| Lawyers have never been known as a technical | | | | 7. Legal Calenders |
| bunch, but more and more often you see a lawyer | | | | Industry events can be followed using RSS feeds. |
| with a palm pilot making appointments and a | | | | Legal conferences and events can be traced on public |
| blackberry for those urgent messages. Electronic | | | | RSS calenders. |
| gadgets are now common in the courthouses across | | | | Law School Calender - |
| the US. Lawyers have increased productivity by | | | | 8. Share Research Tools |
| utilizing technology so it should come as no surprise | | | | Lawyers can use social bookmarking tools and RSS |
| that lawyers are using RSS feeds as a means to | | | | feeds to share web research resources with |
| grow and manage their practices. | | | | colleagues. This can reduce the amount of time spent |
| Lawyers are using RSS feeds a number of different | | | | researching issues.del.icio.us - |
| ways to increase efficiency and productivity. Common | | | | 9. Legal Employment |
| RSS feed usage in the legal field include: | | | | Job feeds are increasing in popularity in all industries. |
| 1. Ego Feeds | | | | Lawyers in search of employment openings can |
| First and foremost, lawyers want to know what is | | | | subscribe to RSS feeds and learn about new |
| being said about their firm. It is easy enough to monitor | | | | employment opportunities as they become available. |
| search engines and news searches using RSS. | | | | 4 Legal Jobs - |
| Lawyers create what is commonly referred to as | | | | 10. Court Rulings |
| "ego searches". These are essentially keyword | | | | Many courts are now publishing court rulings in RSS |
| searches (the keyword is the firm or lawyer's name). | | | | feeds, making them available to the general public. |
| Each time the keyword appears in the news article or | | | | Court Rulings - |
| search engine a new item will appear in the feed. | | | | 11. Court of Appeals |
| Lawyers can click through and view the source of the | | | | Appeals courts are also adopting RSS feeds to allow |
| mention. | | | | interested parties to monitor decisions coming out of |
| 2. Current Events | | | | the court of appeals. |
| Similar to ego feeds, lawyers use RSS to track | | | | US Courts - |
| current events that are related to cases in which they | | | | 12. Legal Organizations |
| are involved. This might involve monitoring specific | | | | The American Bar Association has an RSS feed and |
| news agencies or topics. | | | | podcast that discusses litigation. Lawyers can use |
| Ego Search Tools - | | | | RSS feeds to stay connected to industry information. |
| 3. Firm Public Relations | | | | American Bar Association - |
| Won a big case, what better way to convey it than | | | | 13. Continuation Education |
| sending a press release? Naturally, this release should | | | | Many legal courses have podcasts available, and |
| also appear in an RSS feed.to help increase the | | | | lawyers interested in expanding their education on a |
| distribution and reach of the press release. RSS can | | | | specific segment of the law can listen to audio |
| also be used by large firms to announce press | | | | podcasts or subscribe to video podcast lectures. |
| conferences at the culmination of a case. | | | | Education Feeds - |
| - | | | | 14. Legal Blogs |
| 4. Court Cases | | | | Many lawyers have expanded their practices by |
| RSS can be used to monitor pending court cases, and | | | | setting up a blog offering legal advice. Often the |
| rulings that might effect a specific segment of law. | | | | contents of the blog are syndicated using RSS feeds. |
| RSSGov - | | | | Law Professors - |
| 5. Pending Legislation | | | | 15. Cease and Desist |
| Lawyers can use RSS to monitor legislation that | | | | There is even an RSS feed that contains Cease and |
| relates to specific cases or topics. Lobbyists can | | | | Desist Letters. As cease and desist letters are added, |
| monitor votes of politicians and follow their positions on | | | | clinical law students can annotate them with questions |
| important issues. | | | | and answers. |
| GovTrack - | | | | Chilling Effects - |
| 6. Client News | | | | Lawyers have begun using RSS to stay ahead and |
| Ego feeds can also be used to monitor the word on | | | | adapt to the needs of their clients. Members of the |
| the street about a client. Whether the client is facing a | | | | legal profession are using RSS in very specific ways. |
| criminal trial or a civil case, the press can undoubtedly | | | | RSS is more than simply a communication medium to |
| influence a trial. Monitoring the press for mentions help | | | | lawyers, it is helping them filter information that is |
| lawyers prepare the best possible defense or | | | | relevant to their practice and case load. Through RSS |
| prosecution. | | | | they are able to gain access to relevant information in |
| Ego Search - | | | | a timely fashion. |