Lex P Civilis Blog - Masters of the Universe

It seems that the credit crunch is commencing its next attack on our financial system. Like everyone else, I have been on, appositely enough, a "crash" course in finance and economics.

In lpc's Sustainable Profits Rule they emphasise the fact that the economic H-bomb has already been detonated. What is happening now is that the ripples from that detonation are reaching "economic ammunition dumps" which are blowing up. These ammunition dumps are matters such as trade credit and insurance; while the government is reacting I do feel that we are shutting the stable door as the horse disappears over the hill.

It seems to me that we don't mind politicians lusting after power and influence or bankers lusting after huge rewards if the rest of us are just allowed to get on with our lives. We have been completely let down by the system. Yes we are all to blame to a degree but we are just mere mortals not Masters of the Universe.

Okay I am moaning and I know that there is no point in crying over spilt milk (or lost fees.....). I suppose some sort of humility from the Masters of the Universe would be welcome but it seems to have been largely absent, except under duress. In reality it is now about battening down the hatches until we are through the worst. But in addition, it is an opportunity to get our respective houses in order so we can make the most of the upturn whenever and in what form that takes.

In my last blog I made the point that conveyancing could be reformed so it was improved both for the legal profession and the public. In passing I felt it was surely time for every legal business to be connected to the internet allowing the establishment of a common information access system.

Following on from those thoughts, I had a look at the new system that the US has imposed for people wishing to enter the country under the "no visa" system. This system is called Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) and in essence you have to complete an online application before you travel. This replaces those oddly printed cards that you were previously given to complete on the plane. The needs of the system demand online completion; if you can do something on that scale, surely we in Scotland are capable of arranging for a few thousand lawyers to have a common electronic platform.

Start small but be bold. I believe that one of the impacts of this economic crisis will be a loss of confidence by the public in those who profess themselves to be a Master of the Universe never mind master of a law firm. By following a path of enabling the public and business to directly engage with legal processes, there will be a greater sense of goodwill towards organisations providing legal services.

I can give you an example. The UK government has endeavoured to place many of its services online but their quality varies enormously. When I tried to place the Civilis VAT return online a year ago I was stunned by the unnecessary complexity (and difficulty) of the system, (all the more so given the paucity of the Civilis return).

On the other hand, I do not know if any of you have used the DVLC system to renew vehicle taxation; encompassing as it does electronic information as to insurance and MOT (sadly the Civilis-mobile is somewhat ageing), it is an almost perfect example of what can be done. I am sure that the public acceptance of this system is substantial with its consequential increase in efficiency..

I maintain that legal businesses will make greater profits the more that they can enable the public and clients to be intrinsically involved in the nitty-gitty of transactional or case work. Can we do this for those areas of the law which touch the ordinary person?