Info in brief

l LAND REGISTRY ON THE MAP The Land Registry has launched an ambitious project to make electronic access to its map data easier.

The computerisation of the index map is the final phase in computerising 45 million Land Registry records.

The index map is currently held mainly in the form of 400,000 paper maps across its 24 regional offices.

It is updated manually.

l DIRECT ROUTE TO REFERRALS Legal IT company Pracctice has launched Open Law Direct, which effectively marries a widely advertised on-line referral service with an extranet, allowing clients to deal with their chosen solicitor and follow the progress of their matters on-line.

LINKS www.openlawdirect.com

l SETTLING INSURANCE DISPUTES Legal IT company Judicium has launched eSettle, anon-line claim resolution forum for any dispute open to a monetary settlement.

Aimed particularly at the insurance industry, the site allows the parties to select the amount of time available for negotiation and the degree of compromise they are prepared to accept.

Each side then enters a confidential amount that it is willing to settle for.

When the two offers (which are made confidentially and as many times as the parties want) get within the compromise parameter, the system splits the difference to calculate a settlement figure.LINKS www.eSettle.co.uk