Technology

Global firm Dentons has made its play to be a key adviser to companies on the impact of Brexit by developing a cognitive search engine tool that can be used for Brexit-related contract reviews. It is also working on a software application that automatically creates a ‘Brexit action plan’ for clients.

Lord Justice Briggs published his final report on the structure of the civil courts and retained his strong support for the creation of an online court for claims worth up to £25,000, although he has shifted position to say that parties should be able to recover a limited amount of legal costs.

Several well-known law firms have signed up to Oratto, the latest ‘find a lawyer’ website to hit the market, including Manchester firms JMW, Berg and Pannone Corporate, Liverpool’s Jackson Canter, Sheffield-based Simpson Sissons & Brooke, and Peterborough-based Buckles.

The online small claims court expected to be the model for England and Wales was launched in Canada last week when the Act moving it from voluntary to mandatory claims came into force. The value threshold for claims will eventually will rise to those up to C$25,000 (£14,610).

A lawyer-matching service to be launched by a Manchester solicitor next month aims to recruit 15,000 to 20,000 clients by the end of the year. Kid Harwood, director of Lawbid, said the service wanted to change the “balance of power” for consumers.

Innovative alternative business structure Radiant Law has created a Microsoft Word-based tool to help in-house counsel check the impact of Brexit on their commercial contracts – and is giving it away for free. Meanwhile, magic circle firm Clifford Chance has struck a deal with artificial intelligence software provider Kira Systems.

Sir Nigel Knowles, the former global co-chairman of DLA Piper, has joined the advisory board of The Link App, the communications application for law firms and their clients created by former The Apprentice candidate Lauren Riley.

E-mail could be employed to harness “a whole volunteer army” of City law firm volunteers to the aid of Hackney Law Centre and other advice centres beyond the capital, according to a report on digital solutions that also suggested a series of apps that could help clients navigate the advice system.

The Law Society’s failed conveyancing portal Veyo recorded a loss of £11.4m in its last financial year, with rival product Free2Convey the cause of its demise, according to newly published annual accounts. Some £6.8m of the loss was put down to research and development expenditure, with a further £743,000 on 10 staff.

A legal hackathon is to be held north of the border as part of a push to stimulate lawtech innovation among Scottish law firms and promote the use of technology in improving access to justice. Two broad challenges will be presented in the hope that technological solutions emerge, such as mobile phone or computer apps.