After reading Christopher Wren's original letter posting, and
then Christopher Noe's follow-up, I am thinking about pro se
access to an online database of statutes and case law. I am also
a reference librarian, with heavy pro se use in our library.
While many non-law-affiliated users would like to use a computer
to find their research answer, I am not sure that they would be
better served with computerized research.
The problem with non-law-affiliates doing legal research,
either in books (BORING) or online (WOW!), is that they are
blocked by the language and structure of the law. I tell
disappointed researchers that they can probably find in the books
everything they would pay big bucks for online. In either case,
they need a good deal of assistance: 1) analyzing the question
to restate in legal terms what they want to find out; 2)
deciding where to begin the search--statutes, case law, hornbook,
journal article, ALR, etc.; 3) understanding the legal terms and
how the substantive law works together with rules of procedure,
evidence and appeal rights.
My gut reaction to reading Chris Noe's posting was YAY!
Power to the People! But then I thought about how such a
database would work, and I decided that, for most of the general
public, it would not be such a benefit. I am a bit shocked at my
[nearly] patronizing attitude towards those who would do their
own legal research, frankly. But, 7.5 years of experience
convinces me that what the public needs is either more accessible
systems of justice or more NOLO press books.
Betsy McKenzie
Readers Sevices Librarian
St. Louis University
School of Law Library
3700 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 658-2739
I-net mckenziebm@sluvca.slu.edu
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