A finger on the pulse

On-line business and law service Legalpulse has relaunched its Web site this week with a host of new features aiming to make access to legal advice more user friendly.Additions to the site, which is claimed to have more than 10,000 users, include a helpline for immediate contact with a solicitor, access to The National Solicitors Network (TNSN) and a range of 'crisis packs' - easy-to-use legal guides for use in times of difficulty such as redundancy or debt.'The previous site was adequate but we kept getting queries from users wondering if their problems were serious enough to warrant going to a law firm,' said Gill Switalski, chief executive officer of Legalpulse.

'We have responded by trying to bridge the gap between client and firm and give all the necessary information on issues that would worry a member of the public before they contact a solicitor.'The telephone lines, open seven days a week from 7am to 10pm and costing 1.50 per minute, are manned by a cross-section of contracted solicitors.'They will answer initial queries directly and then if necessary convert the caller to TNSN if they want to go further,' said Ms Switalski.

'TNSN will then take the query direct or via e-mail and put the person in touch with an appropriate local law firm.'TNSN has a network of more than 600 member law firms throughout the UK that it helps find additional business opportunities.Ms Switalski said that while the Internet opens the door to a wider audience, it is important to keep a human element in the service.'The public like a legal service to be virtual, as long as they know that if it goes wrong they can visit or speak to someone,' she said.Andrew Towler