Making the Most of the Legal Web 2011
A CPD course for solicitors
by Nick Holmes and Delia Venables

(No 16 in the Legal Web Series)


These courses (published in pdf) are designed for use in any of three ways:

  • reading on screen, with live links to follow up on areas of interest
  • printing off in sections for armchair reading
  • as an online course qualifying for CPD from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Please note that this particular course is designed for solicitors only and is accredited by the SRA but not the BSB.

The course consists of practical articles written by Nick and Delia and other leading experts in their fields. You can see more details and also purchase the course on the infolaw site but here is a brief summary.

Contents

1. Making the most of social media
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Blogging: how they all work by Nick Holmes
What each is used for and why solicitors should engage by Nick Holmes
How firms can effectively implement blogs by Jordan Furlong

2. Where are we now with hosted systems?
Hosted systems, outsourced systems and the cloud by Delia Venables
Quill’s outsourced legal cashiering service and comments from users
DPS hosted practice management system and comments from users
The risks of outsourcing by Chris Cann

3. Specialised websites
How they work and whether they bring new clients by Delia Venables
Contributions from solicitors who operate specialised websites
Contributions from consultants who advise firms on marketing strategy
Contributions from suppliers of legal updates for such websites

4. Developments in software for lawyers
How Microsoft is targeting the legal market by Allan Carton and Richard Blasdale
Customer (Client) Relationship Management for law firms by Sue Bramall and Simon McNidder

5. Three legal web topics
Digital Photograph rights by Sue Bramall
Going Paperless by Peter Garsden
e-Conveyancing by Chris Harris

Each of the chapters is intended to take the student one hour to read and absorb. The course qualifies for 5 CPD hours from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Note: this course is not designed for barristers, and is not accredited by the Bar Standards Board.

The course can be read on screen and all the links to relevant web sites described in the text are provided, making an interesting and useful course experience. There is a straight forward test at the end to be returned to Delia Venables for marking. We hope you will enjoy this ebook and find it interesting and useful.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, you will understand the following:
  • How to use social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogging) to further the aims of the firm and which ones are most effective.
  • Whether the firm should now be considering hosted systems.
  • Whether the considerable amount of work in setting up specialised websites (for particular work areas) brings in new clients, and how to keep such sites up to date.
  • Some major developments in software, in particular the way that Microsoft is targeting the legal market and the benefits of Customer (or Client) Relationship Management (CRM).
  • How to choose digital photographs (without infringing anyone’s copyright), whether “going paperless” can work for a firm of solicitors, and some of the key changes involved in conveyancing.

    Gaining the CPD

    To qualify for the 5 hours CPD, you need to answer a straight forward set of questions.

    You can see the questions here (you do not have to have already purchased the e-book to see the questions). The questions are not difficult in themselves but are intended to indicate, for CPD purposes, that you have indeed worked through the materials, visited some of the sites described in it and considered the issues raised.

    Here are a few pointers to help you answer the questions:

  • You can print out the questions to keep beside you as you read the material but please note that the questions may change from time to time.
  • Do not worry about the precise style or format of the answers — the questions will be marked by a human being (ie me), not a machine!
  • Keep your answers short and simple; the process is not designed for “essay” type answers.
  • Do not hit "Return" or "Tab" in the middle of an answer, since the system then assumes that you have finished answering that question.
  • You have to complete the form (i.e. the set of questions) in one session - you cannot Save the form and continue with it another time.
  • The pass rate is 70 per cent and practitioners may submit one further set of answers if they fail the first time.

    I am normally able to send you the reply within 2 working days. However, occasionally there are computer problems or I am even on holiday! If you wish to check on the latest situation with respect to possible problems or delays, please see The Problems Page.

    Evaluation Form

    There is an evaluation form here which enables you to comment on whether the course has met its aims and intended learning outcomes, the ease of using the online materials, the relevance of the set of CPD questions and whether the course gives good value for money. There is also a question relating to accessibility issues and whether we can make the course easier to use for those with any kind of disability.

    You can fill in this form online and submit it to me (the process of doing this is the same as answering the test questions). If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you can print out the form, fill it in by hand and post it to me at 10 South Way, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1LU.

    Cost and How to Purchase

    The course costs £80 plus VAT and includes the use, by one person, of the course, qualifying for 5 CPD points.

    A multiple use licence, suitable for organisations with several people likely to use the e-book and including the licence for up to 5 people to take the course, costs £200 plus VAT.

    For organisations purchasing the multiple use licence and wanting more than 5 people to take the course and obtain the CPD, additional CPD entitlements can be purchased in packs of 5, for £15 a person, ie £75, plus VAT (obviously, each person still has to take, and pass, the online test!). You can purchase the course from the infolaw site here.

    After completing the purchase, the user can access and download the course, and when ready, complete the brief test and be credited with the CPD.

    Purchasing is by secure credit card processing and allows immediate access to the course. If you do not wish to pay by credit card, other payment methods can also be accommodated on the infolaw site, including sending a cheque. Online access is enabled on receipt of payment.

  • Between them Nick and Delia have accounted for many UK legal web firsts
    over the last 15 years:

    • the first legal portal in the UK came from Nick in early 1995 and Delia provided the second in mid 1995
    • the first online accredited CPD course Delia's Guide to the Internet for Lawyers in 1996
    • the first newsletter about the legal internet Delia's Internet Newsletter for Lawyers in 1996
    • the first book about the legal web Researching the Legal Web, Butterworths 1997, by Nick and Delia
    • the first web version of a printed publication Delia's Internet Newsletter for Lawyers in 1999
    • the first online forms service, Nick's infolaw Formfinder, and then the comprehensive Lawfinder in 2001
    • one of the first UK legal weblogs and the first legal metadata webfeed from Nick in 2004
    • among the first legal commentators in the UK to take full account of Web 2.0 and social networking for lawyers


    Comments or queries? email delia@venables.co.uk
    Lawyers home page