Virtual lawyers lead public to real firms

Judicium, the legal IT 'umbrella' company, last week unveiled its first product.

Freelawyer is an interactive Web site aimed at the general public which provides free tailored legal information and referral to a law firm.

Freelawyer claims to be the world's 'first fully interactive legal Web site'.

'We are confident this is the most sophisticated product of its kind on the market - including legal Web sites in the US,' said Leon de Costa, Freelawyer's chief executive and founder of Judicium, which was launched in August (see [2000] Gazette, 3 August, 4).

Users select the area appropriate to their enquiry by selecting one of six 'virtual lawyers' covering family, motoring, personal injury, housing, employment and consumer law.They are guided through a series of questions about their legal problems.

Freelawyer then provides a printable legal information sheet, giving an outline of the law as it relates to each problem, along with the option of referral to a solicitors' firm, allocated by postcode.

Mr de Costa said he expects Freelawyer's revenue to come from a combination of law firm subscriptions, associations with other sites requiring legal content and advertising.

Registration for firms is currently free.

He said Freelawyer answers a need for 'quick, jargon-free legal information which can act as a first point of call for members of the public'.

He emphasised, however, that Freelawyer is 'not a substitute for a real solicitor'.

Before receiving legal information, users must indicate that they have read a user agreement, which states that Freelawyer's information provides only a 'preliminary identification' of legal issues.

LINKS: www.freelawyer.co.uk

Rowland Byass