Lawyers looking to start their New Year with purpose can do a lot worse than to look at two excellent resources:
Delia Venables is one of the most respected IT/Law Consultants & journalists within the United Kingdom. She provides a consistently high quality journal at an excellent value and continues to write the Internet Newsletter for Lawyers & Law 2.0 with Nick Holmes.
The latest edition includes.
1. Firstly, she provide an article on Software as a Service - how it works, what makes it special, which are the main legal software companies already providing their software in this way, and why it is going mainstream in 2008.
2. Mark Harrison of small firm e-Litigate, describes how he "went virtual", giving a blow by blow account of the software, services and resources needed to do this. Probably, quite a few more firms will "go virtual" in 2008.
3. Susan Doe, Legal Librarian of international firm Sidley Austin, describes how legal research in England differs from legal research in the USA - different types of legal resource and different ways of using these resources.
4. Laurie Kaye provides a concise guide to what you should know about digital media law for the year ahead, including liability for third party content, privacy, jurisdiction and the role of technical standards.
5. Berwins LLP, a medium sized firm in Harrogate, describes why it decided to produce its own HIPs and how it does this.
6. Graham Smith has recently brought out the fourth edition of his "Internet Law and Regulation" and we ask him how the topic has changed over the last 11 years, since he brought out the first (slim) edition.
7. Stephen Moore describes a new (free) legal resource called CaseCheck which he has set up. This uses a Web 2.0 platform to present and analyse Scottish Court and EAT case summaries.
8. Robert Dow, Chairman of PLC, describes how his company is working on its own Law 2.0 products in connection with the new Companies Act and how PLC hopes to involve practitioners in sharing their knowledge and expertise.
9. Nick Holmes considers which Web 2.0 innovations are actually going to be of most use to lawyers (as distinct from the general public) over the next year.
The newsletter is primariy a printed publication (not everyone wants to spend their whole day glued to a computer) but it is also provided online, without extra charge. You can see what the newsletter looks like here. You cannot see the full stories unless you are a subscriber but you can see how it "looks and feels".
I thoroughly recommend Delia's and Nick work. It should be borne in mind that both have been top of their field for a fair time. 18 months ago I delivered a talk where Delia attended and one City lawyer partner said"Wow. You got Delia Venables to attend! How did you manage that?"
Alternatively......
Leading UK Blawgger,Charon QC - has recently not just provided an excellent Blawg Review(What is Blawg Review?) but he has just prepared a Weekend Podcast covering legal issues. As he writes "Each weekend, we are doing a 35-40 minute netradio programme. This week Charon talks to John Bolch of Family Lore on family law, Carl Gardner, Head of Legal, on the Peter Hain ‘Donorsgate’ affair, myself on mediation, Geeklawyer on solicitors wearing wigs and some developments in Intellectual Property Law and we also have a reflective post from Peter Rouse of Advizory.
Listen to the Weekend Review Podcast on Consilio"
As usual with Charon, he blends between law and current affairs with ease, serious content with humour, as well.
Both Charon QC/Venables & Holmes are refreshing with the innovation and thought provoking material which they provide.
More of the same, please.