Technology
Lord Chief Justice “to have veto” over extension of online courts
The government is set to give the Lord Chief Justice the power of veto over what areas of law are moved into an online court system, it has emerged.
Litigants will not be forced online, government pledges
The government has no intention of making court processes exclusively online and so there is no need to give way to demands to guarantee this in primary legislation, peers were told this week.
Clients “more scared of robots than lawyers”
Clients are now more scared of robots handling their work than lawyers are of losing their jobs to machines, the boss of a legal artificial intelligence business has said.
Legal tech firms “will go bust as app stores take over”
There will be massive consolidation in the legal tech world as two or three “legal tech app stores” take over in the next few years, a US academic and entrepreneur has predicted.
Panel urges regulation of algorithms used in criminal justice system
A year-long study of the use of computer algorithms in the criminal justice system has recommended creating a national register to bring openness, expose built-in biases, and ensure public trust.
Gauke announces more financial backing for lawtech
Artificial intelligence has “huge potential” to make a positive impact in the legal services sector, the Lord Chancellor said today as he announced further financial backing for lawtech.
Law firm launches private client platform to help executors
A secure private client platform which stores financial and other details needed by executors has been launched by West Country law firm Ashfords, which said it was the first product of its kind.
Smith: lawtech not “silver bullet” for access to justice
Technology can make a positive difference but it must be carefully evaluated before adoption and be seen as supplementary to, not a replacement for, human-led legal services, a campaigner has warned.
Consumer panel urges regulators to act on lawtech
Regulators need to monitor the development of legal technology and issue guidance to help maximise the opportunities it presents while delivering the necessary protection for consumers.
Court modernisation “undermining access to justice”, lawyers tell MPs
Criminal and civil lawyers have separately spelt out to MPs on the justice select committee a catalogue of ways in which court modernisation is undermining access to justice.
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.
