While many solicitors still seem reluctant to embrace the internet, Chris Baker looks at the benefits of flexible on-line courses which allow solicitors to remain in the office

There appears to be a divide in the legal profession between those who love the Internet and those who are frankly terrified of it.

It may be a generalisation to say that older lawyers are still suspicious of the World Wide Web, whereas younger lawyers surf like Californian beach bums.

But IT experts maintain that the number of cyber-Luddites could account for the less-than-broadband speed of people taking up on-line continuing professional development (CPD) tools.

Three quarters of the 16-hour annual CPD requirement may be filled on-line, without the need to leave the desk.

Considering that, the phenomenon of 'techno-fear' could well be the only reason why many say that on-line tools have yet to fill their potential.

Some 26 providers of on-line CPD courses have sprung up in the last two years.

While many concentrate on Internet and e-mail lessons, they offer a range of different CPD-accredited courses with prices ranging from 18 an hour to 50 for a full course.

The spread of broadband Internet access is likely to bring about further innovation.

'It's becoming more popular,' Law Society senior validation and monitoring officer Debra Gale says.

'It's attractive to sole practitioners or solicitors who are more remote because they don't have to leave the office.'

The Ely Law Service is a case in point.

Michael Jones, sole practitioner at the small criminal practice based on the outskirts of Cardiff, is 'in the throes' of getting on-line CPD for himself and his assistant.

'It's much better,' he says.

'With the work we do in criminal litigation, any minute of the day we could be called to a police station or get called in on a case.

This allows us to fit CPD around our working day rather than travel from A to B, stay there about eight hours, travel back, then spend the next day catching up on the work we should have done yesterday.'

The Young Solicitors Group (YSG) runs its own on-line CPD courses in conjunction with London-based company Semple Piggot Rochez, which has its own on-line CPD and claims to be the first to offer full law degree programmes over the Internet.

It has also just won a Broadband Britain award in the education category.

'We have found that the use of broadband technologies can, quite literally, free a firm's training programme from the boundaries of the terrestrial lecture room,' says publishing director John Pitman.

YSG chairman Adrian Barham agrees: 'On-line CPD frees you from having to be out of the office, as you can do it from your desk and avoid travel troubles.'

But he admits that not everyone is so sure.

'Trying to teach lawyers new tricks takes an awful lot of convincing,' he says.

'But people are moving.

Our group, as young people, are more used to computers and have no problems with paying for things over the Internet.'

But old habits die hard with CPD, despite the 16-hour annual requirement being in place for two years now.

'I still think lawyers are doing it at the last minute,' Ms Gale says.

The director of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, Richard Miller, says on-line CPD has the scope to provide useful knowledge and save time.

'But it has not lived up to its potential yet,' he adds.

'Many solicitors are not up to speed with the technological possibilities.'

Mr Miller argues that, on the face of it, the courses look too costly to many.

Another problem is raised by what the CPD on-line evangelists regard as a major selling point - you do not need to go out and meet people.

'One of the things solicitors value about the [off-line] courses is the opportunity to meet and chat with other solicitors who are facing the same problems as they are,' Mr Miller points out.

Ms Gale adds: 'A lot of solicitors look to the safety of face-to-face meetings.

It's a new area for older solicitors, who maybe are not familiar with the computer.

Some law firms still do not have computer systems.'

The YSG has noted this.

'Everybody has their little foibles,' says Mr Barham.

'Some people prefer to do a lot of reading and others like to meet face to face and ask questions.

'Just because you're doing things on the Internet doesn't mean you cannot offer alternatives.'

Accordingly, the YSG still offers traditional CPD courses, and its on-line courses can be bought on CD-Rom.

Mr Barham says the traditional and the new can blend together well, giving people more choice.

E-mail forums and Internet chatrooms may not totally replace the face-to-face element, but they can give participants a chance to think for a moment before replying, he argues.

Things have probably picked up because some of the courses are simpler than they were initially and providers have recognised a need to ensure the CPD on offer is current and suited to the needs of individuals and firms.

'If it's a solicitor's first time in a computer environment then a course in sound channels and Java script might be too sophisticated,' Ms Gale says.

'I don't think the profession was ready for that.'

But some would argue the opposite of techno-fear.

City firm Lovells has investigated on-line training courses, and thinks they are a good idea, but has yet to find one complex enough to meet is requirements.

'It's quite difficult to find an off-the-shelf on-line offering which would suit our needs,' Lovells' director of training, Suzanne Fine, explains.

'This is because we have specific needs - quite a lot of the courses are still in development so the content is often not of a high enough level that we would want to offer in-house.'

Ms Fine says some form of on-line training, or CPD, would make financial sense for an international firm such as Lovells.

But most of the tools available are jurisdiction-based which acts against them being picked up internationally.

'People are looking at [on-line CPD] much more seriously, but a lot of people have not yet taken the plunge' she says.

'There are lots more developments to be made - I think we are at the beginning of it for the legal profession.

Having said that, there are some firms that have taken the plunge more quickly, but whether it's meeting its potential I'm not sure.'

It may well be early days for on-line CPD, but it is almost certain to develop and evolve to meet the profession's needs.

For example, only one-third of people in business and education used e-mail as a regular part of their work ten years ago.

And distance learning is popular.

The Open University's law degree has grown into the course with the biggest take-up over recent years.

Legal programme director Gary Slapper points out that of the 89,000 practising solicitors in England and Wales, around half were taught at school and university with teachers using blackboards and chalk.

'For the last few years, however, each of the 5,000 new solicitors who join the profession are people for whom the computer is as familiar a part of the pedagogical furniture as were cardboard library cards for their grandparents,' he explains.

'The Law Society is absolutely right to be promoting on-line learning.

In ten years' time it will be the norm.'

Chris Baker is a freelance journalist