1-Click Lawyer Referrals?
January 28, 2005 | Filed Under New Services
Kevin O’ Keefe reports in his excellent “Real Lawyers Have Blogs” that Amazon is experimenting with using its A9 search engine to rate service providers. Here’s a link to a “lawyer” search that appears to default to the Seattle area. Kevin notes that A9 will allow users to rate service providers, much in the way Amazon users rate books, music and other products.
As I played around with A9 a bit, I noticed that it picked up my Amazon member information, and indicated lawyers near me, with a map showing exactly where they were located, including contact information.
I think that this service will initially be more useful for individuals who are looking for a lawyer, rather than corporate counsel.
However, if I were looking for bankruptcy counsel on a moderate sized claim on the West Coast, why not take a look on A9? And then check out the firm web site linked off A9. What if the counsel (like Amazon does with books) was offering a 20% discount on services “this week only”?
When I was at the offices of one of my outside counsel this week, I noticed part of the 2005 edition of Martindale-Hubbell sitting in two huge boxes in a conference room. Not this many but still a hefty set. They do look good on the shelf (often a required back-drop for lawyer interviews), but their days have to be numbered. M-H does offer CD and online versions, as well as search through lawyers.com. All good information; but I haven’t used M-H in years.
A closed system used by Martindale-Hubbell doesn’t really work anymore. A9 is a threat, but the bigger challenge is a general counsel who calls a colleague for a referral, checks the firm website, and Googles them. Perhaps you check Martindale, but it’s no longer the gold standard.
Thursday BitTorrent, Friday A9. Who knows what Monday will bring?
BitTorrent and the Law
January 27, 2005 | Filed Under Technology
From time to time, I will note developing areas of technology that may affect how “the law” is used by corporations and their lawyers in the future. I feel a file-sharing program called BitTorrent falls into this category.
Yesterday, Seth Godin touched on BitTorrent in his excellent weblog (his books are even better). Note that part 2 is available by clicking on the top of the linked page. It’s a great summary. Even more detailed information is available here, which references a recent article on BitTorrent in Wired (hmmm, I like that word).
BitTorrent has been viewed in some circles as solely a means for unauthorized file-sharing (such as music or movies). While that certainly has happened, there are now sources for authorized media.
The amazing thing about BitTorrent to me: the more that use it, the faster the downloads are. Rather than all information residing on one server, it resides on many, and the dispersed network helps to eliminate bottlenecks and thus increase download speeds.
So what does this all mean for law?
What about a file you could download that has all the briefs in an a appellate case and a video of the oral argument? What about all the legislative history considered by Congress in enacting a new environmental statute? Or every employment agreement that’s in the SEC Edgar database? Once all governmental entities follow common file formats and Internet access protocols, the point could tip.
I wonder if the word “BitTorrent” in the strategic plans of Thomson and Reed Elsevier?
What about a leading lawyer in a law firm that offers a monthly 15 minute video update on her area of expertise for $299 per year? Bad deal if one general counsel subscribes–that’s an effective rate of $99 per hour. Better deal if 1,000 do. Best deal when some call for more detailed help.
Once access to legal information is open and quick, it will be harder to sell. The law (as in what we research) becomes essentially free. Those lawyers (inside and outside counsel) who move from being information relayers and re-packagers to value-added advisors will prosper.
Legal Podcasting recognized by Adam Curry
January 26, 2005 | Filed Under General
Podcasting pioneer Adam Curry mentions professional applications and Legal Sound Check in his 1/25/2005 edition of the Daily Source Code.
Full details and audio summary are available on the Legal Sound Check site here.
The law starts to go open source…
New Legal Podcast
January 24, 2005 | Filed Under General
The Wired GC announces an audiocast for people interested in “law plus music in less than 7 minutes”:
“Legal Sound Check”: learn more here; take a listen here.
Onward and upward, hopefully…
Robert Scoble, Enemy of Outside Counsel
January 22, 2005 | Filed Under General
Steve Rubel has a fascinating post about how self-described “Microsoft geek blogger” Robert Scoble helped to defuse a legal brouhaha over the posting of information on the Engadget weblog. Jason Calacanis of Weblogs, Inc. helpfully reprints the cease and desist letter he received from Covington & Burling on behalf of Microsoft.
Mr. Scoble helped cooler heads prevail, but not before Mr. Calacanis asked what every non-lawyer would in this situation:
I wonder how much Microsoft is paying that law firm? Got to be $300-400 an hour, and this has had to take up about five or six hours of their time. So, after a couple of thousand dollars in legal bills we could just solve the problem by talking.
Talking? Where’s the fun and profit in that?
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