Embracing the Future of Legal Research Technology - Camillins Solicitors

Background

Chris Camillin qualified to practise law in the UK in 1981. Camillins Solicitors was first established in 1986 in the UK. In 2003, Chris migrated to Australia, then in 2006 established Camillins Solicitors as an incorporated legal practice in Victoria.

Chris became an accredited specialist in Business Law in Victoria in 2003. He practises in transactional work and dispute resolution.

Challenge

Before establishing his practice in Australia, Chris was the proud owner of a hard copy of Halsbury’s Laws of England and the Encyclopaedia of Forms & Precedents – valued at more than 10 times the amount spent on computers for the firm.

In 2003, Chris relocated to Australia. When Chris set up his Australian practice in 2006, legal technology and efficiency tools were either non-existent or very different to what is now widely available to legal professionals.

Over the years, technology has revolutionised the way in which we work and live.

Chris' challenge was to find the most efficient and cost-effective legal research solution for his firm without compromising on quality and comprehensiveness.

The Solution

Chris needed to find an affordable online research platform which would cut research time. Most importantly, the platform had to be easy for Chris to learn, navigate and use.

Lexis Advance^® was the solution: a platform that transforms the way legal professionals conduct their research.

Although there are other legal content providers, the decision for Chris to subscribe to LexisNexis^® research content and access his subscription through Lexis Advance came easily.

“The need for comprehensive and assured research and economical pricing were the drivers behind my subscription. I have a concurrent subscription with a different legal research provider but it does not allow for such in-depth research or such a range of precedent-based materials. I have previously worked with other legal research providers and they provide much less useful research tools.”

“Throughout my career, the LexisNexis products have been regarded as industry standards."

It is not just about the research tools that Lexis Advance provide, it is also the benefits that come along with the platform that were most compelling. “The ability to advise with confidence and to enter into transactions with sufficient knowledge are key,” advised Chris.

Lexis Advance was fast becoming a tool which Chris could no longer envisage himself without.

“It is clear that the platform with folders and favourites in particular is designed to make research significantly more efficient.”

The Result

Lexis Advance offers Chris the simplicity of search, clarity of insight and flexibility of access, allowing him to increase his efficiency.

”Before Lexis Advance,” Chris said, “it was significantly more difficult to conduct research and the results were more limited by the context of the search.”

Before Lexis Advance, it was significantly more difficult to conduct research and the results were more limited by the context of the search...

Chris' main priority was to gain a competitive edge over larger firms. “My work is mainly for small businesses and covers a fairly wide footprint of legal topics. There are certain areas of work such as ‘Self-Managed Super Funds’ that are monopolised by medium-sized and larger legal firms because they have the resources to create precedent libraries and maintain them. Since I began my practice as a lawyer, I have relied upon the Australian Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents as a source of practice support in accessing the type of precedent library that would usually only be available to practitioners in larger firms. The commentary is both authoritative and helpful. The precedents are widely respected amongst other practitioners and judges. They are also well known and often the subject of relevant judicial determinations which gives them predictable effect. Halsbury’s Laws is regarded throughout the Commonwealth as an authoritative source of legal opinion. Whether working in the UK, Australia, Jersey, Gibraltar, Hong Kong or Fiji, the relevant edition of the work is an essential reference source. These materials are integrated into the Lexis Advance platform which makes them accessible and complements them with other search sources.”

Learning to use a new interface may be daunting for some, but Lexis Advance has been designed to be intuitive. Chris' experience with the training team has also been positive, describing the team as very helpful and accommodating.

Technology has come a long way since Chris began working in the legal sector. By combining the very latest in smart technology with over 100 years of trusted legal content, Lexis Advance is the must-have online legal research platform, putting smaller practices on a level playing field with larger firms.

Chris concludes: “I regard the Lexis Advance publications as essential reference sources … and although for a couple of years I was forced to use a competitor service whilst working in another firm, I am glad that I can now access these publications again. I find their format familiar and easy to follow, and my research is usually completed quickly and efficiently using Lexis Advance.”

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