The CLIC Guide to Computer-assisted Legal Research, 1987-88

Vernon V. Kakoschke was a lawyer in the law department of Canadian Pacific.

This guide is a primer of search skills for legal researchers using the various private computerized databases. As a second edition, it takes into account a major change in one of these databases: on June 1, 1987, the Canada Law Books “CAN / LAW” database was removed from QL Systems and placed on the computers of Canada Systems Group in Ottawa. This means that researchers must now become familiar with new search commands since the CSG software differs from that of QL Systems. These new CAN / LAW commands are dealt with in two chapters.

The CLIC Guide covers all aspects of online searching including everything from gaining access to each database to advanced search strategies. By becoming more proficient at searching, the costs of the search are reduced and the quality of the information retrieved is improved.

There are numerous examples of computer searches in the guide. At the end of each chapter there are a number of practice exercises which demonstrate the various techniques set out in the chapter. This allows the reader to learn the mechanics of each computerized database. The answers to the questions are set out in a separate chapter at the end of the volume.

This guide is an indispensable tool for any law firm that uses computerized online searching to solve legal problems.