Rotok, Disciplinary Risk Resolved and 'Upward Trend'... Increasing Number of Lawyer Members

The Number of Registered Lawyers is Increasing
Triple Crown Winner of Ministerial-Level Government Awards in Two Months

The legal service platform ‘Lotoc’ continues its upward trend. Since the ‘disciplinary risk’ was resolved last September, the number of registered lawyers has increased, and it has consecutively received three government awards at the ministerial level or higher.

The press conference by Law&Company regarding the decision of the Ministry of Justice's Lawyer Disciplinary Committee was held on October 4th at Law&Company in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. CEO Kim Bonhwan is answering reporters' questions. On the right is Vice President Jeong Jaesung. Photo by Huh Younghan younghan@

According to Law&Company, which operates Lotoc, the number of lawyer members on Lotoc was 2,449 as of the end of last month. Compared to two years ago, when the number dropped to the 1,700s due to the Korea Bar Association’s revision of advertising regulations and disciplinary threats, it has increased by more than 1.4 times.

The number of lawyers using paid advertising services among the members is at an all-time high. As of the end of October, the number of lawyer advertisers on Lotoc increased by 1.7 times compared to the previous month. Law&Company explained that this is the largest increase since the launch of the Lotoc service and the highest number of lawyer advertisers ever.

A Law&Company representative stated, "Since the Ministry of Justice canceled the disciplinary actions, inquiries from lawyers about joining Lotoc have surged, and existing lawyer members are actively continuing their activities within Lotoc, leading to an increase in the number of lawyer members and the use of advertising services. The cancellation of the Ministry of Justice’s disciplinary decision was recognized as a clear signal that ‘lawyers’ use of Lotoc is not problematic,’ which was effective," they explained.

It is also notable that Lotoc has won three government awards at the ministerial level or higher in the past two months. On the 13th, it received the Prime Minister’s Award at the ‘18th Korea Internet Awards.’ It was recognized for improving public access to justice through internet technology. Last month, it received the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award at the ‘2023 Korea IT Service Innovation Awards,’ and on the 14th, it was awarded the Minister of SMEs and Startups Commendation at the ‘2023 Venture Startup Promotion Merit Awards’ hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

The conflict between Lotoc and the Korea Bar Association, which lasted for more than two years, was effectively resolved in Lotoc’s favor last September. On September 26, the Ministry of Justice held a lawyer disciplinary committee meeting and canceled the Bar Association’s disciplinary actions against lawyers using Lotoc. For 120 individuals, the decision was ‘no charges,’ and for three others, a ‘non-prosecution warning’ was issued without holding them accountable.

The Bar Association had claimed that Lotoc’s service violated the advertising regulations revised in May 2021. The regulations included provisions such as ‘lawyers must not cooperate with services where non-lawyers reveal business names and connect or advertise lawyers.’ However, the Ministry of Justice judged that Lotoc only provided a space connecting lawyers and consumers and did not directly connect lawyers and consumers, so there was no problem.

At the awards ceremony of the 18th Korea Internet Awards held on the 13th, Kim Bonhwan, CEO of Law&Company (right), is taking a commemorative photo after receiving the Prime Minister's Award.
[Photo by Law&Company]

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