Author archives

Steven Whittle is the Information Systems Manager in the Library at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London. He has more than 25 years experience in the UK Higher Education environment and is experienced in working with UK, foreign, and international legal materials, and web-based applications. He is also project manager for IALS participation in the development of the Intute: Law Internet gateway, author of a new edition of the Internet for Lawyers online tutorial, web editor for the IALS web site and helped to develop a number of web databases on the IALS site including FLAG, the Foreign Law Guide. He is joint System Manager of the University of London Research Library Services Innovative Millennium Library management system. He has written for a number of journals including: Amicus Curiae, Directions in Legal Education (UKCLE Newsletter), GlobaLex, International Journal of Legal Information, JILT Journal of Information Law and Technology, Legal Information Management, and LLRX.

The FLARE Index to Treaties Extended

The FLARE Index to Treaties (FIT), launched in March 2009 on the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies web server has been extended to cover about a third more treaties and conventions. In the past two years the Index has established itself as a valuable finding tool for the international lawyer. It is a fully searchable database now indexing and listing over 2,000 of the most significant multilateral treaties concluded from 1353 onwards and a number of significant bilateral treaties signed between 1353 and 1815. This article, by Steven Whittle and Peter Clinch describes the background to the extension and technical aspects of the updated implementation employed to deliver new content and finding features.

Subjects: Comparative/Foreign Law, Features, Government Resources, International Legal Research, Legal Research, Treaties & Agreements

FIT for Purpose The New FLARE Index to Treaties

Dr. Peter Clinch and Steven Whittle describe the background development, various ways in which the service can be used, and technical issues of this fully searchable database. Launched in March 2009, it indexes and lists over 1,500 of the most significant multilateral treaties concluded from 1856 onwards. It was conceived to fill a gap in the range of information finding tools available on the internet for the international lawyer.

Subjects: Features, International Legal Research, Legal Research, Legal Technology, Treaties & Agreements