New Guide Helps Lawyers Maximize Google’s Search Capabilities and Productivity Tools

CHICAGO, Sept. 13, 2010 – In the decade since its launch, Google has become synonymous with searching on the Internet. Google is the number one search engine, yet it offers so much more than just information searches.  A new book published by the American Bar Association Law Practice Management Section, Google for Lawyers:  Essential Search Tips and Productivity Tools, provides guidance on accessing the full power of Google as a search engine, as well as tips on using Google’s free and low-cost tools that can help any attorney compete with the big firms and their large research and technology budgets.

Google for Lawyers: Essential Search Tips and Productivity Tools offers help to both new users and seasoned ones. It introduces novice Internet searchers to the diverse collection of information locatable through Google. For intermediate and advanced users, the book unlocks the power of various advanced search strategies and hidden search features they might not be aware of.

The book discusses the importance of running Google searches as part of a lawyer’s due diligence, and cites case law that mandates that lawyers use Google and other Internet search resources like it, when applicable.

Designed to also help lawyers learn how they can put all of Google’s power to work in their practices, the guide unlocks access to various free Google services. From the lesser-known Google Voice, Google Scholar and Google Translate, to the better-known office applications such as Gmail, Google Docs and Google Calendar, these services can make novice, intermediate and advanced users alike more productive attorneys.

Google for Lawyers:  Essential Search Tips and Productivity Tools will help lawyers:

• learn the ins and outs of Google search shortcuts;
• use Google’s advanced features for research to uncover valuable information on the Internet that might have otherwise been missed;
• search for federal government-related resources using Google’s Uncle Sam Search;
• take advantage of Google’s free office applications to become more efficient;
• utilize the various Google tools and databases quickly and efficiently to access free case law, find newspaper and magazine articles, as well as set up Alerts and locate information about expert witnesses, the opposition, jurors, existing and potential clients and missing witnesses;
• understand Google Analytics to track website statistics;
• advertise and market a firm using Google Advertising Services.

This practical guide’s step-by-step descriptions, search tips, usage advice and hundreds of screenshots detail the “how” of using all of Google’s features. Additionally, the author’s practice tips, ethics alerts and various “war stories” from legal professionals detail the “why.”

Authors Carole Levitt and Mark Rosch, principals of Internet for Lawyers, are nationally acclaimed speakers and authors who focus on Internet research and social networking for lawyers.  In addition to the newly released Google for Lawyers and its companion book, Find Info Like a Pro, Volume 1, they have co-authored two other books, The Lawyer’s Guide to Fact Finding on the Internet and The Cybersleuth’s Guide to the Internet.  Levitt and Rosch present continuing legal education seminars on these topics throughout the United States.  Levitt practiced law in California, taught legal research and writing at Pepperdine University School of Law, and was a law librarian in Chicago and Los Angeles.  In addition to speaking and writing, Rosch is the developer and manager of IFL’s website and more recently, IFL’s Facebook Fan page. He also tweets about legal technology and Internet research.

The ABA Law Practice Management Section is a professional membership organization providing resources for lawyers and other legal professionals in the core areas of the business of practicing law –  marketing, management, technology and finance – through its award-winning magazine, webzines, educational CLE programs, website and publishing division. For more than 30 years, LPM has established itself as a leader within the legal profession by producing ABA TECHSHOW, the world’s premier legal technology conference and expo, and through its publishing arm, which has more than 90 titles in print.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.   As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

Title: Google for Lawyers:  Essential Search Tips and Productivity Tools
Publisher: ABA Law Practice Management Section
Product Code: 5110704
ISBN:                           978-1-60442-822-3
Size: 7×10
Price: $79.95
Orders: 800.285.2221 or www.ababooks.org

Editor’s note: Review copies are available by sending an e-mail to Trish Cleary at clearyt@staff.abanet.org.  If you publish a review of this book, please send tearsheets or a copy for our files to Trish Cleary, American Bar Association, Book Publishing, 321 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654.

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