Law has two characteristics that make it an ideal environment for the introduction of Web 2.0 technologies. It is constantly changing, which means that lawyers have to keep on top of new developments in their area of expertise; and it is collaborative, with lawyers in the same practice needing to share information with each other.

Global law firm Allen & Overy has led the way in the use of blogs and wikis for knowledge sharing. Two years ago Ruth Ward, head of knowledge systems and development at the firm, dipped a toe in the water by introducing three pilot sites, all of which combined blog and wiki functionality. They were instantly successful – a consequence, Ward believes, of the sites’ easy-to-use design, and of the firm’s strong culture of sharing knowledge and nurturing talent.

Demand for the sites grew, and there are now 30 in operation: some are used by practice areas, while others are grouped around a particular subject, such as a new piece of legislation.

‘Some teams want to develop a rich information resource around best practice, such as FAQs,’ says Ward.

‘Sometimes they move things across from older databases, and sometimes they take the opportunity of having a wiki to create a more formal resource than having something sent out by email every so often.’

As well as allowing lawyers to disseminate information more quickly, the technologies have made it easier for lawyers to have queries answered. Instead of sending out an email query to several colleagues, none of whom can see who else has responded, a lawyer can post a blog question and receive several responses, with each new poster able to see the previous answers.

Sometimes, says Ward, a blog discussion can develop further.

‘If you start a conversation on a blog about a new topic, and you get a broad and detailed set of comments back, then that is a good time for someone to say: “This is clearly something we should focus on in more detail, let’s transfer this conversation to the wiki where we can all put our ideas together and start to produce some detailed content for a document”.’

The social software can also be used to prepare for training events and for people to discuss the issues raised in the event afterwards. And there are added benefits for Ward’s team.

‘It takes pressure off our knowledge function as a whole, and gives our knowledge staff more time to focus on more high-end activities, instead of answering questions,’ she says.