Technology
LSB report: Buy-in vital for legal technology regulation
Achieving buy-in for technology regulation from everyone involved in lawtech – from developers to users – is crucial to it working well, according to an analysis looking at the lessons for legal regulators that can be drawn from the medical and financial sectors.
Government ensures paper-based access to online courts
The Courts and Tribunals (Online Procedure) Bill had its first reading in the House of Commons yesterday after the government added further protection for those unable or unwilling to use online processes.
BLM launches robot claims handler – but “it won’t replace humans”
A robot claims handler which can take “subjective decisions” about the reliability of witnesses will not replace its human colleagues, the law firm behind it has said.
VC fund targets lawtech with focus on big data
Venture capitalists have launched a fund aimed at lawtech start-ups, with an emphasis on businesses that hope to exploit big data for corporate decision making.
Advice app backed by Slater & Gordon rolls out nationally
An app that offers users the full range of consumer legal advice and support for up to £24 a month is being rolled out after a pilot saw 70% of users renew their subscription.
Complete online process for money claims “ready next year”
Technology allowing litigants to run a civil money claim online from beginning to end should be in place by this time next year, with nearly 70,000 having already used the more limited version available now.
Susskind clashes with MPs on digital exclusion
Professor Richard Susskind, IT adviser to the Lord Chief Justice, clashed with MPs yesterday over whether the government’s court modernisation programme is doing enough to combat digital exclusion.
Peers back greater role for Lord Chief in online court rules
Former Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge yesterday defeated government efforts to limit the extent to which future holders of the post will have a veto over the work of the online procedure rule committee.
Digital conveyancing used to market high-value commercial property
The march of blockchain-backed property transactions accelerated this week when a high-value commercial building went on the market with online execution offered by a digital estate agent.
AI-backed contract review “decodes obscure language”
Artificial intelligence has been deployed to bridge the gap between ‘legalease’ and plain English, standardising something that has long been the exclusive preserve of lawyers.
Blog
The importance of benchmarking reports – and lessons on profitability
Regional firms reported the largest revenue growth this year (12%), outpacing their City counterparts. Yet many are not converting that growth into profitability.
Fixed recoverable costs: Sacrificing justice for predictability?
The extended fixed recoverable costs regime is failing to achieve its stated objectives. Instead of promoting fairness and efficiency, the rules are creating anomalies that undermine justice.
Expectations keep rising, so prioritise client experience
Law firms are facing growing pressure to place greater focus on client experience or risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive legal market.
