In a recent blog entry from Human Law (http://www.human-law.org/), Justin Patten wonders if blogs could be utilized by law firms not just as a marketing tool or a way of adding extra content to their website, but as a way of making their operations more transparent to the public and keeping up with the latest business trends.



Patten mentions Microsoft's decision to publicly test their version of Apple's i-Pod, the Origami, on a weblog, as well as the success of author Chris Anderson, who published his novel chapter by chapter on his blog and solicited feedback from readers on the Internet.





Many notable law firms are already using blogs to increase public awareness and to reach out to clients. Patten suggests taking it one step further.



"For example, could you see lawyers using blogs to help them create new terms and conditions and billing policies? The lawyers would put them online and then the blogosphere could assess and scrutinise them."