An Invaluable Research Companion

Perhaps I've missed it, but I have not seen anyone writing about internet clipping software. This is somewhat surprising because two new applications have been released in the last few months and both are truly impressive. These programs are Net Snippets and CatClip 2.0. Both are integrated into Internet Explorer (CatClip can also stand alone) via a toolbar, similar to the Google bar, and both allow users to cut/snip/clip and store information in a local database. For anyone that reads numerous online materials, these programs can be invaluable because they make it easy to download information and even easier to locate it later when you need it.

I used CatClip while researching a paper last semester and I found it to be an excellent way to organize cases. Since the programs are incorporated into the web browser, they work seamlessly with Westlaw and Lexis. Both provide hierarchical folders for storing downloaded data. The folders can be organized to correspond to clients and cases and individual research issues can be separated and organized for later use.

Further, once the information is captured, both programs allow you to search, edit, annotate and highlight cases and other materials. David Beckman and David Hirsch, of Beckman and Hirsch, wrote about the need for such a program in their October 2002 ABA Journal column. Specifically, in their review of the two major online research services, they suggested that the companies develop and distribute a simple database or templates for popular databases to track legal research for free. In my opinon, these programs fit the bill, albeit they aren't free. Nonetheless, both offer thirty-day trials and I think they are well worth the download.

Posted by AJR at February 6, 2003 11:19 PM