Law of the Super Searchers: The Online Secrets of Top Legal Researchers (Super Searchers Series) [Paperback]

T. R. Halvorson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 091096534X | ISBN-13: 978-0910965347 | Publication Date: December 1, 1999 | Edition: 1

Presented by a symposium of experts in the field, here is detailed information on how to approach, analyze, and carry through a legal research project. This book skips the rudimentary introduction to research on the Web and focuses on topics of practical concern to practicing lawyers and legal research professionals. These topics include documenting the search, organizing a strategy, what to consider before logging on, and efficient ways to build a search. Much more than just an appendix of soon-to-be-obsolete Web sites and links, this book offers fundamental strategies for modern law research by taking advantage of the wealth of information available online.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

T. R. Halvorson is the author of How to Avoid Liability and Internet Opportunities and Liabilities of Information Professionals. He lives in Sidney, Montana.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Information Today, Inc.; 1 edition (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091096534X
• ISBN-13: 978-0910965347
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,657,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars learning from domain experts is fun!, December 5, 1999

By 

S. L. Gerhart (Prescott AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Law of the Super Searchers: The Online Secrets of Top Legal Researchers (Super Searchers Series) (Paperback)

This book should appeal to: 1) software developers and usability testers, to learn from experiences with well-established proprietary and newer web-based interfaces to highly structured databases (billions, literally, of pages in Lexis and WestLaw); 2) content developers, web trainers and educators in all fields who wrestle with quality issues of web content; 3) observers of how professional communities use the web, as organized associations and for bottom-up information sharing; 4) amateur and semi-pro searchers who want to get tips from real pros trained in library and information science, as well as specific legal contents and methods.

Warning to workplace cynics: this is a no-Dilbert zone.

Example interview topics include: (software/usability) how are browser bookmarks used? are any web utilities widely adopted? (content/training) when is the web a trustworthy source of information? which comes first, in what circumstances: the web or fee-based services?

(community organizers) how do websites evolve to so well serve diverse professionals using cooperative and volunteer labor? (amateurs/semi-pros) how do people who search for a living in a rapid turn-around environment organize their work? (cynics) are there really people who still have long-lasting careers and love their work? how do they survive the nutty managers, mindless meetings, and constant change of fads?

Expanding the series and theme of "super searcher" books, this set of interviews goes more deeply into the technical aspects of legal research without losing the non-legal reader in either the terms of the field or the names of the content providers. My only complaint was the frequent reference to "stock techniques taught in legal research" which might have been better defined or compared, but I loved the phrase "build a search".

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn From The Best!, December 5, 1999

By 

Jerry A. Lawson (Burke, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Law of the Super Searchers: The Online Secrets of Top Legal Researchers (Super Searchers Series) (Paperback)

This wonderful, timely book consists of interviews with the country's top legal researchers. I can't think of a better way to learn about legal research than from experts like Sabrina Pacifici, Cindy Chick, Diana Botluk, Genie Tyburski, Leigh Webber and the others profiled.

If legal research is part of your professional life, do yourself a favor: Buy This Book.

Jerry Lawson, Author of The Complete Internet Handbook for Lawyers (ABA 1999).

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for paralegals, law students, and researchers., February 3, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Law of the Super Searchers: The Online Secrets of Top Legal Researchers (Super Searchers Series) (Paperback)

The online secrets of top legal researchers are covered in an important guide which uses interviews with experts to focus on legal research topics. From web site listings and commercial services to databases and professional journals, this is packed with practical references to legal research processes.