HSBC backs on-line solicitors

INTERNET: specially designed site to offer free precedents and software to solicitors

The first Internet portal designed exclusively for lawyers will go on-line in September with financial backing from high-street bank HSBC, it was announced last week.The portal, UKLegalWorld.co.uk, is the brainchild of Gareth Fatchett and Alan Neal of west midlands financial services law firm Armstrong Neal.

The pair are already developing similar portals aimed at accountants and financial planners.

The portal's closed site, which is free to solicitors, will provide firms with technical information and precedents in areas including: matrimonial, stakeholder pensions, trusts and personal injury - although more areas will be added as the portal develops.

The portal will also link to billboards, recruitment sites, barristers, conferences and training, court agents, legal journals and case law.

Newpad.com, Armstrong Neal's free on-line estate agency service - which is being extended to include commercial property later this year - is also linked to the portal (see [2000] Gazette, 16 March, 1).

To promote UKLegalWorld.co.uk, family practitioners will be entitled to free software to assist them with pensions calculations.

The portal will also provide family lawyers with links to approved accountants and financial planners.

Free software is also planned for structured settlements in personal injury and to help firms deal with stakeholder pensions.

The portal's open site will provide the public with general information on areas including personal injury, matrimonial, wills, stakeholder pensions and employment to start with.

The open site will also refer potential claimants visiting the site to accredited advertising firms, which will be charged around 500 per work type and area to advertise.

Mr Fatchett said the portal is a creative way of 'protecting and enhancing' practices because it would not only offer free access to a range of research advice and background material but 'business-like solutions to their problems'.

He added that the site is 'well-backed financially' and has a strong three-year development plan.

Sue Allen