Internet Newsletter for Lawyers
September/October 2004, by Delia Venables

What's New on the Legal Web
by Delia Venables

The new Law Society site at www.lawsociety.org now has a new "clean and lean" look to it. The main sections are indicated at the top of the screen: About the Law Society, News and Events, Products and Services, Choosing and Using solicitors, Influencing Law, Becoming a Solicitor and Professional rules, support and guidance. Each of these has extensive sub-sections which appear when the mouse "hovers" over the main section. At the right hand side are small blocks of colour (essentially logos) leading to the Gazette, Rules of Professional Conduct, and Find a Solicitor; the latter is the same as the main directory site which can be reached directly at Solicitors-Online.

The central part of the opening page is a news section which gives the site a topical feel to it and there is a section on the left called "Site Highlights". There is also a search screen and a log-in area for members. Given the massive amount of information which the Law Society must provide, the site is pretty good and also seems to be "accessible", with resizable text.

It is now possible to search for a solicitor in any part of the UK or Ireland.

• For England and Wales, The Law Society's Directory ("Solicitors Online" at www.solicitors-online.com) lists all firms and branches, with each solicitor's name, their specialisms, languages spoken, location maps and web site links. Users can look for a named firm or individual, or do a search for a firm in their area with the specialism they need.

• The Law Society of Scotland at www.lawscot.org.uk provides a directory of all Scottish firms which can be searched by name of firm, town or category of work. There is also a separate section to search for individual accredited experts (solicitors) in specific fields of law.

• The Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission at www.nilsc.org.uk provides a register of all solicitors in Northern Ireland which can be searched by County or town, and by specialism (take "Solicitors" from the list of options on the left).

• The Law Society of Ireland at www.lawsociety.ie provides a directory of Irish firms (not individual solicitors) which can be searched by name or by location. (I do not think there is yet a search by work type or specialisation.)

Community Legal Service Direct (CLS Direct) at www.clsdirect.org.uk is the new site for what was previously Just Ask! The site provides free information, help and advice direct to the public on a range of common legal issues and also offers a national helpline (0845 345 4 345). Links are provided to approved information providers under the appropriate topic. There are also the CLS Legal Information Leaflets, which can be printed from the site. These were produced by the Consumers' Association and cover key areas of the civil law of England and Wales, such as Employment Law, Welfare Benefits and Debt. The viewer can also use an online calculator to see if they qualify for legal aid. The site is clear and easy to use and it also looks as if it satisfies the accessibility requirements.

The Solicitors Support network provides an overall site at www.solicitorssupportnetwork.com for several separate groups providing support and assistance to solicitors with professional or personal problems or who are just needing a bit of encouragement at a particular stage of their career. The site contains links to the Solicitors Assistance Scheme, the Solicitors Benevolent Association, LawCare, the Young Solicitors Group, the Trainee Solicitors Group, the Black Solicitors Network, the Solicitors Sole Practitioners Group, the Association of Women Solicitors, Group for Solicitors with Disabilities, and Solicitors in Local Government.

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