university of cambridge faculty of law and squire law library

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

and Squire Law Library

Freshfields Legal Research Skills Course

Introduction and On-Line Resources

20 January 2003

The Stereotypical Lawyers Response

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

BOOKS V CD’S V INTERNET

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

• Traditional Library:

– Well established methods– Good historical records– Often obscure resources

– Fixed content– Slow– Index-based– Space– Access– Cost

BOOKS V CD’S V INTERNET

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

• CD ROMs:

– Fast access– Easy searching– Easy application of material

– Fixed content– Cost– Access– Product differences

BOOKS V CD’S V INTERNET

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

• Internet:

– Easy access– Easy searching– Easily/quickly updated– Easy application of material– [Cheap]

– Reliability ?– Currency ?– Access speed variable

THE DIVISION OF IT

Back Office Systems

Front Office Systems

Client Side Systems

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

BACK OFFICE SYSTEMS

• Accounts;

• Time management/recording;

• Holiday management;

• Document management;

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

FRONT OFFICE SYSTEMS

• Scheduling;

• Knowledge management;

• Billing information;

• Litigation support:

– Lotus Notes;

– Document Exchange;

– Transcript Analyser/Live Note;

• Email;

• Dictation;

• Templates;

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

CLIENT SIDE SYSTEMS

• Web pages:– Information;– Updates;– Advice;

• Access to internal; documents/information;

• Email;

• Billing information;

• Deal rooms;

• Dispute databanks;

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

LAW FIRM FINANCES

• Average per-hour charge-out rate for newly qualified City solicitor:

• £200

(Excluding VAT)

• Weekly target hours:

• 40 (8 x 5)

• Total weekly income per solicitor:

• £8,000• (Plus VAT - £9,400)

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

Gratuitous funny clip

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

Studying The Freshfields Course

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

• Printed Sources;

• Course File;

• Timetable;

• Sign Up;

• Attendance;

• Assessment;

University of CambridgeFaculty of Law

and Squire Law Library

Introduction and On-Line

Resources

20 January 2003