The Free Legal Web

Submitted by: Nick Holmes

Website: http://legalweb.wordpress.com/

Describe your idea. How does it work and who does it help?

We already have a substantial free legal web, but it is not joined up. We have the resources and the technologies to join it up - now - for the benefit of lawyers and the community at large. Those of us who have an interest in access to the law and justice and the efficient provision of legal services have a duty to make this happen.

There has in the past 18 months been a sea change in Government's attitude to the provision of Public Sector Information (PSI) and the encouragement of user-generated services supporting government. In particular, the independent Power of Information Review recommended changes that have been substantially accepted by Government, who, through the Power of Information Task Force are now committed to making this happen.

The time has come to build the Free Legal Web.

John Sheridan has already posted his idea for this at The Law Says. The Free Legal Web would "mash" expert legal commentary with the relevant PSI.

What information or services do you need?

Truly open access to legislation (coming soon - thanks John!), judgments (HM Courts Service), bills (Parliament), consultations, command papers and other official documents (Departments); pending that, rich RSS feeds for everything; + where possible Creative Commons licences for all the private sector data.