tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18502518.post7637169815102798184..comments2023-10-25T00:54:05.329-07:00Comments on Law Career Blog: Second (Life) OpinionsGregory W. Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12793221328956712830noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18502518.post-57139181285978426902009-03-06T05:04:00.000-08:002009-03-06T05:04:00.000-08:00Nice article on this topic i appreciate your ideas...Nice article on this topic i appreciate your ideas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18502518.post-31416260600590551842008-02-11T20:15:00.000-08:002008-02-11T20:15:00.000-08:00Excellent comment; thanks very much for it! The i...Excellent comment; thanks very much for it! The idea of programming an avatar to give standard advice is interesting, and would not be unlike, say, the "help" function in various computer programs (MS Windows comes to mind). It would be, as I like to say, the commodization of a service: the breaking of the service into bits that can be automated or farmed out in order to lower cost/increase volume. It happens in software programming all the time, and in customer service too. Why not in law practice? Provided there is proper architecture in place to pass along the difficult issues to a live person, of course. In this sense, the service of providing legal services is not fundamentally different from other services.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for the comment.Gregory W. Bowmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12793221328956712830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18502518.post-91833527416493750162008-02-11T16:04:00.000-08:002008-02-11T16:04:00.000-08:00I thought I might usefully reply to your story and...I thought I might usefully reply to your story and the comments that have followed. <BR/><BR/>Your article alludes to the possibility that avatars can be "programmed" to provide legal advice. In my opinion, this is perfectly possible in theory although not yet in Second Life - the Linden Scripting language is too limited. Law in many respects is very regimented - guided by logic and rules - which fits computers very well as you will be aware. The problem with law is that it can be a two tier beast - with the logical and predictable getting you a substantial part of the way there, but then something more human,more unpredictable providing the final answer.<BR/><BR/>On this basis, many legal questions could be substantially answered if only the lawyers could tell the IT experts what questions to ask and what answers should be given. The answers may not always be perfect but many, if not the majority of them would be satisfactory, and those that were not, would get the "user" of that advice a lot further for a lot less investment.<BR/><BR/>I think that your observation about downloadable memos is absolutely on point. Certainly in the UK, the commoditisation of legal services has lead to a mass adoption of standard letters and advice in many areas of legal service.<BR/><BR/>The basic concept behind Simpson Millar LLP's presence in Second Life is not really that revolutionary. Can you imagine a law firm without a telephone ? It wouldn't be in business for long. And yet, we are more comfortable with the concept of legal advice from a disembodied voice coming from a black piece of plastic than perhaps from a 3D visual representation of the giver of that advice ! I believe that the technology underlying Second Life simply needs adoption into our society as a means of communication and trade. Once that occurs, it will be as prevalent in our daily lives as the internet is now.<BR/><BR/>As for providing advice on playing the Second Life game, currently, there is rarely going to be an occasion where the value of any virtual world dispute justifies the involvement of lawyers - the amounts in dispute current are simply not significant enough generally. However, that will no doubt change just as it has changed on the internet.<BR/><BR/>Second Life and technologies like it may well be the internet of the future. Through the work that we have done in it and the experience we have acquired, we anticipate that <B>IF</B> it becomes the internet revolution, Simpson Millar LLP will be ready to properly advise their clients about that environment in all aspects.<BR/><BR/>Lawyers and consequently, law firms, can often be too conservative in their approach to business. Sometimes, to be a good lawyer and provide excellent levels of client care and service, one needs to look outside the box of legislation and rules and be innovative. Simpson Millar LLP have clearly done exactly that. Free your mind - you'll be surprised at what it can do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18502518.post-88015076228180253302007-11-11T20:51:00.000-08:002007-11-11T20:51:00.000-08:00That is so spot on! I hadn't seen it. Stay tuned...That is so spot on! I hadn't seen it. Stay tuned for a mini-post with a link to the cartoon.Gregory W. Bowmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12793221328956712830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18502518.post-11231790918209806792007-11-11T20:43:00.000-08:002007-11-11T20:43:00.000-08:00Maybe Trudeau will give you permission to post tod...Maybe Trudeau will give you permission to post today's Sunday Doonesbury on your site ... laptops vs. the Socratic Method ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com