Undoubtedly the Internet is the single most important reason for lawyers to use computers. Even those who can't type a lick manage to surf the web with the greatest of ease. If you can point at a picture and tap your finger, you can bring the world to your desktop. Through e-mail, listservs, and web sites, you can reach people and places like never before. I have corresponded via e-mail with scores of influential attorneys, judges, and politicians who are typically beyond reach of conventional modes of communication.
Lawyers are busy people.
I actually read perhaps one-tenth of the correspondence I receive through the U.S. Postal Service. But I read every e-mail message. In my experience, most lawyers do. E-mail permits me to share ideas with the movers and shakers of society without impinging on their busy schedules. They are an excellent way to find resources and expert advice on a limited budget and stay atop of current trends.