Ministry of Justice: "Rotoq Does Not Violate Attorney Act... Launching 'Legal Tech TF'"

'Rotok' advertisement installed on the streets of Seocho-gu, Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The Ministry of Justice announced that the legal service platform 'Lotok' does not violate the Attorney-at-Law Act and stated that it will form and operate a 'Legal Tech Task Force (TF)'.

On the afternoon of the 24th, the Ministry of Justice said, "Legal tech services for the public are an inevitable trend and change of the times."

On the same day, the Ministry explained, "The current Lotok service is an 'advertising-type platform' where users view advertisements of lawyers posted on the platform to decide whether to consult," and "It is not a 'brokerage-type platform' that introduces or mediates specific lawyers and receives compensation, so it does not violate the Attorney-at-Law Act."

It also analyzed that in the United States and Japan, legal service platforms that match specific lawyers and users based on concrete cases are regulated, but platforms that receive advertising fees from lawyers are allowed.

However, the Ministry expressed agreement with concerns that legal service platforms could undermine the public nature of the lawyer system in the long term and cause capital dependency in the legal market, and also expressed worries about the possibility of a decline in the quality of legal services. It added that it will form a Legal Tech TF to review the need for legal and institutional improvements for the smooth establishment of the industry.

Furthermore, it added, "Concerns from lawyer organizations were conveyed to Lotok's operator, 'Law&Company,' and Law&Company has expressed its intention to review improvement measures and discuss them with the Bar Association and others."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.