Lawyers forecast heavier workload for year ahead

Almost 40% of users of the on-line legal community LawZone.co.uk expect to work harder over the next 12 months, a survey by the site has shown.The survey of 263 lawyers signed up to the site found that 38% expected to spend more time at the office in the next year, while 35% said they would probably spend roughly the same time at work.

Just 7% said they would spend less time.LawZone.co.uk says it has 3,000 monthly users in total.Nonetheless, only 15% of respondents said they would be looking for a new job with better pay, far lower than similar surveys on sister sites for accountants and human resources professionals.Ben Heald, director of virtual communities at the Sift Group, which runs the sites, said: 'The survey shows that in each sector, the accountants, lawyers and HR professionals who participate in our on-line communities regard the working time directive as a European side-show and are ignoring it.

[But] these people are conscious of the heavy workloads being imposed on them.'Meanwhile, LawZone.co.uk has signed an agreement with Consilio, a new legal student Web site, to share content and work jointly to develop an on-line continuing professional development programme.

Neil Rose