Hours spent photocopying in the library could be a thing of the past for trainee and young solicitors as a US-based legal research company poises itself for a UK launch.The Legal Research Network (LRN) plans to hire 1,000 legal researchers in Europe.

It already has 1,600 law professors and senior lawyers conducting research in the US, and its clients include Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and Time Warner.

Dov Seidman, LRN's chief executive, said his company undercuts law firms by at least 40%, with the price dropping further for research which is already on the database.Former DLA partner Stuart Benson, now of Mayfair consultancy Rhodes Benson, said: 'It's a much more sensible way of looking at research.

The only downside is that they are missing out on some useful training for trainees and junior solicitors.' He added that clients are worried they will be forced to pay for the spiralling cost of junior lawyers' salaries.Mr Seidman said law firms that outsource research in the US find junior lawyers can concentrate on advice, rather than ending up in the library.But in-house lawyers are cautious about the new service.

Alan Whitfield, head of BT's group legal services, said: 'I don't think we would make enough use of it.

It would be more use in related areas like economics, but over here you can go to the Bar for a legal opinion.'Anne Mizzi