The 95 Theses: Legal Research in the Internet Age

Abstract

Martin Luther is largely credited with starting the Protestant Reformation in 1517 with The 95 Theses, his work challenging the Catholic Church’s practice of selling indulgences. The Reformation had many causes, but the invention of the printing press was a primary catalyst for change. The printing press made the Bible and other forms of religious literature available to a much wider audience than had previously had access to this information.

Legal research does not rise to the level of a religious experience. With apologies to Luther, however, I offer the following thesis about legal research today: The availability of legal information on the Internet has led to the law’s equivalent of the Protestant Reformation. As legal information has become available to more people, legal research and the roles of lawyers have been transforming as well.

Keywords: 95 Theses, Martin Luther, Catholic Church, Protestant Reformation, printing press, Bible, legal information, legal research, Internet, intermediaries, Bible interpretation, legal information interpretation

JEL Classification: K19, K30, K39, K40, K41, K49, L84, L86