It does not require access to a modem or a dial-up system, and it can be used for whatever time is necessary to perform the research project. A disadvantage of CD-ROM research, however, is that it can be very expensive to acquire all of the libraries necessary to do a good research job, and resources that are not required to be accessed on a regular basis can be cost prohibitive. In addition, even though most CD-ROMs are updated on a monthly basis, there is a lag time that makes the information not the most current available. WestLaw and Lexis, however, have the advantage of being as up to date as is possible all the time. However, these services are expensive, charging by the minutes on-line.
Most lawyers are uncomfortable with being under a time gun during research.
The content is much too spotty, and the databases are not yet large enough for serious research without other options. That said, however, the Internet is clearly the resource of the future. In fact, as the materials are ported to Web sites and systems are put in place for charging for editorial content, it is likely that WestLaw and Lexis will become Internet application s. It is possible today to connect to Lexis from the Lexis Home Page. And some listserv discussion groups have been discussing the relative advantages of access via standard telephone number access vs. access over the Internet.