Electronic Paper

Betsy McKenzie on paper vs. electronic legal research

Out of the Jungle is a group weblog with thoughts on the present and future of legal information, legal research, and legal education.

Here's part of a recent entry by Betsy McKenzie entitled "Survivor II - Paper vs. Electronic":

I am not a luddite. I do a huge amount of my research electronically. There are things you cannot do without Lexis or Westlaw, or some other electronic search program. But there are also clearly some materials, like treatises and CLEs, where you want to be able to page through chapters, and browse. I know that Westlaw has added the browse and page features. But I also know that I cannot read very long online. I can scan and then decide what to print. I cannot browse, muse, page and go back and read again deeply with any expectation that my eyes won't be doing the video boogie.

I have said earlier in this blog that I think that you think differently and more deeply when you are working in paper. This is maybe what the difference comes down to. Maybe it's just that you can go more slowly, go back, muse and browse better in print.

Dennis Kennedy on electronic discovery, corporate counsel and the law

Dennis Kennedy writes:

Sue Reisinger's "In-House Attorneys Become IT Gatekeepers" on Law.com paints an accurate picture of the role in which many corporate counsel have reluctantly found themselves in today's electronic discovery environment. In simplest terms, corporate counsel often find themselves reluctantly playing the role of intermediary between IT departments who don't fully understand the legal issues involved in electronic discovery and outside law firms who have only rudimentary knowldge of IT practices, procedures and technologies.

As the article describes, many companies face a disaster just waiting to happen.

A few quotes will give you the flavor:

"When it comes to e-discovery, many in-house counsel still find themselves in over their heads."

"But despite electronic data's notoriety, recent surveys show that an alarming percentage of corporate attorneys and their companies still aren't up to speed. A study by Cohasset Associates Inc., a Chicago-based records management firm, showed that 46 percent of the companies surveyed don't have a formal system for holding records, and 65 percent don't include electronic documents when they retain documents."

"For e-discovery, there's a classic disconnect between technology and the law, and the law hasn't fully caught up."

the blog goes on to say

This post brought to you by Dennis Kennedy's half-day electronic discovery seminar - "Preparing for the New World of Electronic Discovery: Easing Your Transition from Paper to Electronic Discovery." Contact Dennis today for more information and to schedule a seminar for your firm or legal department.