; The changing nature of law and legal information: From Yellow Pads to Mouse Pads. Points of Information Exchange in the legal document production process. What is Research? Resources at MSU and how the network operates ; Setting up your E-mail account ; Using the WWW Setting up your World Wide Web browser Order Allison book from Amazon.com.
Tues- 01.25.00 The foundation of legal information management: the hardware, the operating system, and the supporting software. Available products and resources. NT, Windows 95, Windows 3.1, UNIX, Linux, Apple or Apple Sauce etc. A: 1-18, 137-152
Tues- 02.01.00 The nature of the Beast: Internet, Arpanet, Darpanet, Gopher. A: 19-56, 173-184
Tues- 02.08.00 The World of Web Browsers// Netscape and Dynamic Data: Information on the Internet: where it is, how to get it most efficiently. The search engines: Alta Vista, Lycos, Inktome, etc.// Students choose special projects. A: 59-74, 169-172
Tues- 02.15.00 More sites and cites: The pitfalls of the open technology. 81-100
Tues- 02.22.00 Static Data: Using Lexis/Nexis and other systems to collect needed data
Tues- 02.29.00 MIDTERM EXAMINATION  Midterm Handout Study Guide - Available prior week
 

PART II - The Proprietary Sevices and Other Resources in the Legal Environment
Tues- 03.13.00 Lexis Continued - Harry O., Canon, Hawaii Five O, Magnum: Investigation on the Web: tricks and truths.
Tues- 03.21.00 Managing the data in the dynamic legal environment: brief banks, client files, case files A: 101-136
Tues- 03.27.00 Automated Litigation Support: Access.
Tues- 04.04.00 The intranet environment in the law office. How to make it - how to shake it  A: 153-164, HANDOUTS: Internet Protocol and Rules; Law Firm Information Systems
Tues- 04.11.00 Managing financial documents and linking information across platforms - Excel
Tues- 04.18.00 Using HTML and other resources to create internal web sites. The use of FrontPage and other utilities.  
Tues- 04.25.00 Laboratory Website Continued  
Tues- 05.02.00 Review for Final - special projects submitted...The future of online technology... Move over Guttenberg - The Last Class Roundup -
Tues- 05.09.00 FINAL EXAMINATION  

(1)Makeup exams will only be given in the event of terrorist attacks, kidnappings, or death (yours).

(2)Withdrawal deadline is Mar 16th to receive a WD with 0% refund.