ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT, PERSONALITY TRAITS AND LEGAL DATABASES USE BY LAWYERS IN IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The emergence of Information and Communication Technology has given rise to the availability of legal databases for pieces of legal research. However, despite the availability of advanced legal databases containing the most recent works, close observation found that most lawyers still depend largely on printed documents. More so, there is limited understanding of the factors that influence lawyers' utilization of the resources available in the databases therefore, this is considered crucial in this study.This study investigated the organizational supports and personality traits as factors influencing the use of legal databases among lawyers in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. Using Taro Yamane to arrive at a sample of 333 out of a population of 2000 lawyers in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. A questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the research questions and hypothesis respectively. The hypothesis was tested using Pearson Product Moment at 0.05 level of significance. There was a moderate usage of legal databases among lawyers (Mean=2.8). organization factors had a positive significant influence on the use of legal databases (AdjR2=15.3, p=0.001 < 0.05) while personality traits had a weak significant influence on the use of legal databases (AdjR2=8.2, p=0.001 < 0.05). The study found a joint significant influence of organization factors and personality traits on the use of legal databases among lawyers in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria (AdjR2=17.6, p=0.001 < 0.05). The study concluded that place of organization support and personality traits is inevitable in enhancing the quality usage of legal databases for optimum legal research work. It was recommended that Law firms and Law schools should increase the frequency and depth of training programs that focus on the use of legal databases.