Online Law Primer 101

摘要

The responsibility of fielding legal questions is onerous, knowing that the unauthorized practice of law is, well, illegal. Librarians, therefore, must bravely forge ahead with the mantra, "I can lead you to resources and teach you how to use them, but I cannot interpret the law or recommend what forms you need." There will always be a demand for reliable, easy-to-interpret online sources that are free. As a county law library (think thrifty), we spend our collection budget mostly on books. That is what our clientele prefers, so buying more than one online database overwhelms our budget. Small libraries, and even large ones, may not have legal databases or current resources about the law, considering the hefty price tag that is synonymous with legal resources. (One volume of a serial set may cost upward of $1,000.) Therefore, knowing what is not only free to use, but also useful as a legal resource, will help you strategize online tactics to make you a more comfortable legal searcher.