I lost count of the times my pc crashed back in law school. There was always something to discover. One of the neat computer functionality that captured my attention was the hyperlink. The main reason for my fascination with the hyperlink? I didn’t want to stand up when studying. In my defense, that’s not entirely laziness, but a matter of efficiency.
Why should a Law Student participate in the Legal Wiki Project (click here to see the Project)?
1. Be a part of history. The Legal Wiki Project is the first legal wiki in the Philippines. It’s a work in progress, true, but any wiki will always be a work in progress. We all know that neat tool called Wikipedia, the same platform used around 2008 when I started exploring the feasibility of a Legal Wiki, now formally continued at the LawCenter.ph. A “wiki” – which is derived from the Hawaiian word “fast” – is a collaborative website that allows anyone who has access to contribute or modify content.
2. Collaborate with others. The beauty of a wiki is that it allows multiple users to start/edit entries (it also comes with a “discuss” function). Others might have a different vantage point when looking at an issue, so all bases should be covered.
3. Prepare for practice (and bar exams). A dynamic and updated Legal Wiki would contain the basic topics, as well as special issues relating thereto. The information is there so if (not when) you pass the bar exams, you have a ready research tool that you helped create.
4. Help the people. Ignorance of the law excuses no one. Yet people don’t know the law. It’s an alien creature (the law, not the people). The Legal Wiki could help in this respect.
5. It’s a good research tool. When reading a textbook, say Book 2 in Criminal Law, there are cases cited in the book (besides, there are separate cases assigned by the professors). You stand up to borrow the Supreme Court Reports Annotated (SCRA) — that’s usually one volume for each case because it’s rare that two assigned cases are found in the same volume. Then you stand up to get the separate textbook in Commercial Law because the topic is on estafa in relation to certain commercial transactions. Then you read in the case that a petition was filed with the Supreme Court, so you stand up again to get the Rules of Court textbook in Remedial Law. Imagine doing all that with just a click of the mouse, like in a Legal Wiki.
It’s a really hot summer, but we’ll see in the next months how cool the Legal Wiki Project could be. Do send me a short email (click here) should you wish to help in the Legal Wiki Project. Please use your real name. Thank you.
Next stop: Why should Lawyers Participate in the Legal Wiki Project.
Tinkering with internet tools comes with the bonus of better understanding how existing laws apply to the third wave - that of technology, particularly the internet. This is also a great medium to disseminate and discuss ideas across borders, time, color or creed. 
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