Crystal-clear website gains recognition for probate genealogists Anglia Research

Aug. 21, 2015 - PRLog -- The legal services industry has something of a reputation for confusing and bemusing clients with long, tortuous sentences and jargon. However, one specialist genealogical and people-tracing firm, which works closely with the legal sector, is bucking the trend.

The Plain English Campaign has recognised probate genealogists Anglia Research under its Internet Crystal Mark scheme (http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/services/internet-crystal-mark.html), for the clarity and ease of use of their website www.angliaresearch.co.uk.

The legal services industry has a difficult task in communicating clearly with clients. While it is imperative that the correct terminology is used, so that any advice or documentation is watertight, it is equally important that clients are not confused by jargon and that they understand what they are reading.

It is also vital, as the web and social media come to dominate the way we communicate, that lawyers appreciate the importance of having a website that is

easy to use and to navigate. A number of firms, especially those with their own IT

departments, have grasped this, but others may struggle. After all, they are experts in the law, not in IT.

That is why Anglia Research decided to work with the Plain English Campaign to make sure that its website was as clear as possible. The company specialises in probate genealogy and tracking down missing people, documents and assets for solicitors.

Anglia Research’s commercial director, solicitor Carolyn Lord, explained:

“Our business relies on communication. It is vital that we provide the people who use our services with all the information they need, in a form that’s readily accessible and easy to understand.

“We are very proud to have gained the Internet Crystal Mark. It represents our commitment to making ourselves clear and, more than that, our commitment to acting with honesty and integrity. Long-windedness and beating around the bush can often hide incompetence or a desire to mislead.”

Gary Robertson of Aardweb Ltd, who developed the website, said:

"Anglia Research showed a real desire to make sure that all aspects of the site were as clear as possible for all visitors. Many companies that commission websites do not realise how important this is to win and retain clients. In the past, people were impressed by showy graphics but nowadays they don’t have the time or patience to put up with websites that are not easy to use.”

Factors that the Plain English Campaign took into account included how easy the site is to read, how accessible it is for people with disabilities, how easy it is for visitors to find their way around, and how consistent the design and layout are.

To date, only 54 organisations are entitled to display the Internet Crystal Mark. Most of these are local councils and other public bodies. But commercial organisations are starting to see the value of making their websites clear and easy to use. In the private sector Swinton Insurance and the Phoenix Group are aware of the benefits of making their internet message clear. Among the huge number of legal services providers in the UK only one company, Browne Jacobson, is listed.

Anglia Research was set up in 1979 by businessman Peter Turvey. Peter is a former chairman of the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA).

Anglia Research employs more legally qualified staff and accredited genealogists (that is, members of AGRA (http://www.agra.org.uk/) and its Scottish and Irish equivalents ASGRA (http://www.asgra.co.uk/) and AGI (http://accreditedgenealogists.ie/)) than any other UK probate research company. They have tracked down thousands of missing heirs in the UK and around the world, as well as tracing lost documents and assets for clients.

Staff also provide research support for a wide variety of projects, including regularly helping out with the BBC’s flagship genealogy programme Who Do You Think You Are?

Notes to Editors

1. Aphotograph of Peter Turvey and his sons, Philip and Richard, is attached. Further photographs are available on request.

2. This is the logo that Anglia Research will be entitled to carry on their website

3. The Plain English Campaign have been campaigning against “gobbledygook and jargon” since 1979. They believe that “everyone should have access to clear and concise information” and have helped many organisations with their documents, reports and publications. Launched in 1990, the Crystal Mark is used by over 1,600 organisations.

Since 1998 the Internet Crystal Mark has recognised that there is more to a website than its language. The Plain English Campaign also look at the accessibility, navigation, design and layout of the websites submitted for assessment. They then make recommendations as to how these can be improved before they will allow websites to carry their seal of approval.

In preparing their website for the Plain English Campaign, Anglia Research were guided by the 7 Cs of communication. Everything on the website is designed to be:

clear,

concise,

concrete,

correct,

coherent,

complete and

courteous.

For a good introduction to the difficulties ordinary readers encounter when faced with legal documents, see Howard Warner's article on page 8 in Clarity, issue 66 http://clarity-international.net/journals/66clarityjournal.pdf.

4. Company details

Anglia Research is the trading name of Anglia Research Services Limited. The company has over 50 staff members based around the UK.

6-8 Museum Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 1HT

http://www.angliaresearch.co.uk/

Anglia Research's website is fully responsive, meaning that it can be used on tablets and mobiles as well as on computers – an important consideration as the way we access information changes.