                             Compiled and Maintained
                                       by

                          F R O L I C   &   D E T O U R
                                     LAW BBS
                                  919-893-5206

    400+ downloadable business-oriented files.  For legal professionals only.
                        (Last Updated November 10, 1986)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

                    DIRECTORY OF LAW-RELATED BULLETIN BOARDS


The following list represents the "compleat" listing of all BBS's specializing
in legal matters which we have been able to locate.  All are accessible at 1200
bps - many also have 2400bps capability.  If you become aware of any new BBS's
which should be included on this list (or if you learn of any changes in the
status of any board listed here), please leave a <C>omment to the SYSOP when you
return to our Frolic & Detour Main Menu.  Thank you!
                                                        -  Rick Rodgers (SYSOP).

============  ==  =============  ========================  ==================
NUMBER        ST  CITY           NAME                      SYSOP
------------  --  -------------  ------------------------  ------------------
206-742-9757  WA  Seattle        Husbands Against Disc Div Joe Karl
208-323-8626  ID  Boise          Boise Police Department   Sgt. Mike Worley
212-409-4194  NY  New York City  Softlaw                   Ed Wolf
213-553-1473  CA  Los Angeles    LEGACY                    Bob Kohn
214-522-1963  TX  Dallas         Rice & Livingston LAWSIG  Gerald Livingstone
214-458-2620  TX  Dallas         The Inns of Court         Arthur Geffen
215-569-6975  PA  Philadelphia   LEX-PC Lawtech            Mark Pinkstone
217-352-6118  IL  Champagne      LAWBoard                  Keith Hayes
219-884-9508  IN  Gary           LANS                      Phillip Stults
312-280-8180  IL  Chicago        LAWMUG                    Paul Bernstein
313-774-7258  MI  Detroit        Freeform RBBS             Craig Stahl
413-783-2714  MA  Springfield    My BBS                    Charles Yates
513-721-4902  OH  Cincinnati     Lawtalk                   Dave Yaros
612-872-2352  MN  Minneapolis    LAWCAT                    Paula Giese
701-293-5973  ND  Fargo          Law Line                  Loren Jones
713-665-5556  TX  Houston        Ed Hopper's BBS           Ed Hopper
805-273-8476  CA  ??             LAWBOARD                  Gene Siegel
919-893-5206  NC  Buies Creek    Frolic & Detour           Rick Rodgers
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In addition to the above, various legal BBS's appear on several "commercial"
electronic communication systems.  The following represents our "compleat"
listing of these:


        Name:  LAW:FORUM                        Sysop:  Jennifer Bankier, Atty.
    Location:  Ann Arbor, MI                       PH:  Telenet, DataPac
   Interests:  Varied legal topics
               Computer uses and technology
               Atty/Public Communcations
Restrictions:  Subscription only

                               = = = = = = = = = =

        Name:  BIX Law Conference               Sysop:  Barry D. Bayer
    Location:  New Hampshire                       PH:  Tymnet
   Interests:  Computer law related issues
Restrictions:  Subscription Only
               $14.00/hr @ 1200 Baud during non-prime time

                              = = = = = = = = = =

        Name:  SOURCE LawSIG                    Sysop:  Paul Bernstein, Atty.
                                                        Dennis Duffner
    Location:  Philadelphia, PA                    PH:  Tymnet-local number
   Interests:  Atty/Public Communication
Restrictions:  Subscription Only

                               = = = = = = = = = =

        Name:  COMPUSERVE Law Forum            Sysop:  Noel D. Adler, Atty.
    Location:  Columbus, OH                       PH:  Local CIS Access Nr.
   Interests:  Atty/Public Communication               or Tymnet
               Lawyer-to-Lawyer Communication
Restrictions:  Subscription Only $6.25/$12.50 hr.
               (300/1200 bps) during non-prime time

                               = = = = = = = = = =

        Name:  ABA/Net                         Sysop:  American Bar Ass'n
    Location:  Chicago, IL                        PH:  Telenet, Tymnet,
   Interests:  Atty EMAIL, OAG, Legal                  Uninet, Dialnet
               Support Services
Restrictions:  Subscription Only $10.00/ hr. and up.
               (300/1200 bps) during non-prime time

                               = = = = = = = = = =
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

                      S U M M A R Y   O F   C O N T A C T S
                                November 2, 1986



206-742-9757  WA  Seattle          Husbands Against Discriminatory Divorce Laws
     SYSOP: Joe Karl               a/k/a "H.A.D.D."

Apparently a new board established as part of a nationwide effort to gain
equity for husbands in domestic relations disputes.  I didn't see any evidence
of lawyers getting involved - strange!  The BBS file area contains a few sets
of domestic relations do-it-yourself forms and even the residence phone
numbers of **ALL** the domestic relations judges in the Seattle area (sort of
makes you wonder...).


                               - - - - - - - - - -

208-323-8626  ID  Boise            Boise Police Department BBS
     SYSOP:  Sgt. Mike Worley

Now here's a crimestopping idea.  BPD is on-line.  On this BBS you'll find
public reports of stolen vehicles, bulletins re protecting the home, and a few
files available for downloading (1986 NFL Schedule was one; are football pools
legal in Boise?).  The board is well run and seems to be getting much traffic.
I'm certain it's also used in "private conference mode" by various officers on
the beat w/Model 100's, etc.


                               - - - - - - - - - -

212-409-4194  NY  New York City    Softlaw
     SYSOP: Ed Wolf

This BBS supports law office software developed (apparently) and marketed by
its SYSOP, Attorney Ed Wolf.  The software is largely of a "substantive systems"
nature and includes such packages as Bankruptcy, Corporate Formation, and
Real Estate transfers.  Although I haven't seen any, the description of these
offerings lead me to believe that they are each "driven" by some form of
structured data manager (ie, dBaseIII or its ilk) which merges the data with
forms and reports.  There's a substantial charge for using the BBS - but it
is really for consulting time with the SYSOP, and not simply just for the
privilege of calling his computer.


                               - - - - - - - - - -

213-553-1473  CA  Los Angeles      LEGACY
    SYSOP: Bob Kohn

Obviously a "seasoned board" which has been around some time.  It contains a
host of do-it-yourself forms (Corporations, Wills, Domestic Relations, etc.)
and several "law review" (but more readable) articles about computers,
technology and related legal issues.  I couldn't find any "freeware" but there
is plenty of full-text recent legislation material, product reviews, and other
useful stuff.  I suspect one purpose of the BBS is to market the services of
its sponsors - but, if it is, it's a very low-keyed pitch.


                               - - - - - - - - - -
214-522-1963  TX  Dallas           Rice & Livingston LAWSIG
    SYSOP:  Gerald Livingston

Here's a marketing board, pure and simple.  It's very user-friendly, open to
the public, and contains good editorial and informational content.  The
downloadable file areas need a little cleaning up, but what's there are the
most current versions of PC-WRITE, PROCOMM, etc.  It apparently gets a lot of
DFW traffic and is doubtless providing good service to the public and good
exposure to its lawyer sponsors.  Lawyers trying to decide between publishing
yet another ho-hum firm brochure and establishing a BBS should look at this
one.


                               - - - - - - - - - -

215-569-6975  PA  Philadelphia     LEX-PC Lawtech
    SYSOP:  Mark Pinkstone

This Board is run by two law office consultants and is full of goodies for
their clients and anyone else who wants to log on.  Perhaps the high point of
this BBS is the Pinkstone & Margueres Newsletter, which is an excellent survey
of what's happening in the PC world of interest to lawyers.  There's also an
abundance of downloadable files.  This is a first-rate effort - and deserves
more attention.  Who knows, lawyers visiting this BBS may discover that
consultants can be practical, too.  [QUESTION:  What does a steer do in a
herd of cows?  ANSWER:  Not much.  He's just a consultant.]  Here may be your
chance to discover otherwise....


                               - - - - - - - - - -

217-352-6118  IL  Champagne        LAWBoard
     SYSOP:  Keith Hayes

This is a multi-purpose BBS.  It's operated by Grosser & Hayes - a small firm
with two offices (and the perennial problem of communication between them).
The BBS was installed to allow the lawyers to keep in touch with each other,
trade trial notes, workload, and generally eliminate the need for them to be
in the same room with each other in order to get the benefits of a "group"
practice.  They use Radio Shack Model 100's, PC's on their desks, and PC's
at home - and the BBS holds it all together by allowing them to swap text
files, EMAIL, etc.   And then the clients started using it to avoid the
inevitable telephone tag syndrome - and then the firm opened it to the general
public (although they really haven't made a big publicity push in this area).
From little acorns....


                               - - - - - - - - - -

219-884-9508  IN  Gary            LANS
     SYSOP:  Phillip Stults


                               - - - - - - - - - -

312-280-8180  IL  Chicago          LAWMUG
     SYSOP:  Paul Bernstein

Alas, this (the first known BBS run by a lawyer) is currently off-line.  Paul
says he's looking for hacker-proof software (Paul: try our choice - PCBoard)
and is also putting his time into establishing LAWSIG on The Source.
                               - - - - - - - - - -

313-774-7258  MI  Detroit          Freeform RBBS
    SYSOP:  Craig Stahl

WOW!  Here's one with something for everyone.  It's both a marketing board
(public bulletins include "DUI - What to Do When Arrested", "How To Make an
Effective Consumer Complaint", "Starting a Business", "Incorporation Outline",
"Corporate Pension Guide") and a collection of downloadable forms suitable for
lawyers.  I hope to get more time to spend on this one.


                               - - - - - - - - - -

413-783-2714  MA  Springfield      My BBS
     SYSOP:  Charles Yates

A PCBoard ver. 10 system run by a second year law student from Western New
England College School of Law (Class of '88).  The BBS is a "general purpose"
one open to all callers.  But there is a specific "Law Conference" into which
everyone is invited for forum discussions (many about the liability of SYSOPS
who have illegal messages and copy righted material posted on their BBS's).


                               - - - - - - - - - -

612-872-2352  MN  Minneapolis      LAWCAT
     SYSOP:  Paula Giese

Truly an "exciting" BBS run by someone loaded with effervescence.  Paula is in
the business of consulting with law firms - and I'd love to sit in on one of her
visits.  There's a ton of "current events" reporting in the various bulletins
she maintains - and plenty of software to download.  The BBS is often busy - but
it's worth the wait.


                               - - - - - - - - - -

701-293-5973  ND  Fargo            Law Line
     SYSOP  Loren Jones

This is an active "hobbyist" BBS which happens to be run by a lawyer, Loren
Jones.  There's a special Law Conference on it, but the thrust of the board
is general purpose.  Access to Law Conference is limited, so don't forget to
ask for entrance by leaving a MSG to the SYSOP.


                               - - - - - - - - - -

713-665-5556  TX  Houston        Ed Hopper's BBS
     SYSOP:  Ed Hopper

This board, although run by a lawyer, is largely a BBS designed to help people using
AT&T microcomputers.  As such, it's more of a "UG" (Users' Group) than it is a
BBS devoted to lawyers.  There is, however, a specific "Law Conference" going
on - run by New York Softlaw BBS SYSOP, Ed Wolf.  The BBS runs on PCBoard ver.
10 software.  It contains relatively few downloadable files but, being in
metro Houston and having a certain AT&T "calling", it seems pretty active.


                               - - - - - - - - - -
805-273-8476  CA  ??               LAWBOARD
     SYSOP:  Gene Siegel

Here's a free-wheeling California-style BBS open to anyone (use aliases, CB
handles, anything goes) system run largely as a public service (but possibly
with some marketing motives) by a firm that apparently enjoys controversy.
The filespace isn't too well organized (many of the entries have no
description) but the reason you go is to read the "editorials."
