Information retrieval systems for professionals: A case study of computer supported legal research

Two design ideas concerning information retrieval systems (IRS) for professionals are evaluated. First, the authors aim to support a professional’s document handling. Second, they aim to facilitate the evolution of the IRS, i.e. allowing it to be modified in a straight forward and flexible way as new requirements arise. The viability of these design ideas is illustrated through a case study concerning the development of a prototype legal IRS based on a leading body of Danish laws. Important facilities in the prototype include a dynamic thesaurus, a dynamic classification structure and personal notes. The prototype is built using a relational database, not inverted files as in the majority of IRS.