Magic circle firms sign up to first Internet-only law firmFirstLAW - the first Internet-only law firm registered by the Law Society - now boasts 120 registered clients and 83 law firms, including two from the magic circle.The firm, which has been growing since its inception in February (see [2000] Gazette 3 February, 3 and 16 March, 18) claims still to be the sole officially registered, Internet-only site in the US and UK.A month after its launch, the firm had already signed up 40 firms and 60 clients - it has now doubled both figures.It has also widened its scope; 10% of its law firms are now drawn from foreign jurisdictions including the US, Mexico, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy and New Zealand.But its success in registering magic circle firms Linklaters and Allen & Overy onto its client list looks set to consolidate its position as a premier on-line legal referral service.FirstLAW (www.firstlaw.co.uk) allows its clients to register free.

Clients proffer requests for legal work, and FirstLAW then offers at least two firms on its panel to carry out the work.

The client then enters direct bid negotiations with those firms on-line to discuss a fixed-cost package.

The cost includes a commission payable by the law firm appointed to FirstLAW of no more than 10%.

FirstLAW continues to monitor the future progress of the case - offering advice for free - but the work is generally carried out by the law firms using traditional face-to-face methods.The company is the brainchild of Davies Arnold Cooper property partner Anthony Armitage.FirstLAW's clients now include heavy hitters such as international oil concern Burmah Castrol.

Alan Pryor, the group environmental adviser to Burmah Castrol, said: 'I used FirstLAW precisely to target the area of expertise I required, and within 48 hours, I had three bids for the brief I posted on the site.' He confirmed that the company's instructions 'will now be handled by FirstLAW'.Mr Armitage said: 'Having attracted such a prestigious team of registered law firms, FirstLAW already has at its disposal an enormous breadth of talent with which to to fulfil its ambition to become the premier on-line exchange for legal services.'Jeremy Fleming