1. What is LISNS?
2. What a Web Portal?
3. What is YourLaw?
4. Who can join?
5. How much work is it to get my information on the site?
6. Does my organization have to have a website before I can join?
7. How much does it cost?
The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (or LISNS) is a not-for-profit charity committed to helping all types of people whose life is affected by a legal issue or problem. LISNS has been providing Nova Scotians with information and resources about the law for more than 25 years. LISNS' staff and volunteers believe easy access to information about the law is fundamental to a fair justice system.
Popular web-portals like msn, yahoo, facebook, and myspace provide a single access point to information from a number of different internet sources, resources, and services. They can be configured so that the user can easily access new information from favourite sources and contacts. Web portals, simply put, provide a way of navigating the vast amount of information available on the internet.
YourLaw is a web-portal that has been developed by the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia. LISNS recognizes that internet technology has changed the ways that people create and access information, and has created the YourLaw portal to allow organizations in Nova Scotia to meet online, communicate, and share infomation. Think of it as a meeting place for people interested in community development, outreach, education, and advocacy.
Any public or private not-for-profit organization concerned with Nova Scotian communities is invited to register on the YourLaw portal. Even if you don't identify yourself as a law-related organization, you can take part in the YourLaw portal.
5. How much work is it to get my information on the site?
The YourLaw portal supports a number of file formats, and its simple design makes it easy to view and navigate. Keep an eye on our homepage for screen-casts to show you how to upload images, form groups, and invite others to join. It's a lot easier than you might think. Our team is also happy to help you by phone or in person. Check out the *workshops schedule* to see when we're coming to your neighbourhood, or send us an email (legalportal@legalinfo.org) if you'd like us to come and visit.
6. Does my organization have to have a website before I can join?
No-although we're happy to link to and provide RSS feeds from other web-pages, we welcome groups with no or a limited web presence. We're hoping that YourLaw will provide a voice online for all Nova Scotian organizations, and we recognize that there are many organizations that do not have funding to build and maintain a website.
Currently the YourLaw project is being funded by the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia, and it will be free for the first year. The site is built using the open-source content management system Drupal, which has been used to build thousands of portals and web-sites. For the future, we're looking at sustainability plans that combine external funding and sponsorship with a small membership fee for participating organizations.