Technology

A business specialising in legal documents has created a web-based, dementia-specific lasting power of attorney that it claims is far superior to the online LPA provided by the government. Net Lawman has teamed up with the Alzheimer Society-backed dementia support website Unforgettable.org to distribute the LPA.

The digital delivery of legal services in England and Wales to people formerly on legal aid could be at the cusp of a “tipping point”, according Britain’s foremost researcher into online law, Professor Roger Smith. He also predicted that high street law firms would be increasingly vulnerable to website-based national brands, as retailers have been to Amazon.

Two separate alternative business structures specialising in commercial contracts went live today – each offering clients a non-traditional alternative to corporate law firms. Wavelength.law makes sophisticated use of new technology, while Ember Contract Solutions is part of a management consultancy.

A Yorkshire solicitor has launched a website to help small businesses and consumers obtain fixed price unbundled advice. James Martin, founder and director of ClaimItOnline, launched today, said the website was particularly aimed at small businesses with disputes worth up to £50,000.

The new Online Court will not “ban lawyers” and there will be “a very limited element of fixed costs” so litigants can get initial legal advice, Lord Justice Briggs has said. He said the top limit for claims in the Online Court “may have to start at £10,000”, rather than £25,000.

Regulation of lawyers across the developed world is under pressure from technological and other disruptions, and national competition authorities should seize the opportunity to guarantee market access for new entrants, the OECD has advised.

Free2Convey, the conveyancing portal designed as a free rival to the Law Society’s failed portal Veyo, is to relaunch itself to conveyancers, estate agents and the public “within weeks”, it has emerged. Matt Lancaster, who has led work on the portal, said he hoped it would be used by most conveyancing firms by the end of this year.

A legal rating and review website, set up last autumn by the former chief operating officer of QualitySolicitors, is to launch a crowdfunding bid next month targeting law firms. ReviewSolicitors wants to raise at least £150,000 from 50 law firms.

ROSS Intelligence, the artificial intelligence legal research technology built on IBM’s Watson cognitive computer, has announced its first commercial partnership with one of the largest law firms in the US.

Riverview Law’s ground-breaking development of technology for use by in-house counsel and others in the law this week saw the launch of its first two ‘virtual assistants’. Powered by the alternative business structure’s ‘Kim’ technology platform, they cover instruction and triage, and general case management.