IT: clear as mud?

Technology might not be the answer to all the problems facing the legal profession, but it cannot be ignored

In Stanley Kubrick's film '2001: A Space Odyssey' the future was dominated to such an extent by sophisticated technology that computers controlled and destroyed human life.

As 2001 dawns in reality, the UK legal profession is still coming to terms with information technology.Already this year there have been conflicting signals as to how IT will shape the legal landscape.

On the one hand, there is Marson's decision to withdraw from bulk conveyancing - a process which is reliant on the extensive use of IT by lawyers - citing the remoteness of call centre-style work as a major problem; and there is also the reported demise of the heavily promoted law.com/uk, suggesting that legal professionals are still unsure of how much information they want to absorb about themselves over the Internet.On the other hand, conveyancing is soon to be enhanced by the National Land Information Service and on-line searches; the Lord Chancellor is consulting on common standards for legal Web sites and a Community Legal Service quality mark standard; and we report this week on how two City firms are boosting their e-commerce service to clients (see page 7).Less seriously, we report on the intriguingly-named Web site (pileofmud.com) from solicitor Jonathan Fagan (see page 5).

Technology might not be the answer to every challenge, but it cannot be ignored.

Perhaps those who do need Mr Fagan's product to stick their heads in.