Vol. 73, No. 11, November
2000
Use technology to improve education, communication, member services,
cost-effective access to legal resources, and effective management
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As members have different comfort levels with technology,
the Bar is responding with different levels of service - technology
training
for those who need it and online CLE opportunities for those who want
it.
Increasing role of the Internet
in delivering practice information. The Internet offers
great potential
in assisting Wisconsin lawyers with their practices by providing
instant
and continuous access to legal resources. The State Bar is
developing an
Online Practice Resource Library, a fully indexed and searchable
database
of State Bar practice materials, including seminar and convention
written
materials, book abstracts, and Wisconsin Lawyer articles. Available
through
WisBar, the practice library is expected to debut in 2001.
The State Bar continues to experiment with different
forms of Internet delivery for CLE seminars. For instance, the Bar
will offer
its first Web-enhanced seminar using various technologies in fall
2000. The
seminar's audio portion will be delivered by phone, the visual
information
by the Internet - allowing participants real-time, hands-on training
without
requiring them to leave their offices. Archived seminars,
presentations, and
accompanying materials on WisBar are available 24 hours a day.
Using technology to improve
communications. The Bar uses its Internet site, WisBar, in
a variety
of ways to facilitate communications between members and the Bar.
Members
may participate in WisBar's discussion groups, subscribe to
electronic mailing
lists on topics specific to their interests, and use "Lawyer Search"
to locate
and contact colleagues.
In June, the State Bar conducted a focus group and usability
study of WisBar users to learn how WisBar can better assist lawyers in
their
practices and to provide feedback for use in making it easier to
navigate and
use. Participants said the Internet has become a daily partner in
their practices,
and many said WisBar is a solid "starting point" or portal to other
sites if
the information they need isn't directly available on WisBar. They
also praised
Caselaw Express, delivered via email, and free Wisconsin case law as
being
extremely valuable practice tools. Others regularly register for CLE
seminars
or purchase State Bar products via WisBar's secure online order
system, conduct
research using the vast amount of legal research materials available,
and use
the Bar Information areas to learn about member benefits, Bar
governance, and
to contact staff.
WisBar is ever-evolving, and information provided by
focus groups and other users help the Bar evaluate and develop new
content.
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