Slovenian Lawyers and Electronic Commerce

Electronic Commerce mag. Janez Toplišek

Slovenian Lawyers and E-commerce
Some findings from an questionnaire-investigation among Slovenian lawyers

620 questionnaires - 10-20% of all Slovenian lawyers - all legal professions and regions represented - 184 answers processed

91% of lawyers are using PC - 55% are using PC in the office and at home - 24% of using PC are using modem

Which of these terms are you acquainted with:

Windows 89% electronic signature 18%

e-mail 74% signature card 9%

DOS 71% digital pen signature 8%

EDI 43% digital signature 8%

Contracts, agreements, other legal acts - which you were working on (as a lawyer):

HW buying/selling 89% regulations, rules… 11%

SW buying/selling 28% data transmission 7%

SW development 21% other contracts, rules… 7%

SW license agreement 15% EDI contracts/agreements 5%

data processing 14%

The use of e-mail:

I have an academic address 5% I would need e-mail 38%

I have a commercial address 6% I am not sure if I need it 27%

I have a private address 3% I don't have time to work with… 14%

I use e-mail in my business 15%

Legend:

5 = I strongly agree
4 = I agree 3 = I don't know / neutral
2 = I don't agree 1 = I don't agree at all
0 = no answer

5 4 3 2 1 0

(results in %)

Cryptography and electronic messaging:

* General public use of enciphering should be prohibited:

3 3 16 21 29 28

* To allow only those crypto-techniques which could be disclosed by law enforcement:

8 11 20 15 21 26

* Should be allowed only among government authorities:

4 9 16 17 25 28

* There should be no stronger restrictions as for written letters:

34 24 11 4 4 22

* There should be no restrictions at all:

20 18 20 12 5 24

Explicit terms like "written" in statutes/codes should be abandoned - except when otherwise formal required:

11 21 15 24 21 7

Legal term "written form" itself does not include compulsory hand-written signature:

22 33 11 17 11 5

The law should wait for technologies to solve the reliable electronic signature:

19 33 15 22 6 5

Lawyers should be introduced into electronic commerce during their undergraduate studies:

61 30 5 1 1 2

To the top

Main home page Legal Informatics Electronic Signature Electronic legal sources Professional / Personal

Windows	89%	electronic signature	18%
e-mail	74%	signature card	9%
DOS	71%	digital pen signature	8%
EDI	43%	digital signature	8%

HW buying/selling	89%	regulations, rules…	11%
SW buying/selling	28%	data transmission	7%
SW development	21%	other contracts, rules…	7%
SW license agreement	15%	EDI contracts/agreements	5%
data processing	14%

I have an academic address	5%	I would need e-mail	38%
I have a commercial address	6%	I am not sure if I need it	27%
I have a private address	3%	I don't have time to work with…	14%
I use e-mail in my business	15%

5 = I strongly agree 4 = I agree		3 = I don't know / neutral 2 = I don't agree		1 = I don't agree at all 0 = no answer
5	4	3	2	1	0

Cryptography and electronic messaging:
* General public use of enciphering should be prohibited:
3	3	16	21	29	28
* To allow only those crypto-techniques which could be disclosed by law enforcement:
8	11	20	15	21	26
* Should be allowed only among government authorities:
4	9	16	17	25	28
* There should be no stronger restrictions as for written letters:
34	24	11	4	4	22
* There should be no restrictions at all:
20	18	20	12	5	24
Explicit terms like "written" in statutes/codes should be abandoned - except when otherwise formal required:
11	21	15	24	21	7
Legal term "written form" itself does not include compulsory hand-written signature:
22	33	11	17	11	5
The law should wait for technologies to solve the reliable electronic signature:
19	33	15	22	6	5
Lawyers should be introduced into electronic commerce during their undergraduate studies:
61	30	5	1	1	2