Q: I want to learn about how lawyers use tech in their research. I'm familiar with Lexis and WestLaw.
I'm trying to understand, in depth, what such online databases such as WestLaw are used by lawyers for. What are you researching on the databases, how long it takes you, and how much manual work do you still have to do after using the platforms. I also want to understand what research you would like to have a digital software for, but currently do manually.
A:
This is really a big question and the answer could fill pages. Legal databases are used for a number of purposes. A easy one is looking for cases. That's fairly straightforward and simple. Because the time spent on these systems is at a premium, they are more often used for more specialized tasks, such as finding issues or applications/interpretations of statutes in earlier case law. The time spent depends on the efficiency and experience of the user. In terms of manual tasks, there are many new platforms for document review and e-discovery. However, some of these tasks are still done manually, so far as searching for key terms within documents because some attorneys find that simpler than acclimating to new software. You are going to find many resources on the topics you mention online.
Tim Akpinar
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