Software interpreter tool boosts information sharing

The use of common standards can enhance the electronic sharing of knowledge between law firms and their clients, the Society of Computers and Law was told this week.Simon Levene, a director in the global management team of PricewaterhouseCoopers, told a seminar hosted by City firm Nabarro Nathanson that law firms can take an important step towards providing added value services by enabling their clients and partners to use shared knowledge for the benefit of all parties.'It has become increasingly important for lawyers to collaborate with other parties when providing a service,' he said.

'They must share knowledge beyond the corporate boundaries.' The software tool recommended for making such systems work is XML, or extensible markup language.'If XML can become a common standard, it can link systems together and let them communicate,' said Mr Levene.

'The software allows computer systems to speak the same language so that documents can be accessed in any format and utilised by all parties.'Jane Henderson, head of knowledge development at Nabarro Nathanson, said the seminar showed the portability of knowledge through using different types of XML.

This issue of information portability is becoming increasingly important as 'law firms are now getting up to speed in their understanding of knowledge management', she added.Andrew Towler