THE TECHNOLOGY

What is LawOnline?

LawOnline is a web-based service which combines powerful expert software and the legal knowledge of its solicitors to enable users to draft their own legal documents quickly and easily, and which are highly customised to their specific needs and requirements. It is designed for use by individuals, organisations and businesses, and solicitors and other legal professionals. It includes a growing library of trusted up-to-date legal content.

What makes LawOnline different from other online legal services?

Most online legal services provide you with ‘off-the-shelf’ or ‘flat form’ legal documents that are relatively inflexible and difficult to tailor to your particular
circumstances.

In contrast our document processes work by asking you a series of easy-to-answer questions, each with helpful explanations and examples. Based on your responses our expert system drafts the required legal clauses to create a document specifically tailored to your particular circumstances.

Furthermore, each document has a set of comprehensive, yet easy to understand, guidance notes. Our software also has built in verification processes to check your answers where appropriate, ensuring that these are correct and alerting you if necessary.

All our legal content from which our documents are assembled is drafted by qualified solicitors and barristers, and is constantly reviewed and updated in accordance with changes in the law, giving you peace of mind that your document is of the highest quality and is legally sound.

How are the documents drafted?

All LawOnline documents are ‘assembled’ from a combination of relevant legal clauses held in our online libraries and the information entered by the user in response to a series of online questions. Our intelligent software ‘knows’ all of the appropriate questions to ask for each specific document (in the same way that a solicitor would). As our system gathers more information from the user further questions may be added or omitted as appropriate and content amended as necessary. The document assembly or drafting process is only completed once the user answers all of the questions asked. Certain validation checks are also carried out to ensure that specific content is correct and to guide the user where necessary.
 

Which web browser do I need?

The minimum browser requirements for creating documents on the website are Internet Explorer version 7.0 and above, Mozilla Firefox version 4.0, and above, Google Chrome or Apple Safari (version 3.0 or above). Most other browsers/versions will work without problems, but are not explicitly supported.

Why doesn’t the document open in my browser?

If this happens, please check you are using a supported browser. If you are using a computer at work or at home, this may be because of a security setting in your web browser. If you still experience difficulty, please contact our customer service team at 01-9020290 who will be able to assist you.

Back to top

THE CONTENT

What documents are available?

A comprehensive range of document processes are available, covering both business and personal law. See Business and Personal for a full list of the document processes available to you. You can browse by category or else see a list of the entire library. New content is constantly being developed and added to our libraries. In addition, existing content is continually amended so as to be current with the latest laws and regulations.

How do I know the documents are of the required legal quality?

All of the document legal content offered through LawOnline is drafted by professional solicitors holding practicing certificates from The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland (see William J Brennan & Co. Solicitors) and other legal professionals, and approved to be compliant with Irish law so that you can be certain that the documents drafted by LawOnline are suitable for use in the Republic of Ireland legal jurisdiction.

How often do the document processes get updated?

The solicitors in our legal content team have a watching brief to keep all of our content current with existing Irish law and document maintenance forms a large part of their ongoing duties; any fresh or adjusted content is uploaded every two weeks.

Will you be introducing any other new content?

Yes. We are constantly looking to improve both the depth and breadth of the content libraries we offer. New available templates will be announced in the content update emails sent to all subscribers.

I cannot find the document I need

Our legal content team is continually developing and adding new document processes to our libraries. If a document you require is not available, please email queries@lawonline.ie and we will advise if there is an alternative that is suitable for you, or if there are plans to release an appropriate service in the near future.

What is the difference between a ‘document’ and a ‘document pack’?

A document will give you just that - one document process. A document pack contains a number of related documents that are sold together, for example, a Circuit Court claim document pack provides you with all of the documents necessary to apply to recover an outstanding debt via the Circuit Court.

Does LawOnline have professional indemnity insurance cover?

Yes, all of the legal content on LawOnline is covered by a Professional Indemnity insurance policy. See our terms of engagement for details. If you decide that you require a document to be reviewed or seek other legal advice from our solicitors, William J. Brennan & Co. Solicitors (WJB), then you will be covered by WJB’s professional indemnity insurance cover.

Back to top

CONFIDENTIALITY & SECURITY

Is my information and documents stored in my person folders safe and secure?

We work to protect the security of your information during transmission by using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software, which encrypts all of the information you input.

We also reveal only the last five digits of your credit card number when confirming an order. Of course, we transmit the entire credit card number to the appropriate credit card company during order processing.

We maintain extensive physical, electronic and procedural safeguards in connection with the collection, storage and disclosure of personally identifiable customer information. We also operate a strict privacy policy in compliance with all relevant regulations.

Can anyone else access any documents which I chose to store in my personal folders?

No, LawOnline cannot access or see any of your documents. You are the only person authorised and able to access these documents.

Back to top

WITH SOLICITOR REVIEW

What is ‘With solicitor review’?

This service is offered for many but not all of our documents. Once you have completed drafting your document this service enables you to send it electronically for review by our legal firm partner (McGroddy Brennan Solicitors (McGB). In addition to sending your document for review you can ask any queries you might have. To avail of this option you need to choose it when you purchase your service, i.e. before you begin drafting your document. McGB will endeavour to review your document within three working days and be in touch by email or phone with further instructions.

Back to top

WITH SOLICITOR ASSISTANCE

What is ‘With solicitor assistance’?

This service is offered for many but not all of our documents. The purpose of this service is to enable you to consult our solicitors (McGroddy Brennan Solicitors) in drafting your legal document on LawOnline. They will make contact with you to arrange an appropriate time for the consultation which can be conducted either by telephone or video meeting as preferred. If you are not available at the appointed time, the relevant solicitor will leave telephone messages and/or send email messages to advise you to arrange another appointment. This service also includes the ‘With solicitor review’ service outlined above and when you have completed drafting your document you will be prompted to send it to them for review.

Back to top

LEGAL ADVICE SERVICES

What is the ‘book a consultation’ service?

When you have completed drafting your document you may feel that you would like to discuss it with a solicitor. LawOnline offers a one hour consultation for this purpose with our legal firm partner, McGroddy Brennan Solicitors (McGB), for a fee of €160 per hour including VAT.
 

LawOnline offers a nationwide service and it may not be convenient for you to attend at one of McGB’s offices (Ashbourne Co. Meath and Central Dublin). This consultation can therefore also be done over the phone or by video link. We also enable you to use screen-sharing, if requested, where both you and the solicitor can see, or ‘share’, the document online simultaneously and any amendments that may be required to it as they are being made. See Book a consultation.

What is the ‘My legal matter’ service?

If you have a legal matter or issue that cannot be addressed via LawOnline’s document drafting service you can provide some details of this to our legal firm partner, McGroddy Brennan Solcitors (McGB). Based on the details provided, using the drop-down menus on our ‘My legal matter’ form, McGB will be able to tell if it can assist you and the likely fees involved. Following receipt of this information you are under no obligation to retain McGB. McGB will endeavour to respond to your request within 24 hours. See My legal matter.

Back to top

REGISTRATION AND PASSWORDS

How do I register to use the service?

You can register for the service here. If your register with LawOnline there is no obligation to use the service. However, to purchase a document it is necessary to register first.

What is the difference between quick registration and full registration?

A quick registration - first name, email address and password only are required - will enable you to start creating a document; however, you will not be able to purchase your completed your document in this case without supplying the extra details that are required for a full registration.

I have lost my password

If you have lost your password simply click on ‘Forgotten your password’. You will then be asked to enter your email address and if correct we will send you your password to this address.

I have forgotten my username

If you cannot recall your username please send LawOnline an email, to queries@lawonline.ie, with the name you used to register with us and we will send you your username.

Back to top

SUBSCRIPTIONS (BUSINESS & ORGANISATIONS))

What is the LawOnline ‘Subscription service’?

For businesses and other organisations who require ongoing access to LawOnline’s document drafting service we provide cost-effective annual subscription plans, payable monthly or annually. The cost is tailored to the size of your company or organisation being dependent on the number of employees. This payment gives you unlimited access to, and use of, all of LawOnline’s business document drafting services. Payment is by credit or debit card only.

Is document review included in the ‘Subscription service’?

You can use the solicitor review service at a reduced cost as a subscriber to LawOnline’s subscription service. The documents for which this service is available are clearly indicated together with the normal cost of the review off which subscription members receive a 40% discount. You need to choose this option when you select the document. You will then be asked to agree the terms and conditions and pay for the review. Once your document is completed you can send it to be reviewed by our solicitors.

How do I subscribe to LawOnline?

You can subscribe here. Subscriptions are paid for annually or monthly in advance by credit or debit card only. Once set-up, you will be sent an email with your membership code and an explanation of how to register and start using the service. You will also be sent a voucher code to enable you to receive a 40% discount on our solicitor review services. Our customer service team is available to give you all the guidance you may need.

What is a membership code?

This code is provided to you when you subscribe to the service and is unique to you, your company or organisation, as appropriate. Without this, your registration will be locked as a ‘trial user;’ and you will not be able to make practical use of any of our document processes for drafting purposes.

How do I cancel my subscription?

When you opt to pay for the LawOnline subscription service on a monthly basis you are committing to making 12 monthly payment. The fee to renew your subscription will be advised to you by email at least two weeks before your renewal date. If you do not cancel your membership within four weeks of us sending you a renewal notice, and/or you use the LawOnline service after your renewal date, your subscription will automatically be renewed for a further 12 months upon the terms and conditions that apply at the date of renewal.

Back to top

SUBSCRIPTIONS (SOLICITORS)

What is the LawOnline ‘Subscription service’?

For solicitors who require ongoing access to LawOnline’s document drafting service we provide cost-effective annual subscription plans, payable monthly or annually. The cost is tailored to the size of your firm being dependent on the number of solicitors.

This payment gives you unlimited access to, and use of, all of LawOnline’s Personal and Business precedent drafting services. Payment is by credit or debit card only.

How do I subscribe to LawOnline?

You can subscribe here. Subscriptions are paid for annually or monthly in advance by credit or debit card only. Once set-up, you will be sent an email with your membership code and an explanation of how to register and start using the service. Our customer service team is available to give you all the guidance you may need.

What is a membership code?

This code is provided to you when you subscribe to the service and is unique to you or your firm, as appropriate. Without this, your registration will be locked as a ‘trial user;’ and you will not be able to make practical use of any of our document processes for drafting purposes.

How do I cancel my subscription?

When you opt to pay for the LawOnline subscription service on a monthly basis you are committing to making 12 monthly payment. The fee to renew
your subscription will be advised to you by email at least two weeks before your renewal date. If you do not cancel your membership within four weeks of us sending you a renewal notice, and/or you use the LawOnline service after your renewal date, your subscription will automatically be renewed for a further 12 months upon the terms and conditions that apply at the date of renewal.

Back to top

USING LAWONLINE

Can I try out the LawOnline service for free?

Yes, you can trial any document process at any time. Click on the ‘Try for free’ button next to the document you wish to try and you will have full access to the chosen document process to see how it works. However, some of the content will be obscured and although you can save the trial document, you will be unable to export or print it until it is paid for.

How do I start creating a document?

To view a list of the available document processes, simply browse to either the Business law or Personal law page, and select the area of law to which the document you are looking for relates or else scroll you can down through the entire list of available documents. Once you identify the document you need you can either click on the link to ‘Try for free’ or else the link to ‘Buy’ the document.

I cannot find a template for the document I want to create?

The Lawonline library contains the document processes which our research indicates are most commonly required by both business and personal customers. We are also constantly updating and adding to this library. If there is a document you require which you cannot find on LawOnline please email to tell us at
queries@lawonline.ie and we will consider it for inclusion in our development process.

I do not understand what a question means?

Next to each question in each document process is a small ‘?’, or question mark icon, that you can click on. A small pop-up window appears containing an explanation of the question and often providing an example. You can hide this explanation by again clicking once on the icon. You can also refer to the ‘Guidance notes’ which accompany each document process.

Why doesn’t the document open in my browser?

This may be because of a security setting in your web browser. If you still experience difficulty, please contact our customer service team on 01-9020290 who will be able to assist you.

Where do I find documents that I have started/saved?

When logged in, click on the ‘My documents’ link. From this screen you will be able to see any documents you have previously created or edited.

Can I create multiple versions of the same document?

Unfortunately you will only be able to use a purchased document once; however if you purchased a pack of documents or letters, you may be able to use certain documents more than once and this will be made clear in the document or pack description at the time of purchase.

Why do I have a red asterisk next to a questions group after completing a document?

If you see a red asterisk next to a questions group after completing a document draft this indicates that a question within that section has not been answered.

Due to the nature of the drafting process, it could be possible that this was intentional and you have ignored this section/question on purpose because you intend to edit the exported draft later. However, you should double-click on the question group to view the incomplete question and make sure that this omission was intentional.

What are My account, My services, My templates, My documents?

  • My account: Contains the personal details you entered when you registered with LawOnline. From this section of the site you are able to view and/or amend any of these details.
  • My services: Contains an overview of services you have purchased.
  • My templates: Here you can start to create new legal documents based on the document processes or templates you have purchased.
  • My documents: This screen displays all default folders and folders created by you in which your documents are stored.

What are the folders used for in ‘My documents’

These are the folders available and their use:

  1. Free trials - documents you have created but not yet purchased
  2. With solicitor - documents currently with a lawyer for review
  3. Returned from solicitor - documents already reviewed by a lawyer and now requiring further action from you
  4. Approved - documents reviewed and approved by a lawyer
  5. Bin - documents you have discarded (these will be deleted permanently after 30 days)
  6. Other named folders - these are folders you have created and named

How can I see which documents I’ve tried, and which ones I’ve bought?

When logged in, click on My services’ followed by ‘My documents’. From this screen you are able to see any documents you have previously tried but not yet purchased. They will be stored in the ‘Free trials’ folder.

After opening the folder by clicking on ‘Free trials’ you will be presented with a list of all of the documents you have tried for free. From this screen you have the ability to purchase any document, after which it will automatically be moved to ‘In progress’ on the summary page.

How do I track the progress of a document I sent for solicitor review?

Click on the ‘My services’ link when logged in. Here you can track the progress of any service - whether it’s not yet started, in progress or complete.

How do I print or export my document?

Once you have logged into the website, visit the ‘My document’ section of the website, and if the document is not immediately visible, then open the folder containing the document. Displayed on the right hand side will be all the documents contained within the folder you have opened. Select ‘Print preview’. This will open the document as a PDF file from which you can directly print a copy. Alternately you can choose to ‘Export’ the document either as a PDF or as an editable file that you can access and edit in any word processor such as Microsoft Word.

Back to top

COST OF LAWONLINE SERVICES

What does the ‘pay per use’ service cost?

The pay per use service allows you to pay for each document process as you require them. The cost of an individual document varies depending on complexity and length. At the point of buying a document you can also decide if you wish to pay for additional services such as having your document reviewed by a solicitor from our partner legal firm, William J. Brennan & Co. Solicitors.

What does the business subscription service cost?

The cost of this service is dependent on the number of employees in your company or organisation. Also, if you decide to pay for a 12 month subscription up-front you get one month free of charge compared with paying monthly. The cost varies from €29 per month for one to five employees up to €99 per month for 16 or more employees.

What does a consultation with LawOnline solicitors cost?

This consultation costs €160 (including VAT) and is limited to one hour in duration and to advice in relation to your completed document only. This is a highly competitive cost, reflecting the fact that a full version of the document is already drafted which enables our solicitors to concentrate on providing you with advice rather than on basic information gathering and validation.

Back to top

PAYMENTS AND REFUNDS

How do I pay?

We accept all major debit and credit cards, and payment is made via our secure payment server.

How do I get a refund?

If you have purchased a service on LawOnline, it comes with a money-back guarantee. If you are not happy with the service you have purchased, you may write to us for a refund within 14 days of the date you purchased it. Where you have purchased the ‘With solicitor review’ service, a refund can only be made provided the document has not been finally approved by our solicitors.

How does the refund process work?

If you are entitled to a refund, the full purchase price paid for the service will be refunded back to the credit or debit card you used to make the original
payment.

Can I obtain a VAT invoice?

A VAT invoice will be set to you by email for every service purchased. If you have not received this, please contact our customer services team on 01-9020290 who will happily to arrange to have this resent this to you.

Back to top

CUSTOMER SERVICE

I’d like to speak to someone about LawOnline in person, is this possible?

Yes our customer service lines are open from 08:30 to 19:00 each weekday, Monday to Friday, and from 10:00 to 15:00 on Saturdays. The phone number is 01-9020290. You can also contact LawOnline by email at queries@lawonline.ie.

What is your complaints procedure?

We aim to please but we also know that sometimes things can go wrong. If you have a problem or complaint, please view our complaints procedure. You can also view this by clicking on the link in the footer of all pages across the site.

Back to top