Computerization: reengineering the lawyering process for the 21st century

Alvin and Heidi Toffler, describe the benefits of "informationware" and how one of the most tradition-bound organizations, the armed forces, has substantially changed its operations. According to the authors, mere knowledge is not sufficient to prevail; how one manages or uses knowledge separates winners from losers. Further, the authors say "...basically add new elements or create new combinations of old elements within an existing 'game.' A true revolution goes beyond that to change the game itself, including its rules, its equipment, the size and organization of the 'teams,' their training, doctrine, tactics, and just about everything else. Even more important, it changes the relationship of the game to society itself." Application of this theory to today's litigation is obvious and compelling. The ways in which clients and defense counsel obtain, analyze, and strategically apply evidence and legal principles must change to incorporate the informationware this society uses in other lines of business. This means more extensive and appropriate usage of computer hardware in a software environment that fully supports emerging client and defense counsel needs. The computer system must provide case direction, helpful suggestions, and direct, rapid access to data bases containing information presently available only through person-to-person networking.