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JILT 2000 (1) - Robinson - Appendix B

Creating a Safety Net - A Proposed Rating Form for Assessing the Quality of Legal Information in Websites

Alan Robinson
Legit, Australia
legit@shoal.net.au

Appendix B - Pilot use of Legal Information Rating Form

Online Legal Information Rating Form - Lawstuff

Criterion

How to implement this criteria

Mark

Comment

Accuracy

Does the information appear to be accurate?

1

 

Are there links to relevant legislation and case reports?

0

 

Is the original source stated?

0

 

Does the disclaimer describe limitations, purpose, scope, authority, and currency of information (0-5)?

4

 

Is it made clear that the information provided is not a substitute for professional advice?

1

 

Are any omissions noted?

0

6

Source

How credible is the source? (see scale below)

4

Is the name of the author listed?

0

 

Are his/her credentials listed?

0

 

How well do the credentials match the text? (5 = perfect match, 0 = unrelated)

5

 

Is the content provided in the public's interest?

1

 

Is any possible conflict of interest noted?

0

 

Does the information appear to be balanced?

1

 

Does the source appear to be unbiased?

1

 

Is the site not selling a product?

1

 

Is the site's purpose disclosed?

1

 

Is no user information captured (apart from feedback)?

1

 

Is privacy of personal information assured?

1

 

Is there an editorial review process?

0

 

Is the editorial review process explained?

0

16

Currency

Is there a date stamp at the bottom of each page?

1

 

How current is the material? (5 = < one month, 0 = > two years old)

3

4

Usability

How useful is the information? (0-5)

5

 

Are hyperlinks useful?

0

 

Are hyper links properly identified, structured and authenticated? (0-3)

0

 

Is there a description of linked sites?

0

 

Is a graphical browser not required?

0

Overuse of graphics

Are plugins not required?

0

 

Which browser version is required (v2=3, v3=2, v4=1)?

2

 

Is the site logically organised?

1

 

Generic search engine = 2, Javascript engine = 1

0

 

Quality of search responses (0-2)

0

 

Feedback mechanism - email = 1, form = 2

2

Feedback by email & form

Is there a chat room?

0

 

If so, is a moderator present?

0

 

Is any information-tailoring algorithm disclosed?

0

 

Are users alerted when they move to an external site?

0

10

     

Total=36

Online Legal Information Rating Form - F.C.A.

Criterion

How to implement this criteria

Mark

Comment

Accuracy

Does the information appear to be accurate?

1

 

Are there links to relevant legislation and case reports?

2

 

Is the original source stated?

1

 

Does the disclaimer describe limitations, purpose, scope, authority, and currency of information (0-5)?

3

 

Is it made clear that the information provided is not a substitute for professional advice?

1

 

Are any omissions noted?

0

8

Source

How credible is the source? (see scale below)

4

Is the name of the author listed?

0

 

Are his/her credentials listed?

0

 

How well do the credentials match the text? (5 = perfect match, 0 = unrelated)

5

 

Is the content provided in the public's interest?

1

 

Is any possible conflict of interest noted?

0

 

Does the information appear to be balanced?

1

 

Does the source appear to be unbiased?

1

 

Is the site not selling a product?

0

 

Is the site's purpose disclosed?

1

 

Is no user information captured (apart from feedback)?

1

 

Is privacy of personal information assured?

1

 

Is there an editorial review process?

0

 

Is the editorial review process explained?

0

15

Currency

Is there a date stamp at the bottom of each page?

1

 

How current is the material? (5 = < one month, 0 = > two years old)

4

5

Usability

How useful is the information? (0-5)

5

 

Are hyperlinks useful?

1

 

Are hyper links properly identified, structured and authenticated? (0-3)

3

 

Is there a description of linked sites?

1

 

Is a graphical browser not required?

1

 

Are plugins not required?

0

 

Which browser version is required (v2=3, v3=2, v4=1)?

2

 

Is the site logically organised?

1

 

Generic search engine = 2, Javascript engine = 1

0

 

Quality of search responses (0-2)

0

 

Feedback mechanism - email = 1, form = 2

1

 

Is there a chat room?

0

 

If so, is a moderator present?

0

 

Is any information-tailoring algorithm disclosed?

0

 

Are users alerted when they move to an external site?

1

16

     

Total=44

Online Legal Information Rating Form - L.A.C.

Criterion

How to implement this criteria

Mark

Comment

Accuracy

Does the information appear to be accurate?

1

 

Are there links to relevant legislation and case reports?

0

 

Is the original source stated?

0

 

Does the disclaimer describe limitations, purpose, scope, authority, and currency of information (0-5)?

2

 

Is it made clear that the information provided is not a substitute for professional advice?

1

 

Are any omissions noted?

0

4

Source

How credible is the source? (see scale below)

4

Is the name of the author listed?

0

 

Are his/her credentials listed?

0

 

How well do the credentials match the text? (5 = perfect match, 0 = unrelated)

5

 

Is the content provided in the public's interest?

1

 

Is any possible conflict of interest noted?

0

 

Does the information appear to be balanced?

1

 

Does the source appear to be unbiased?

1

 

Is the site not selling a product?

1

 

Is the site's purpose disclosed?

1

 

Is no user information captured (apart from feedback)?

1

 

Is privacy of personal information assured?

1

 

Is there an editorial review process?

0

 

Is the editorial review process explained?

0

16

Currency

Is there a date stamp at the bottom of each page?

1

 

How current is the material? (5 = < one month, 0 = > two years old)

4

5

Usability

How useful is the information? (0-5)

4

 

Are hyperlinks useful?

1

 

Are hyper links properly identified, structured and authenticated? (0-3)

2

 

Is there a description of linked sites?

1

 

Is a graphical browser not required?

1

 

Are plugins not required?

1

 

Which browser version is required (v2=3, v3=2, v4=1)?

3

 

Is the site logically organised?

1

 

Generic search engine = 2, Javascript engine = 1

2

 

Quality of search responses (0-2)

1

 

Feedback mechanism - email = 1, form = 2

1

 

Is there a chat room?

0

 

If so, is a moderator present?

0

 

Is any information-tailoring algorithm disclosed?

0

 

Are users alerted when they move to an external site?

1

19

     

Total=44

Online Legal Information Rating Form - Law4U

Criterion

How to implement this criteria

Mark

Comment

Accuracy

Does the information appear to be accurate?

1

 

Are there links to relevant legislation and case reports?

1

 

Is the original source stated?

0

 

Does the disclaimer describe limitations, purpose, scope, authority, and currency of information (0-5)?

3

 

Is it made clear that the information provided is not a substitute for professional advice?

1

 

Are any omissions noted?

0

6

Source

How credible is the source? (see scale below)

2

Two ex-legal aid solicitors

Is the name of the author listed?

0

 

Are his/her credentials listed?

0

 

How well do the credentials match the text? (5 = perfect match, 0 = unrelated)

2

 

Is the content provided in the public's interest?

1

 

Is any possible conflict of interest noted?

0

 

Does the information appear to be balanced?

1

 

Does the source appear to be unbiased?

1

 

Is the site not selling a product?

0

Selling links to private law firms

Is the site's purpose disclosed?

0

 

Is no user information captured (apart from feedback)?

0

Uses cookies

Is privacy of personal information assured?

0

 

Is there an editorial review process?

1

Outside lawyers used to check info

Is the editorial review process explained?

0

8

Currency

Is there a date stamp at the bottom of each page?

1

 

How current is the material? (5 = < one month, 0 = > two years old)

4

5

Usability

How useful is the information? (0-5)

5

 

Are hyperlinks useful?

1

 

Are hyper links properly identified, structured and authenticated? (0-3)

1

 

Is there a description of linked sites?

1

 

Is a graphical browser not required?

1

 

Are plugins not required?

0

 

Which browser version is required (v2=3, v3=2, v4=1)?

3

 

Is the site logically organised?

1

 

Generic search engine = 2, Javascript engine = 1

0

 

Quality of search responses (0-2)

0

 

Feedback mechanism - email = 1, form = 2

1

 

Is there a chat room?

0

 

If so, is a moderator present?

0

 

Is any information-tailoring algorithm disclosed?

0

14

Are users alerted when they move to an external site?

0

No alert given

     

Total=33

Online Legal Information Rating Form - LawSoc

Criterion

How to implement this criteria

Mark

Comment

Accuracy

Does the information appear to be accurate?

1

 

Are there links to relevant legislation and case reports?

1

 

Is the original source stated?

1

 

Does the disclaimer describe limitations, purpose, scope, authority, and currency of information (0-5)?

5

 

Is it made clear that the information provided is not a substitute for professional advice?

1

 

Are any omissions noted?

0

9

Source

How credible is the source? (see scale below)

4

 

Is the name of the author listed?

1

 

Are his/her credentials listed?

1

 

How well do the credentials match the text? (5 = perfect match, 0 = unrelated)

5

 

Is the content provided in the public's interest?

1

 

Is any possible conflict of interest noted?

0

 

Does the information appear to be balanced?

1

 

Does the source appear to be unbiased?

1

 

Is the site not selling a product?

0

 

Is the site's purpose disclosed?

1

 

Is no user information captured (apart from feedback)?

1

 

Is privacy of personal information assured?

1

 

Is there an editorial review process?

0

 

Is the editorial review process explained?

0

17

Currency

Is there a date stamp at the bottom of each page?

1

 

How current is the material? (5 = < one month, 0 = > two years old)

4

5

Usability

How useful is the information? (0-5)

5

 

Are hyperlinks useful?

1

 

Are hyper links properly identified, structured and authenticated? (0-3)

2

 

Is there a description of linked sites?

1

 

Is a graphical browser not required?

0

 

Are plugins not required?

1

 

Which browser version is required (v2=3, v3=2, v4=1)?

2

 

Is the site logically organised?

1

 

Generic search engine = 2, Javascript engine = 1

1

 

Quality of search responses (0-2)

2

 

Feedback mechanism - email = 1, form = 2

1

 

Is there a chat room?

0

 

If so, is a moderator present?

0

 

Is any information-tailoring algorithm disclosed?

0

 

Are users alerted when they move to an external site?

1

18

     

Total=49

Online Legal Information Rating Form - RLC

Criterion

How to implement this criteria

Mark

Comment

Accuracy

Does the information appear to be accurate?

1

 

Are there links to relevant legislation and case reports?

1

 

Is the original source stated?

0

 

Does the disclaimer describe limitations, purpose, scope, authority, and currency of information (0-5)?

4

 

Is it made clear that the information provided is not a substitute for professional advice?

1

 

Are any omissions noted?

0

7

Source

How credible is the source? (see scale below)

4

 

Is the name of the author listed?

0

 

Are his/her credentials listed?

0

 

How well do the credentials match the text? (5 = perfect match, 0 = unrelated)

5

 

Is the content provided in the public's interest?

1

 

Is any possible conflict of interest noted?

0

 

Does the information appear to be balanced?

1

 

Does the source appear to be unbiased?

0

 

Is the site not selling a product?

1

 

Is the site's purpose disclosed?

1

 

Is no user information captured (apart from feedback)?

1

 

Is privacy of personal information assured?

1

 

Is there an editorial review process?

1

 

Is the editorial review process explained?

0

16

Currency

Is there a date stamp at the bottom of each page?

1

 

How current is the material? (5 = < one month, 0 = > two years old)

5

6

Usability

How useful is the information? (0-5)

5

 

Are hyperlinks useful?

1

 

Are hyper links properly identified, structured and authenticated? (0-3)

2

 

Is there a description of linked sites?

1

 

Is a graphical browser not required?

1

 

Are plugins not required?

1

 

Which browser version is required (v2=3, v3=2, v4=1)?

3

 

Is the site logically organised?

1

 

Generic search engine = 2, Javascript engine = 1

0

 

Quality of search responses (0-2)

0

 

Feedback mechanism - email = 1, form = 2

1

 

Is there a chat room?

0

 

If so, is a moderator present?

0

 

Is any information-tailoring algorithm disclosed?

0

 

Are users alerted when they move to an external site?

1

17

     

Total=46

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