FIT for purpose – the new FLARE Index to Treaties

The FLARE Index to Treaties which was launched in March 2009 on the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies web server, was conceived to fill a gap in the range of information finding tools available on the internet for the international lawyer. It is a fully searchable database indexing and listing over 1,500 of the most significant multilateral treaties concluded from 1856 onwards. This article describes the background to the development, the various ways in which the service can be used and technical issues in its construction and use.Preprint of an article by Dr Peter Clinch, Senior Subject Librarian for Law, Cardiff University, Wales, UK and Steven Whittle, Information Systems Manager, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London published online by LLRX.co