It is the first time technology developed by online poll consultants Big Pulse, which allows the continuous live ranking of votes, has been used for an Awards vote. This year’s audited, online secret ballot of Australian in-house counsel and other legal services consumers will provide the most accurate reflection of excellence within the legal profession since the Awards’ inception.

“This is the most interactive polling invention in the world,” said Big Pulse founder Ralph McKay. “That interactivity particularly shows up in the ability of all voters to add a candidate to the list so the pollsters don’t dictate nominations.”

Voting will take place over three months, with voters able to amend their votes throughout that period to reflect changing opinions. “It’s a world first for a group to be running an awards poll with such sophistication and integrity,” McKay said.

The site will be closely monitored and any unauthorised votes will be removed from the count. All voters must give their name, phone and contact number to register and will be required to enter a password to access the site.

Once a firm is nominated, an authorised representative of the firm can claim editing rights to a linked page, allowing it to post free advertising material.

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Big Pulse also runs a forum for government, the long-running Dome of Conscience, which challenges parliamentarians to register how they feel about particular issues.

To vote in the 2005 Fuji Xerox Australian Law Awards visit the Law Awards website, www.lawawards.com.au.