February 26, 2010 is the second anniversary of ABlawg. To mark this occasion, we are interested in hearing from our readers about the impact and usefulness of ABlawg.Here are some of the questions on which we would appreciate receiving feedback:
• Are you a subscriber to ABlawg?
• How often do you read ABLawg?
• Have you used ABlawg posts in your work? How?
• Are you aware of ABlawg posts that have been cited by a court, in a legal argument, in an academic article or in another blog post? Please provide details.
• Has ABlawg assisted you in understanding the law in a particular area?
• Have you posted a comment to an ABlawg post? Why or why not?
• How does ABlawg compare with other blogs that you may subscribe to?
• What can we do to improve ABlawg?
We are carrying out this assessment in order to assess the impact of ABlawg and to assess whether it is worth continuing to commit resources to this project (we think it is!). We may also use the feedback to support an application for resources to fund the continuation of ABlawg.
It is possible that in the future we may undertake more formal research on blogging and its contribution to legal research and public legal education through, for example a questionnaire (which would require ethics approval) but at this stage we are principally interested in assessing the impact and usefulness of ABlawg.
We welcome responses to these questions and other thoughts on ABlawg as comments to this post (just hit the “Post a comment” link below). Alternatively, you may submit your responses in confidence to the address below, either by post or email.
Thanks for reading.
Jennifer Koshan
Associate Dean Research and ABlawg Coordinator
Faculty of Law
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB
T2N 1N4
koshan@ucalgary.ca
James Sprague
• Are you a subscriber to ABlawg?
Yes
• How often do you read ABLawg?
When reader shows a new entry.
• Have you used ABlawg posts in your work? How?
Yes, cite relevant articles in my admin law newsletter.
• Are you aware of ABlawg posts that have been cited by a court, in a legal argument, in an academic article or in another blog post? Please provide details.
Nope, sorry.
• Has ABlawg assisted you in understanding the law in a particular area?
No, sorry.
• Have you posted a comment to an ABlawg post? Why or why not?
No.
• How does ABlawg compare with other blogs that you may subscribe to?
Excellent. I luv the academic focus as opposed to off the cuff emoting.
• What can we do to improve ABlawg?
G Gilchrist
• Are you a subscriber to ABlawg?
no
• How often do you read ABLawg?
weekly
• Have you used ABlawg posts in your work? How?
yes, we look at the opinions and information and incorporate it into what we do.
• Are you aware of ABlawg posts that have been cited by a court, in a legal argument, in an academic article or in another blog post? Please provide details.
no
• Has ABlawg assisted you in understanding the law in a particular area?
yes!!!
• Have you posted a comment to an ABlawg post? Why or why not?
Not sure
• How does ABlawg compare with other blogs that you may subscribe to?
• What can we do to improve ABlawg?
KEEP up the good work.
A. McVea
I read Ablawg regularly.
I have used Ablawg in my work where a blog post deals with an area of law that I am researching.
I think Ablawg is the best law blog that I have found. A lot of blogs are just legal gossip or marketing tools for firms.
Ablawg takes a recent case and discusses in a thorough manner including the context and relevant law. The treatment is detailed and I often have to take several stabs before I can make it to the end.
The blog brings to light relevant case law that I might not have read on my own.
My favourite poster is Jonetter Watson Hamilton but this is probably because I am interested in property and estate law.
Comment is thought-provoking.
I have not commented ever.
An awesome blog that I would greatly miss were it to disappear.
Ablawg deserves to be widely read. If it is not, perhaps it could be promoted somehow so that lawyers, judges, and law students are all aware of it, eg. law libraries, courthouse, CBA, LESA,etc.
Anne Wilson
I subscribe to ABlawg; I read it once a month, mostly for the criminal and environmental law posts.
It is very good, and really the only one I like to read. I don’t comment. When I have a comment from one of my files I will.
Salma Hussain
• Are you a subscriber to ABlawg? No
• How often do you read ABLawg? Monthly
• Have you used ABlawg posts in your work? How? Not yet.
• Are you aware of ABlawg posts that have been cited by a court, in a legal argument, in an academic article or in another blog post? Please provide details. No.
• Has ABlawg assisted you in understanding the law in a particular area? Absolutely.
• Have you posted a comment to an ABlawg post? Why or why not? No.
• How does ABlawg compare with other blogs that you may subscribe to? I believe this is the only good blog specifically analysing Canadian environmental laws and cases.
• What can we do to improve ABlawg? Perhaps articles should consistently come out at regular times (once every 2 weeks, etc.) so that a reader knows when to check back.
Chad Conrad
• Are you a subscriber to ABlawg? – I didn’t know this was possible.
• How often do you read ABLawg? – ad hoc
• Have you used ABlawg posts in your work? How? – Work, no. Studies, yes.
• Are you aware of ABlawg posts that have been cited by a court, in a legal argument, in an academic article or in another blog post? Please provide details. – No
• Has ABlawg assisted you in understanding the law in a particular area? – Yes
• Have you posted a comment to an ABlawg post? Why or why not? – Yes. Because I am opinionated and easily provoked. (Okay, a little.)
• How does ABlawg compare with other blogs that you may subscribe to?
• What can we do to improve ABlawg?
Luke
• Are you a subscriber to ABlawg?
Yes, with google reader
• How often do you read ABLawg?
2-3 times a month, when there are posts that aren’t over my head or that I’m interested in — I’ll read anything I’m interested in even if it’s over my head ;)
• Have you used ABlawg posts in your work? How?
No, I have little no legal experience and am only starting law school in September
• Are you aware of ABlawg posts that have been cited by a court, in a legal argument, in an academic article or in another blog post? Please provide details.
No
• Has ABlawg assisted you in understanding the law in a particular area?
Yes, in particular when posts give a general overview of the area the post is about before it discusses the issue(s) in detail.
• Have you posted a comment to an ABlawg post? Why or why not?
No, because I wouldn’t know what I’m talking about.
• How does ABlawg compare with other blogs that you may subscribe to?
The posts are much more thorough and complete.
• What can we do to improve ABlawg?
I’m not sure