Legal Information on the Internet

Abstract

This article reviews legal and government information resources that are available on the Internet. Information technology of the 21st century has revolutionized the way much of this information is disseminated by the judiciary, legislature, and governmental agencies and the way that it may be accessed by all citizens and information users. Primary and secondary resources of Anglo-American law are identified and evaluated. The primary sources of law that are made available through this technology are: judicial and administrative decisions or case reports; federal, state, and municipal government laws or ordinances; rules and regulations; presidential documents; agency serials and reports; and other governmental information at both the federal and state government levels. Secondary sources, including guides and directories, search engines, dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, law reviews, and sources of topical law information, are also discussed. These resources are developed and maintained by government departments and agencies, law schools and