New free online law handbook
30 June 2009
Andrew MacLeod and Helen Thompson recently attended the launch of the new free Law Handbook Online. The launch was held at the State Library of Victoria with guest speakers, ABC gardening guru Peter Cundall, The Attorney-General, the Honourable Rob Hulls MP and Victoria Marles, Executive Officer of the Legal Services Board.
CeCC have being working with Fitzroy Legal Services to develop the normally hard copy law hand book into an online version available to everyone.
As a result The Law Handbook, the most widely read legal publication in Victoria, is now free online and is designed to help people understand the law and how it affects their lives. Available 24/7 on your laptop or mobile phone this legal resource can help anyone at anytime who needs to know about the law quickly.
The features of The Law Handbook Online are as follows
- Has a search engine
- Thorough index of legislation and cases and linked to Austlii or equivalent
- Database with addresses and contacts details of relevant services and linked
- Glossary with pop up boxes providing definitions of legal terms
- Pop-up boxes with the latest law changes and updates
- The LHB online is internally linked so that related law through out the site is cross referenced and cross-linked. This enables the reader to jump to relevant parts of the law immediately.
"The site is amazing, it is so clear and interesting that it almost reads like a novel," said Peter Cundall. "It is terrific that all this excellent information is available free to anyone who wants to understand the law."
The origin of the online resource is The Law Handbook, which was first published in 1977. Now in its 33rd edition the publication has grown to a 1000 page plain English guide to the law. "The entire book is up online and FREE to everyone. This is a great step forward in access to the law for everyone," said Robin Inglis, Executive Officer of the Fitzroy Legal Service.
The Law Handbook Online is produced by the Fitzroy Legal Service and generously funded by a major grant from the Legal Services Board.