computers. They contain function keys that allow the user to solve just about any financial computation. Further, the step by step instruction that these programs now provide make the computations easy for anyone with a little bit of patience and nerve. However, the program can be intimidating for the novice user because it looks and acts different than the word processing programs that lawyers typically encounter. Also, spreadsheet programs require some rudimentary familiarity with the math concepts that underlie the financial calculations. Those of us who wandered into law because we so enjoyed designing proofs in math rarely find the need to wander beyond the spreadsheet program on our own desktop for any kind of financial computation or demonstration.
Second, several lawyers pointed out sites on the Internet that enable the user to create any amortization schedule they may need. Some examples of these are: http://www. dreams.net/loan_amortization_schedule and http://www. mortgage-calc.com. The responding lawyers found these sites in short order by typing such phrases as "amortization schedules" or "mortgage calculations" in their favorite internet search engine. There are a variety of sites that enable the user to create and print a custom amortization schedule based on the variables that they submit. They are typically free of charge. This example provides yet another reason why every lawyer needs access to the Internet on their desktop in order to effectively carry out his or her daily tasks.
Finally, one lawyer suggested that a program designed for calculating child support arrearages and interest, which can be ordered or downloaded at www.legalmath.com. The cost of the program is $129. He indicated that the program is easy to use and comprehensive. However, it may be difficult to justify any additional expenditure for this function because it is so readily available on the user's computer or across the Internet with no additional cash outlay.
Unlike the chat rooms that have inspired so many divorces of late, the ISBA main discussion group can and has become an invaluable resource by enabling lawyers to assist other lawyers with the selection and use of technological tools.
Some valuable Web sites for lawyers
By Chuck Bingaman
Each issue of this year's C.O.L.T. newsletter will highlight a handful of Web sites of particular interest to lawyers (and their employees.) Sites chosen for highlighting will come from the author's experience and that of members of the C.O.L.T. Many sites reviewed will be directed specifically at lawyers; others, while not specifically for lawyers, will contain information or materials lawyers may find useful.
Reader suggestions for future sites to be highlighted are welcome. Please address your suggestions to cbingaman@iicle.com.
Here are this month's sites...
www.findlaw.com. This is one of the most comprehensive and best-organized sites for lawyers. It contains links to thousands of original sources of law, regulation, commentary, instruction, legal and governmental organizations, and publications. Because lawyers' research needs vary, you might want to take 15 minutes now to explore this large site and find what sources within it are most likely to serve your needs. Then, when the need arises, you'll be ready to go directly to the www.findlaw.com information you know is there.
www.mother.com/~randy/tools.html. Not exactly an easy to remember URL, but it's also known as the Attorney's Toolbox. This large site is the creation of Woodland, California attorney Randy B. Singer. On it, Singer has collected links to hundreds of sources of largely litigation-related information for lawyers--information that you may need tomorrow or next month. It's even set up to be a good lawyer's startup page if you wish. Here again, I suggest that you review the whole site now so you know what's there and are prepared to find it again quickly when the need arises.
www.ceoexpress.com, is a terrific, well-organized, very easy to read collection of links to every kind of business news, reference and information source you can imagine. www.refdesk.com is a similar but more general site that collects and organizes links to scores of reference sites all over the Web and gives you a quick entry to them. As with the Attorney's Toolbox above, it's one person's collection, so it has its own personality, strengths and weaknesses.
www.hotmail.com. Most people have heard of Hotmail, but in case you haven't, check out this valuable service from Microsoft. The primary service of Hotmail is to give you a free e-mail address that you can use anywhere on earth to send or receive your e-mail. Even if your primary e-mail address is something else, you can arrange to have all e-mail messages to that primary site copied on your Hotmail address. So if, for instance, you are on business in another city or on vacation abroad, you can sign on to Hotmail and get and respond to your e-mail without making a long-distance call to your local service provider. Very valuable, and the price is unbeatable!
www.priceline.com. You've heard this one hyped on radio and TV. Priceline enables you to purchase hotel rooms, buy new cars, get airline tickets, find home mortgages and refinancing opportunities, etc. in a bidding system where you propose the price you are willing to pay and Priceline seeks a vendor willing to meet your offer. I've used it several times with hotel rooms and saved hundreds of dollars. I've also saved hundreds on airline flights, but the tradeoff there is that Priceline sets your schedule (within broad parameters you request), and you can be saddled with a bizarre itinerary whose time costs may outweigh the dollar saving. Note that Priceline promises to let you know by e-mail within an hour whether a vendor has accepted your bid.
And closer to home....
www.isba.org. At the Illinois State Bar Association's home on the Web, ISBA members can sign up for free digests of newly decided Illinois Supreme and Appellate Court and Seventh Circuit cases, delivered via e-mail with links to the full-text opinion. And each of ISBA's 37 sections has its own section-members-only home on the site, complete with the full text of newsletters and, for many sections, a members-only discussion group. This site also features one of the best collections of research links for Illinois lawyers you'll find anywhere, plus a growing selection of online CLE programs and much, much more.
www.iicle.com, sponsored by Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, is an award-winning site that offers free monthly newsletters on 11 practice areas, a monthly column on practice development techniques, and complete information and e-commerce capability for all IICLE courses and publications.
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Chuck Bingaman is the Executive Director of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education.
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