A Page on the Web, published in the Solicitors Journal, February 1998.

I have been remiss in not to date covering in this column in any substantial way the most significant legal research site on the web – Lawtel. Launched as a Prestel service in 1980, it failed to attract any significant following until after its acquisition by Centaur Publishing and its relaunch using web browser technology in June 1996.

The service can be accessed on the web at www.lawtel.co.uk or by direct connection to Lawtel (which is, of course, faster). It comprises searchable databases of details (and in most cases synopses) of primary sources of law and articles, plus law directories and ancillary services such as company searches and a research bureau. A daily update feature gathers together the most recent additions to the databases and can be tailored to suit an individual user’s profile.

Access is by way of searches over some or all of the databases. Searches of the Cases and SIs databases can be focused on particular fields, eg names of parties. Lets follow my fishing expedition:

• Fed up with the South Circular Road, in the statutes database I search for ‘road traffic’. Several Acts are listed, the most recent of which is the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997. The arrangement of Sections is given and a link to the ‘Full Text’ of the Act on HMSO’s site.
• I know that there’s a Road Traffic Bill going through Parliament, so search again for ‘road traffic’ in the Bills database. I find details of the Bill and this time a link to the full text on the Parliament site.
• Aren’t the Land Registration forms changing soon? I find details of the Rules by searching for ‘land registration’ in the title field of the SIs database. One of the enabling Acts is the Charities Act 1993 and this is linked to the Lawtel details for that Act (the LPA 1925 predates Lawtel’s archives). There is also a link to the full text of the SI on HMSO’s site.
• I am interested in internet domain names and search for the ‘Pitman’ case in the Parties field of the Cases search form. Finding the synopsis, I decide to download it to my PC. Having done that fiddle, I figure next time I’ll just cut and paste the text. Here’s the header bit:

  Case Name: (1) PITMAN TRAINING LTD (2) PEARSON PROFESSIONAL LTD v (1) NOMINET UK
  (2) PEARSON PROFESSIONAL LTD (1997)
  Subject: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
  Descriptors: THE INTERNET AND E-MAIL ADDRESSES
  Summary: Action claiming passing off, interference with contract and abuse of process in respect of the allegedly unlawful allocation of an e-mail address.
  Court: Ch.D (Sir Richard Scott V-C) 22/5/97
  Appearances: Adrian Speck instructed by Dibb Lupton Alsop, London for the plaintiffs.
  Emma Himsworth instructed by Willoughby & Partners, London, for second defendant.
  References: LTL 17/7/97 : (1997) FSR 797
  Supplementary Text: Approved – 29 pages

  Unfortunately there is no link to the full text of the decision which I know is on the Court Service site. If I didn’t know that I could order the transcript from Lawtel.

• Lastly, I want to refer to the recent White Paper (or is it still Green?) on Crown copyright. A search for ‘crown copyright’ 1998 finds the details and tells me I can purchase it for £9.75 from HMSO, but there is no link to the free online version on HMSO’s site.
• Finally, finally, I use the Update feature to find today’s additions. While I’ve been online, details of another Land Registration SI have been added, but no link to online full text. A quick switch to HMSO’s site shows me it’s not yet on the web, so no points deducted!

Lawtel is an impressive service and certainly a comfortable choice if you are after a one-stop shop for your legal updating and research. There’s not much that you can’t find referenced there, though you will do well to wing your way to the web to supplement it.

Lawtel’s particular strength is its coverage of case law. Its Transcripts Express service now offers any draft or official transcript, and coverage of unreported cases in all areas of law is greater than any other provider, available the day judgment is given.

Lawtel is a subscription service offering unlimited access priced according to size of practice You cannot browse anything for free except the brochureware part of the site. However, you can arrange an online demonstration by contacting Lawtel.

The Lord Chancellor’s Department

The Lord Chancellor’s Department has just upgraded its website. The intention is to provide user-friendly access to the work of the Department. There are sections on press notices, speeches, consultation papers, policy development, magistrates and the judiciary. The topic pages include useful links to other web resources. For example, the Criminal Matters page points to Sweet & Maxwell’s Court Listings service, the Home Office Criminal Justice page and the Crown Prosecution Service. There is also a page of links to Parliament, related departments and agencies, and other legal sites.The Department has an extensive database of useful information to offer the legal profession and the revamped site goes a long way to making this more accessible.

The Law Society of Scotland

The Law Society of Scotland has launched its site. Avoid the unnecessary opening screen, complete with time-consuming tartan downloads, by bookmarking the main page. This is a quality site with some innovative features for both Scots lawyers and the public they serve, including a directory of firms searchable by name and/or location and the awkwardly-named Dial-a-Law, the Society’s information and referral service, which offers information on over 40 legal topics. Practitioners south of the border should press for similar on the Law Society site.