Information Needs, Information Sources, Information Uses and Information-seeking Behaviours of Lawyers in Oyo State Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the information needs, information uses, information sources and information-seeking behaviour of lawyers in Oyo State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample of 103 lawyers, using a questionnaire and a self-completed interview schedule. Case preparation was a major reason for lawyers’ information needs. A majority of the lawyers need information in order to enhance their performance and gain more knowledge. The quest for additional information is the main motive in searching for information by professionals and non-professionals alike. Knowing more and becoming well-informed on various aspects of society, constitute the major reasons why lawyers seek for information. Lawyers visit their personal information collection first, and consult available electronic sources before they resort to other sources. The major types of information needed by lawyers, largely relate to the following: weekly law reports, recent decisions of the Supreme Court, and information related to clients. The most consulted sources of information were personal experience, textbooks, journals, colleagues and partners, as well as firm case studies and court records. Creating ways to improve the capacity of lawyers to use digital resources by way of training, and expansion of the legal education curriculum to include ICT, will go a long way to address the challenges lawyers have in finding and using the information they need.