Practice Management
Court service starts another video hearing pilot running
A pilot enabling domestic abuse victims to take part in hearings by video link from a computer in their solicitor’s office has begun running in Manchester – the fourth started in recent weeks.
Firm that made staff redundant by text “broke law”
A law firm that made its staff redundant by text message has been ordered by an employment tribunal to make a protective award of 90 days’ pay to one of them.
Lawtech incubator “building long-term relationships”
Creating an incubator for lawtech start-ups has led to deeper and more rewarding relationships than expected, the law firm that pioneered the format said this week.
Video technology for courts “still has long way to go”
The experience of using video-link technology to hold immigration bail hearings shows how far it has to go to be as effective as face-to-face hearings, a researcher has warned.
Vos predicts “flood of smart contracts” if UK legal system adapts
English law is poised to capitalise on vast numbers of smart legal contracts expected to be created every year, according to Sir Geoffrey Vos, Chancellor of the High Court.
£250k fund will target legal tech that directly helps consumers
Government money aimed at accelerating the use of technology to widen access to justice will only go to ideas that directly aid consumers, rather than simply help lawyers do their jobs better, it has emerged.
Tribunal rejects law firm’s bid to strike out disability claim
An employment tribunal has said it would be “wholly inappropriate” to strike out a disability discrimination claim against a law firm from a legal secretary suffering from depression.
Union questions role of senior judges in court modernisation
The biggest civil service trade union has criticised senior judges for becoming too closely involved in the government’s £1bn court modernisation programme.
Leading firm held liable for asbestos case blunder
The High Court has ordered Cardiff-based Hugh James to pay six-figure damages to the family of an asbestos victim for professional negligence in abandoning their personal injury claim.
AI tools “too biased” for sentencing decisions
Bias and inaccuracy render artificial intelligence algorithmic criminal justice tools unsuitable for assessing risk when making decisions on whether to imprison people or release them, according to a report.
Blog
On good authority? GenAI and the reputational risks to law firms
As GenAI’s influence grows, so do the risks which are already playing out in courtrooms across England and Wales, where some early adopters are setting precedents they would rather not.
Why this is the year for law firms to embrace generative AI
After more than a year of pilots, proofs of value and early experimentation, firms are increasingly embedding AI into day-to-day workflows.
Client account interest is not spare change
The proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts scheme is being framed as a sensible, international, “tried and tested” way for the profession to help fund a justice system under strain.
