Caselaw Express posts 1,000 subscribers
April 2, 1999
WisBar's Caselaw Express email service, which reports cases added to
the State Bar of Wisconsin's Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of
Appeals databases, has grown to more than 1,000 subscribers, according
to WisBar Webmaster Pat McKenna.
Since its debut in
March of 1998, the free subscription-based service has grown at a rate
of approximately 100 new subscribers each month due primarily to word of
mouth and online advertising. Recent marketing efforts in the Wisconsin
Lawyer magazine and in the State Bar of
Wisconsin Newsletter generated a spike in new
subscriptions.
McKenna said that the most satisfying thing about the service is
receiving unsolicited emails from subscribers.
"It's gotten to the point where if I see 'Caselaw Express' in the
subject heading of an email, I know its going to be filled with kudos,"
he said. "Attorneys have told me that it a great member benefit because
it saves them valuable time in researching caselaw and keeping abreast
of the latest decisions."
Thomas M. Devine, an attorney from Racine, echoed McKenna's thoughts
in a recent email to him.
"The state bar's web page, in particular the caselaw express, return
service to the local member unlike anything else that the bar does. Bar
dues are an inexpensive cost for such a useful service," Devine
said.
McKenna said he pays very close attention to subscriber email
"because they have the best ideas for improving the service." He pointed
to the addition of an asterisk next to cases that have been recommended
for publishing, which was direct result of subscriber suggestions.
