The next time your lawyer calls your mobile it might not be to arrange a meeting but to deliver a re-worked facilities contract, followed up by an e-invoice. The news that law firm Linklaters has invested £5m in Blueflag.com, which provides legal services and advice over the Internet, gives some answer to those who wonder whether professional services can be delivered electronically. The fact that Linklaters is consistently rated as the UK’s leading real estate practice makes the development doubly interesting.

The venture is currently aimed at clients in investment and banking markets, providing professional legal advice and web-based products, including regulatory compliance advice, tools for fund managers and information relating to shareholding disclosure.

Linklaters distinguishes between 'customised' and 'commoditised' legal services: "Customised services are appropriate to unique and/or innovative and high value transactions. They involve "live lawyers" applying their legal knowledge, analytical skills and drafting skills to produce a new solution to the particular business/transaction. The type of service we traditionally expect from a law firm.

"There is however a clear need, by both the law firm and its clients, for the law firm to produce commoditised services. These are repeat situations which while they do not require innovative legal thought, are very often complex, high risk and high value and require judgement calls. For these services, clients need an automated, efficient and cost effective legal service which continues to ensure the highest level of legal expertise and integrity."

Real estate, construction and facilities management are prime candidates for a 'commoditised' legal service. It will be interesting to see the charging structure.

Richard Byatt