Google has had the uncanny ability to effect change merely by rethinking the usual way of doing things and offering it to the world for free. Now, Google turns its gaze at legal research and is making full text legal opinions from U.S. federal and state district, appellate and supreme courts available to the world using Google Scholar. It doesn’t seem to be much of a threat to Westlaw or Lexis . . . yet.
The search is fast and the results include a link to “How Cited,” which gives quotes and citing references as well as links to related documents. It’s interesting to say the least and I do believe it changes the paradigm of legal research.
Read more on Google’s blog: Google Scholar’s Legal Opinions and Journals.
