?Many legal materials are available on the Internet. Describe five questions you should ask about any legal resource you find on the Internet to winnow down your research results to those that are really useful.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

?The five questions a paralegal should ask are:??Who created it, and why did they post it on the Internet?-Does the information come from a neutral source or an interest group? From someone with experience and credentials or a crank? Before you rely on the results of a web search, check to make sure your results have a legitimate pedigree.?Is it accurate?-Joe's Legal Blog may be fun to read, but has Joe accurately reproduced a court opinion or statute? It is always best to check unofficial materials against either an officialweb resource or a commercial service that certifies the accuracy of its materials.?Is it up to date?-Last year's brilliant website on employment law in Arizona might be wrong if there has been a new statute, regulation, or case since it was posted.?Is it easy to use?-Many court websites are harder to use than commercial services such as Westlaw. It may save your client a few dollars in search costs, but if it takes you twice as long to find the information, the total bill won't be any less.?What is the coverage?-Does the resource cover material only up to a certain date? Can you tell easily? How can you get the most up-to-date information? Your clients are paying for your expertise in research-you must be able to deliver them a comprehensive answer.