Knowledge is power

But you have to find it. Search tools help you do that.

Keyword searching is a vital skill for finding information when you need it, whether it be in dispute documents exchanged between the parties in a litigation matter, or in your own correspondence and other file materials related to a client matter. AI is a powerful tool for searching content, but does not replace the benefits of keyword search. Keyword searching for file names in Windows File Explorer, or performing a lightning-fast searches in dtSearch indexes of large libraries of documents, are everyday productivity boosting tools that AI has not eliminated the benefit of. This course teaches the fundamentals of searching in Windows File Explorer, and using dtSearch, a market leading desktop search engine which you can use to index your own libraries of documents.

Approved for CPD credit by the Law Society of British Columbia

Claim CPD credit according to time spent (max of 2.5 hours) reviewing course material and answering quiz questions.

Info about claiming CPD credit

Instructor

Lawyer Michael Dew

Michael is a former structural engineer, turned litigation lawyer, with a hobby interest in coding, and an enthusiasm for efficiency. Michael first wrote computer code in 1996 when programming a HP 48 GX scientific calculator in 1996 used for engineering calculations. After working as engineer, in 2003 Michael attended law school at the University of British Columbia. Since being called to the bar in 2007 he has worked a litigation lawyer, continually developing self taught technology skills to better manage his practice, and to provide better client service by leveraging technology. The technology courses taught here summarize key tips learned through Michael’s day-to-day litigation practice, including Googling, YouTube videos, and never-ending trial and error. AI is changing the landscape of data management, story telling, and the practice of law, but foundational computer skills remain important, and these courses aim to teach foundational skills and then build on that, including (soon to come) courses teaching how modern AI can be leveraged to achieve ever increasing efficiencies.

Course curriculum

    1. WS 1.1 Introduction to keyword searching in Windows

    1. WS 2.1 Introduction to search in Windows File Explorer

    2. WS 2.2 This course focuses on File Explorer Search, not Taskbar Search

    3. WS 2.3 Brief overview of search functionality in Windows File Explorer

    4. WS 2.4 Searchability of content (and understanding OCR)

    5. WS 2.5 Understanding Indexed v. Non-indexed searching

    6. WS 2.6 Ensuring drive settings allow indexing

    7. WS 2.7 Adjusting Indexing Options

    8. WS 2.8 Defining the type of content to be indexed

    9. WS 2.9 Setting File Explorer folder options relevant to search

    1. WS 3.1 Sample data to be used for demonstration purposes

    2. WS 3.2 Performing simple keyword searches, and review of basic search functionality

    3. WS 3.3 Viewing search hits

    4. WS 3.4 Searching for phrases

    5. WS 3.5 Searching subfolders v. just the current folder

    6. WS 3.6 Searching full file contents v. searching file names

    7. WS 3.7 Search for a period to identify all files and folders in a folder tree

    8. WS 3.8 Using Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT

    9. WS 3.9 Searching for parts of words or phrases

    10. WS 3.10 Search by file extension

    11. WS 3.11 Search using wildcards

    12. WS 3.12 Performing operations on search hits

    1. WS 4.1 Introduction to alternative search tools

    2. WS 4.2 Brief overview of FileLocator

    1. WS 5.1 Introduction to dtSearch

    2. WS 5.2 The interface and search window of dtSearch

    3. WS 5.3 Creating and updating Indexes

    4. WS 5.4 Referencing an existing index

    5. WS 5.5 Performing a search

    6. WS 5.6 Reviewing search results

    7. WS 5.7 Boolean searching

    8. WS 5.8 Limiting a search to a particular subfolder

About this course

  • Free
  • 32 lessons