Nick Holmes over at Binary Law must be getting the summer blues. With nothing to do with his spare time, he has decided that it’s time to create the Free Legal Web, and pull together - cross referencing, connecting, mashing - all the good free legal information currently available: statutes, law firm commentary, blog commentary etc. It is a great idea. It is also mad, which is why he needs your help!

A free barcamp: 18 October (Adelphi Room, Royal Society of Arts) is the planned first stage to address core issues such as:

Who’s who and what can they contribute?
Data access issues — What resources are available and what are the barriers to their re-use?
Publishing/tech issues — How can we best leverage those resources and add value?
Editorial/UGC issues — For whom/by whom? Accuracy and authenticity? An “acceptable bargain”?
Organisational issues — Infrastructure, funding

This will be a huge undertaking, and as such is something that could fall flat on its face before it even gets off the ground. BUT: this is a great opportunity to truly provide a viable free alternative to the likes of Lexis and Westlaw. If you are not busy on the 18th October, I urge you to come along and see if there is anyway you could contribute your expertise/time to help build the project.