It is a probability that atleast one of you reading this news article needs a divorce, or has an evil brother trying to hog their ancestral mansion; or was falsely implicated in a cheating case. Or perhaps needs to sue someone over a copyright infringement act?

If you get the drift; many of us good Samaritans have some issues to deal with that require us to look up a lawyer. For the same, an Indian effort called "AdvocateKhoj" has recently been launched to help people seeking a lawyer, or some legal advice. The website (www.advocatekhoj.com) works as a match-maker between lawyers searching for clients and clients in need of help.

AdvocateKhoj, a joint venture between India based Neosys, Inc and US-based Nubia, Inc. aims to help people find a well-qualified lawyer for their legal issues. Consumers who are in need of legal assistance can present their case by answering some simple questions about their legal situation, free of cost on the website without revealing their identity. Needless to say, you need to pay once you formally want the lawyer to take up your case.

According to the website, lawyers enrolled with AdvocateKhoj would review these cases and send their replies. The consumer can view the responses from various advocates, check their background information, education and experience, and then make an informed decision on whom to engage for their case.

AdvocateKhoj uses automated online technologies that match specific needs of a consumer with a lawyer by matching geographically, and also based on a lawyer's various salient attributes and legal expertise. The need matching is fully automated and is based on client-entered criteria, so there is no preferential treatment of any particular lawyer.

Getting legal help online, in fact, is a common practice in the western world. The whole idea of getting in touch with lawyers of your choice prior to any money changing hands, and with minimal time spent seems does seem like a novel idea. The whole thing almost feels like online shopping!