Bulletin builds new `front door' on Web

McDONOUGH;MOLLY~

Bulletin builds new `front door' on Web By MOLLY McDONOUGHLaw Bulletin staff writer The Law Bulletin Publishing Co. has launched a redesigned Web site, offering better access to a wide range of legal research products. The new site -- at www.lawbulletin.com -- features top stories from the company's newspaper, the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, and from its sister publication, Chicago Lawyer magazine. Visitors to the site also have access to classified advertising including legal job listings, a catalog of Law Bulletin products, lawyer-to-lawyer referrals, a schedule of continuing legal education events and links to other legal sites. "Chicago-area lawyers rely heavily on our publications and our online services," Law Bulletin Vice President Sandy Macfarland said. "The new Web site provides them with 24-hour access to our products." The development of the new site, which includes a new look and more information about Law Bulletin products, continues an effort by the company to improve electronic access to its products and services. "Our goal is to give lawyers access to our information from anywhere in the world," Macfarland said. "We are no longer a regional company. As the profession expands, so do we." The site also can be accessed from the Windows versions of the company's proprietary online products -- Access Plus and DM2000 -- without a Web browser. Next week, the site will feature a legal technology special section, a joint effort of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer, said Dave Glynn, director of product development for the Law Bulletin Publishing Co. The feature will include the results of a technology survey identifying trends in Internet access, software choices and legal research programs utilized by the top 100 Chicago law firms. With the launching of its new site, the Law Bulletin is moving toward direct purchase of all products online. A full-service electronic commerce site is expected to be in place for the Law Bulletin by year's end. Visitors will be able to purchase print products and subscribe to publications over the Web. Glynn encourages Web site visitors to contact the Law Bulletin if they have content suggestions. Other plans for the site include an interactive version of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, in which the entire newspaper will be available to subscribers in an online format. Popular print publications, such as the Lawyer's Handbook and Sullivan's Law Directory, also are expected to be online sometime in late 1999, Glynn said. Law Bulletin representatives will be on hand to demonstrate the site at the Chicago LegalTech Show, to be held Oct. 19-21 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel.