With regard to the Internet as a research choice, a great deal of the information that has become available is useful in the practice of law. A number of federal and state government resources are available on the Internet. These resources include not only information that can be obtained thru the services of Westlaw or Lexis, but also include information that is not available anywhere else online. Many government departments are seeing the Internet as an inexpensive way to provide information to the public. Copies of documents, changes in rules and regulations, information about the departments and their actions all can be obtained thru the Internet.
Legislative materials are available for most states.
These provide information on new bills and their progress through the legislative process that can also be obtained thru Westlaw or Lexis but at a higher price. Smaller administrative units such as counties and towns are putting up ordinances and codes which were extremely difficult to locate in the past. Often they are not willing to provide a copy of the material but will instead direct you to their Web site as a source. Courts at the county and district level are providing cases online and information about their judges and system. While little retrospective uploading of information has been done, information from the past 1-2 years tends to be available.