The Lawyer's Window to the World
| Publication year | 1990 |
| Pages | 1321 |
| Citation | Vol. 19 No. 7 Pg. 1321 |
1990, July, Pg. 1321. The Lawyer's Window to the World
While computerization of law firms has been common for the past ten years, law firms have been slow to look beyond basic in-house applications such as word processing or professional timekeeping and billing. However, several years ago, the Colorado Bar Association ("CBA") contracted with Mead Data Central to provide LEXIS service to CBA members at an attractive rate. This has become one of the most successful state bar association programs in the country.(fn1)
The success of the CBA LEXIS program demonstrates an increased use of telecommunications by law firms. Many firms now have telecommunications capability, although few fully tap that potential. Yet, for many professions, including law, telecommunications can be the window to the world. This article addresses some of the telecommunications opportunities available to law firms. The adjacent Law Office Management Department Update (on page 1324) more thoroughly describes CO-BARNet, the CBA's own telecommunications service.(fn2)
Telecommunications is the process by which two or more computers in different locations speak with one another. The computers must be linked through some type of pathway, generally telephone lines. Telephone lines are analog devices, which send waves of energy (voice) from one location to another. When a computer attempts the process, the analog transmission must be converted into digital transmission---pulses of on/off signals. That transmission requires a converter from analog into digital and back again. The converter is called a modem (MOdulator/DEModulator). The transmission further requires (1) software to allow the computer to send and receive such signals, (2) access to the other computer and, finally, (3) telephone connections between the system. An office telecommunications system requires all of the above plus access to external services which can provide vast amounts of data almost instantly.
Because telecommunications remains a fairly sophisticated science, initial setup time for an office system cannot be cut short. Use of any telecommunications option requires good training and ease of use to be valuable.
A database, within the context of this article, is a computerized storage area for large amounts of information, which are accessible by use of a computer and modem in the lawyer's office. Computer experts have estimated that more than 90 percent of all material which has ever been written is now available on some computer system, somewhere in the world. Therefore, telecommunications is an electronic library. Often, the resources of large metropolitan libraries or law libraries are not available to all lawyers, particularly those outside major metropolitan areas. However, telecommunications brings all these resources as close as a telephone and a computer system.
Telecommunications equipment and services also are...
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