NOTE: JOL Ceased publication sometime around 2001. The rest of this page, and other JOL pages remain as they were at that time.

Overview

The Journal of Online Law ("JOL") is an electronic publication of scholarly essays about law and online communications--law and cyberspace. The first issue was released early in June, 1995.

"Scholarly essays" means thoughtful, readable pieces that analyze current trends in the law and predict future disputes and problems. A journal of scholarly essays is different from the typical "law review" or "law journal." The latter emphasizes comprehensiveness, thoroughness, and reliance on detailed footnotes. These characteristics have their place; we simply intend something different: a journal that is shorter, more easily readable, having wider appeal.

Nor is JOL is the place for detailed review of particular court decisions, or for advice on specific situations. Countless publications like newsletters, law firm practice updates, and law reviews provide outlets for those different and worthy endeavors.

We aim rather at concisely framing and exploring the key legal issues arising from networked communication; at speculating a bit about future trends; and in general, at trying to bring interested readers some interesting reading about the law of cyberspace.

Electronic distribution is a "natural" for a journal that deals with cyberspace. Nonetheless, our first priority is not the medium but the message: we care most of all about interesting, intelligent, and readable content. If you do too, then we think you will enjoy reading JOL.