Public legal information agencies in Canada were early adopters of electronic services. In fact, agencies used early electronic communications technologies before what we now call the internet existed. The Legal Resource Centre at the Faculty of Extension launched a mock website within days of that protocol being established. But as the Applications of the Internet for PLE documents, the adoption of the full range of possibilities by organizations was uneven.
Many jurisdictions are introducing other types of electronic legal services. Roger Smith maintains a web site, Law Technology and Access to Justice, and a blog and lists of publications of interest on the UK’s Legal Education Foundation.
Resources of interest: Electronic public legal education services
Documents of interest: Electronic public legal education services
ALink a first in Canada Just-in August 2004 text only This article in an Alberta newsletter once published by Alberta Justice highlights the launch of an early use of an on-line directory of legal services.
Albertans get A-Link to Public Legal Education. Kirsten Wurmann and Rhyason, Diane. Library Association of Alberta, Letter of the LAA, July 2004
Gander, L. (2002) Applications of the Internet for PLE. (Edmonton: Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta). This paper sketches some of the current and potential applications of the Internet for PLE. It is not a futuristic fantasy of what might be, but rather a description of applications that are already available for advancing the various goals of public legal education. Electronic telecommunications technology is expanding the reach of resources and services, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of agencies, and offering new possibilities for engaging the public in the process of achieving justice in Canada.
Smith, Roger. (2018) Digital Delivery of Legal Services Winter 2018. This report is the latest in a line of periodic reports going back to December 2014 published by The Legal Education Foundation (TLEF) and available on its website. The focus of these reports is the use of technology in the field of access to justice.
Sy, S. (1998) ACJNet: Electronic Publishing. (Edmonton: Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta). This is one of the papers in the series on the components of ACJNet (Access to Justice Network). This paper focuses on the multi-faceted nature of electronic publishing and its possibilities within ACJNet.
Sy, S. (1997) ACJNet: Online Education. (Edmonton: Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta). This is one of the papers in the series on the components of ACJNet (Access to Justice Network). Online education is described in the paper as one of the five stated goals of ACJNet. The hope was that this paper would provide the basis for ACJNet to engage in the design and delivery of online education.
Sy, S. (1997) ACJNet: Library Without Walls. (Edmonton: Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta). This paper, written in 1997, focuses on one of the more prominent components of ACJNet: the Library without Walls. The Library without Walls (LWW) is one of the four components of ACJNet, the other three being the Virtual Community, Electronic Publishing and On-Line Education.