JURIST

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This article is about a legal news service. For the Common noun, see Jurist.
JURIST
JURISTlogo.jpg
JURIST screenshot.png
Screenshot from JURIST
URL jurist.law.pitt.edu
jurist.org
Slogan "Documenting law to empower people."
Commercial? No
Type of site Legal
Registration No
Available language(s) English
Owner JURIST Legal News & Research Services, Inc.
Created by Bernard Hibbitts et al.
Launched 1996
Current status Active

JURIST is an online legal news service hosted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, powered by a staff of more than 60 law students[1] working in Pittsburgh and other US locations under the direction of founding Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Professor Bernard Hibbitts, Research Director Jaclyn Belczyk, Technical Director Jeremiah Lee, Managing Editor Clay Flaherty, Chief of Staff Dan Taglioli and Editorial Coordinator Julia Zebley. It features continuously updated US and international legal news and expert commentary. JURIST is dedicated to advancing civic education, supporting sound decision-making and promoting the rule of law by objectively reporting, documenting and analyzing important legal developments as they happen. JURIST seeks to encourage teaching, learning, and scholarship within the legal community and in the general community.

In April 2009 JURIST was nominated for a Webby Award as best Law website, its third such nomination in four years. The site won the Webby People's Voice Award in 2006. Other website awards include the 2008 W3 Silver Award and the 2006 W3 Gold Award in the Law and Legal Services category. JURIST's flagship Paper Chase legal news section was recognized by the ABA Journal in its 2008 and 2007 lists of "the best Web sites by lawyers, for lawyers". JURIST content is carried on the websites and/or intranets of major newspapers like the New York Times and the Washington Post, US federal appeals courts, and numerous law schools, bar associations and law firms.

JURIST is owned and operated by JURIST Legal News and Research Services, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization.

Contents

History [edit]

Professor Bernard Hibbitts created the website that would become JURIST in 1996 as Law Professors on the Web, with the name JURIST being officially adopted in 1997. Initially designed for law professors as a clearinghouse of online legal materials authored by other law professors, it eventually evolved under the pressure of events beyond its original directory-library-archive model and its internal academic orientation into a live, dynamic and externally oriented news and research service designed to bridge the gap between the legal academy and the public. Although law students have been involved with JURIST from its beginnings, the current model of training students to work as reporters and editors began in 2003. JURIST has since grown to a staff of over sixty students, plus two full-time professional staff members. The first section to fully utilize students was the Paper Chase legal news service. Subsequently, students have led efforts to more fully develop JURIST's commentary sections, features and archives, as well as develop vibrant social media presences on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

In 2008, JURIST incorporated as a Pennsylvania non-profit and subsequently obtained an IRS determination to be a charitable organization as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. This change in status allowed JURIST to make several other changes. In 2010, JURIST began the process of transitioning its operations to the new jurist.org domain. In January 2012, JURIST moved its web operations from an aging Windows based server located in the University of Pittsburgh School of Law to its own modern server located at a data center in California. JURIST also began its first online fundraising drive in March 2012, coinciding with the unveiling of a new logo and banner design on its website.

Paper Chase [edit]

Paper Chase[2] is JURIST's flagship news service, providing readers with a constant stream of real-time legal news supported by primary sources. Paper Chase covers a wide range of national and international legal topics and reaches thousands of lawyers, policymakers, academics, and citizens from around the world every day. Paper Chase headlines are viewed off site more than 40,000 times a week on the websites and intranets of more than 90 legal institutions, including federal appeals courts, major law firms, leading law schools, and legal associations. The service is written by law student "anchors" working in continuous shifts 365 days a year under the direction of JURIST Research Director Jaclyn Belczyk.

Commentary [edit]

JURIST's commentary services provide readers with content produced by newsmakers, legal professionals and the academic community on topics covered by Paper Chase.

Forum [edit]

JURIST's Forum[3] publishes op-ed pieces on legal developments. More timely than traditional legal scholarship, Forum pieces are written by law professors, lawmakers, and other experts, providing a unique resource for both the legal community and the public at large. Forum features their opinions on high-profile legal issues, from same-sex marriage to the constitutionality of health care reform, and is frequently cited in journals such as the Harvard Law Review, the Yale Law Journal, and hundreds of other law reviews throughout the world.

Notable topics include: Affirmative action,[4] gay rights[5] and Prop 8,[6] as well as opinions on various international legal news.

Hotline [edit]

JURIST's Hotline[7] solicits commentary on legal news from lawyers, advocacy groups, legislators and other news makers. This commentary ties directly into JURIST's Paper Chase stories and offers readers pointed opinion on Paper Chase[2] material from legal experts. Hotline[7] also serves to broaden JURIST readership by building relationships with individuals and organizations that share an interest in some aspect of the law.

Sidebar [edit]

JURIST's Sidebar[8] is the newest commentary service and features articles from firm lawyers and judges on issues they deal with in the course of their practice.

Dateline [edit]

Dateline[9] publishes commentary pieces from law students throughout the world. The written work typically comments on current events related to controversial legal topics such as The Stolen Valor Act,[10] contraception,[11][11] and First Amendment rights.[12]

Other services [edit]

Topics [edit]

JURIST's Topics[13] page allows users to browse material by general topic (including searches by Current Awareness (launching Summer 2012), Course topic,[13] Country of origin,[13] and State of origin[13]). The Topics section combines information from all of JURIST's services into an easily accessible database.

Social Media [edit]

JURIST's Social Media utilizes various social media platforms to reach current readers and expand the audience. JURIST operates three Twitter feeds as well as a Facebook page and a Google+ feed, which is updated constantly with new JURIST content.

External links [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ [1], JURIST
  2. ^ a b Paper Chase, JURIST
  3. ^ Forum, JURIST
  4. ^ [2], JURIST
  5. ^ [3], JURIST
  6. ^ [4], JURIST
  7. ^ a b Hotline, JURIST
  8. ^ Sidebar, JURIST
  9. ^ Dateline, JURIST
  10. ^ [5], JURIST
  11. ^ a b [6], JURIST
  12. ^ [7], JURIST
  13. ^ a b c d Topics, JURIST
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