White paper advises firms to harness Web

Law firms that pursue a proper strategy of using technology to deliver traditional services in a new way will reap the benefits, according to a recent report.Legal IT consultant Charles Christian - who has written a 'white paper' on Internet strategies for smaller law firms - said: 'There are still opportunities for firms to complement their business with on-line services.

The key is to make it part of the overall practice development strategy and not just a one-off investment.'The white paper contended that lawyers can no longer afford to ignore the Internet and offered tips on ways they can harness on-line developments to their advantage.

It stressed the three Internet strategies open to law firms: static marketing Web sites, virtual legal practices and Web-enabled legal practices.'It is not necessarily an either/or affair,' said Mr Christian.

'Ideally you will start with a static site containing basic information and take small, specific steps to become a Web-enabled practice, with technology complementing your service.'He added that virtual legal practices were already on the decline in the wake of the problems faced by Desktop Lawyer, but were still relevant 'in a few cases'.Mr Christian said the steps taken to achieve a Web-enabled practice - which involves features such as virtual dealrooms and extranets - should be determined by clients.

'The facilities you introduce must benefit the specific clients you are aiming at and the area you are working in,' he said.The paper said the benefits of such services are better communications with the client and less distraction for fee-earners, as clients can get hold of information without bothering them.

On the negative side are the cost and infrastructure needed to set up the system, as well as the 'bigger issue' of whether firms 'want or dare give their clients direct access to matter information'.The report found that in the seven years since the first law firms went on-line, a total of 2,700 practices (almost 30% of all firms) have launched Web sites in one form or another.

The report said that of these, at least 80% are still purely brochure sites containing just basic marketing information about the firm; and 50% of all firms with sites have no intention of extending their facilities in the near future.'What the statistics show is that this is by no means a saturated market.

In fact we are still just scratching the surface,' said Mr Christian.

Mr Christian said that, as research has shown that more than 2% of all undefended divorce proceedings are now carried out on-line, there are 'certain areas where legal Web services are having an impact'.l For a free copy of the report, tel: 01379 687518.Andrew Towler