Whither the Legal Web? Parts 1 and 2

An e-book with CPD by Nick Holmes and Delia Venables

(The first two titles in the Legal Web Series)

Whither the Legal Web? was published in late 2005. The two parts form the first two titles in a series of online e-books with CPD, called "The Legal Web". These e-books with CPD (published in pdf) are designed for use in any of three ways:

Practical content

The e-book is published in two parts, with practical articles written by Nick and Delia and other leading experts in their fields. Full details of the chapters and sections are given on Nick Holmes' site but there is a brief summary below. The e-books 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.

Part 1 Legal Information

Part 1 looks at the way that the law itself is presented on the web. It covers the public provision of law on the web and ongoing initiatives to improve it: BAILII and the Statute Law Database (will it ever arrive?), EU Law and the Europa site, the UK Parliament, e-Government, access to justice, devolved parliaments and legislation, FOI and public sector information, how legal publishing is developing and new technologies for accessing legal information on the web.

Part 2 Legal Practice

Part 2 covers the way that the web has affected Legal Practice – and will continue to affect it. The opening article is by leading legal commentator Charles Christian on the transformation of communication. This is followed by articles on managing email, electronic signatures, a virtual law firm, a virtual chambers, practice developments made possible by the internet, e-government, harnessing web resources for knowledge management, web marketing for law firms, web marketing for chambers, selling legal services online (including for the corporate client), new risks, e-conveyancing and pro bono on the web. Each section is written by an expert in the field concerned.

CPD course

You can use the e-book as a course, at your convenience, with a straight forward test at the end of each part to qualify for the CPD (5 cPD hours for each part).

You can see the questions here: Questions for Part 1 and Questions for Part 2 (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 read the e-book and visited some of the sites described in it. You can print out the questions to keep beside you as you read the e-book. The questions will change from time to 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.

Reasonable cost

Each part costs £40 plus VAT and includes the use, by one person, of the e-book as a course, qualifying for 5 CPD points per part. Both parts, if purchased together now, cost £60 plus VAT.

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 £100 plus VAT for each part or £150 plus VAT for both parts purchased together now.

After completing the purchase, the user can access and download the e-book (parts 1 or 2), and when ready, complete the brief test and be credited with the CPD.

Full details and purchasing

You can access further details and purchase the e- book on Nick's infolaw site. Purchasing is by secure credit card processing and allows immediate access to the e-book. If you do not wish to pay by credit card, other payment methods can also be accommodated on the infolaw site, including paying by cheque.

This e-book is another "first" on the UK legal web for Nick and Delia!

Between them Nick and Delia have accounted for many UK legal web firsts over the last 10 years:
  • the first legal portal in the UK came from Nick in early 1995 and Delia provided the second in mid 1995
  • the first online accredited CPD course Delia's Guide to the Internet for Lawyers in 1996
  • the first newsletter about the legal internet Delia's Internet Newsletter for Lawyers in 1996
  • the first book about the legal web Researching the Legal Web, Butterworths 1997, by Nick and Delia
  • the first web version of a printed publication Delia's Internet Newsletter for Lawyers in 1999
  • the first online forms service, Nick's infolaw Formfinder, and then the comprehensive Lawfinder in 2001
  • one of the first UK legal weblogs and the first legal metadata webfeed from Nick in 2004

Comments or queries? email delia@venables.co.uk
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