Solving the problems of finding law on the web:  World Law and DIAL Search facilities of World Law/DIAL

Contents of the search facility

about 10 GB of search space as yet

emphasis on legislation, treaties, law reform and law journals so far

Search scope limited by catalog context

• Location in the catalog limits the scope of a search
• Indexers create search libraries, not just catalog categories
• But the whole of 'World' can be searched if you wish to
• Examples -
• Search only Secured Transactions pages for perfection of securities
• Search across international Courts and Tribunals
• Search US State legislation for Presidential election rules
• Search only Law Reform sites for intestacy ('intesta*) (Compare the same search over only Legislation)
• Search only Law Journals for a topic
• Searches can also be repeated over AustLII

'Search this site'

• Individual sites can be searched
• Examples -
• Search American Bankruptcy Institute for materials on 'workouts'
• Many law web sites do not have their own search engines
• Users may find it easier to learn one search engine than many