Please note: this course is no longer being sold but is included here for reference.
Legal Web 2010/2011: Free Legal Resources on the Web – Part 2, first published in June 2010, is no 12 in a series of
online ebooks with CPD, called "The Legal Web".
These ebooks with CPD (published in pdf) are designed for use in any of three ways:
- reading on screen, with live links to follow up on areas of interest
- printing off in sections for armchair reading
- as an online course qualifying for CPD from the Bar Standards Board and the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Each of the titles in the series consist of practical articles written by Nick and Delia and other leading
experts in their fields. Full details of all the courses in the series are given on the
infolaw site but here is a brief summary.
Contents and Course Aims
There is a vast amount of free legal information on the web available for anyone prepared to give just a little time to finding out about it.
The two parts of this course “Free Legal Resources on the Web” work systematically through the many and varied types of free
legal resource available, from Parliamentary and official sources for legislation, sources of judgments and case summaries,
and practical legal information provided by Government through the extensive European and Commonwealth resources,
information (far beyond “marketing”) provided by some chambers and some firms of solicitors and finally, how this is being
brought together in “FreeLegalWeb”.
Each of the chapters is intended to take the student one hour to read and absorb, including the investigation of some of the
important legal sites described. All the links needed are provided in the text, so “exploration” is an integral part of the course.
Students will probably want to set many bookmarks on their own computers, as they take this course!
Each ebook qualifies for 5 CPD hours from the Solicitors Regulation Authority and
the Bar Standards Board. We hope you will enjoy this ebook and find it interesting and useful.
The ebook can be read on screen and all the links to relevant web sites described in the text are provided,
making an interesting and useful course experience.
There is a straight forward test at the end to be returned to Delia Venables for marking.
1. The Europa site and other European sites
Europa – the key European site for everything legal. Also, Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights and International Court of Justice.
2. Commonwealth, USA and International starting points
It all started with AustLII and now it’s a whole of family of legal Information Institutes. Also, USA legal sites and International “compendium” sites to start a legal search just about anywhere.
3. Legal Resources provided by Barristers – proof of expertise
Human Rights Update from One Crown Office Row, Current Awareness from the Inner Temple Library, 5RB, Doughty Street, 3-4 South Square, Hardwicke Building, 11 Kings Bench Walk.
4. Legal Resources provided by Solicitors – beyond marketing
Abuselaw, Bhatt Murphy, CrimeLine, Disease-I, DP Law, Elbourne Mitchell, Elexica, Gamble & Ghevaert, Law-Now, Malcolm Johnson, Manches, Mewburn Ellis, out-law, Wiki Mental Health, Wikivorce.
5. FreeLegalWeb – joining it all up
A collaborative project designed to join up and make sense of publicly accessible law and authored commentary, and to encourage ongoing contribution and participation, for the benefit of lawyers, advisers and the public at large.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, you will have an appreciation of the many sources of free legal information on the web.
In particular, you will know:
- The key European legal sites and the Europa site in particular
- The “Legal Information Institutes” and how they all fit together; USA legal sites and how to find legal resources in other areas of the world using a set of international starting points
- The key legal resources provided by barristers
- The key information legal resources provided by firms of solicitors
- How it is “coming together” in a collaborative legal project called Freelegalweb.
Gaining the CPD
To qualify for the 5 hours CPD, you need to answer a straight forward set of questions.
You can see the questions
here (you do not have to have already purchased the e-book to see the questions).
The questions are not difficult in themselves
but are intended to indicate, for CPD purposes, that you have indeed worked through the materials,
visited some of the sites described in it and considered the issues raised.
You can print out the questions to keep beside you as you read the e-book.
However, please note that the questions may change from time to time.
Do not worry about the precise style or format of the answers — the questions will be marked by a human being (ie me),
not a machine! Please keep your answers short and simple; the process is not designed for “essay” type answers.
Also, do not hit "Return" or "Tab" in the middle of one of your answers, since the system then assumes that you
have finished answering that question.
The pass rate is 70 per cent and practitioners may submit one further set of answers if they fail the first time.
I am normally able to send you the reply within 2 working days. However, occasionally there are computer problems or I am even on holiday!
If you wish to check on the latest situation with respect to possible
problems or delays, please see
The Problems Page.
Evaluation Form
There is an evaluation form
here which enables you to comment on whether the course has met its
aims and intended learning outcomes, the ease of using the online materials, the relevance of the set of
CPD questions and whether the course gives good value for money. There is also a question relating to
accessibility issues and whether we can make the course easier to use for those with any kind of disability.
You can fill in this form online and submit it to me (the process of doing this is the same
as answering the test questions). If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you can print out the form, fill it in by hand
and post it to me at 10 South Way, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1LU.
Cost and How to Purchase
The course costs £70 plus VAT and includes the use, by one person, of the course, qualifying for 5 CPD points.
A multiple use licence, suitable for organisations with several people likely to use the e-book and including the
licence for up to 5 people to take the course, costs £170 plus VAT.
There is a special "combo" purchase possible, with the purchase of this course together with
Part 2 for £110 plus VAT for the single user licence,
and £230 plus VAT for the mutliple user licence.
For organisations purchasing the multiple use licence and wanting more than 5 people to take the course
and obtain the CPD, additional CPD entitlements can be purchased in packs of 5, for £15 a person, ie £75,
plus VAT (obviously, each person still has to take, and pass, the online test!).
You can purchase the course from the infolaw site
here.
After completing the purchase, the user can access and download the course, and when ready, complete the
brief test and be credited with the CPD.
Purchasing is by secure credit card processing and allows immediate
access to the course. If you do not wish to pay by credit card, other payment methods can also be accommodated
on the infolaw site, including sending a cheque. Online access is enabled on receipt of payment.
