Technology
Calls for government to invest in online dispute resolution as part of digital legal services push
The government should invest in online dispute resolution for small claims – but not until 2016 so lessons can be learnt from pioneering projects in Holland and Canada, a major report has advised. Meanwhile, Professor Richard Susskind has called for ODR to be explored “urgently”.
Riverview launches separate tech business as it targets in-house with software products
Riverview Law is setting up a separate business which will own and exploit the technology built by the alternative business structure over the last three years. The first move has been for Riverview itself to launch a range of software modules targeted at in-house legal teams.
European Commission launches find-a-lawyer search engine – without England and Wales
The European Commission has launched today a new online find-a-lawyer search engine, enabling potential clients to find lawyers in 17 countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Scotland – but not England and Wales.
Investors target legal entrepreneur after stint on The Apprentice
Solicitor entrepreneur Lauren Riley has described how she has met venture capitalists and tech companies interested in her legal app after appearing in the BBC1 show The Apprentice.
Report: artificial intelligence will cause “structural collapse” of law firms by 2030
Robots and artificial intelligence will dominate legal practice within 15 years, perhaps leading to the “structural collapse” of law firms, a report predicting the shape of the legal market has envisaged.
Knowledge gap between lawyers and consumers “narrowing all the time”
The “traditionally wide” knowledge gap between lawyers and consumers is “narrowing all the time”, Canadian futurologist Jordan Furlong told delegates at this week’s Legal Futures Annual Conference.
Leading law firms failing to move with the times online, website study finds
The websites of leading law firms are failing to take advantage of consumers’ changing habits, a new study has claimed. The ‘white video’ issued by digital marketing agency mmadigital reported that 56% of the top 200 law firms do not have a mobile responsive website.
Law Society invests £5m+ in online conveyancing project
The Law Society has invested over £5m in a new online conveyancing system, to be launched next spring, which aims to revolutionise the home-buying process.
Knowledge more important than price for law firms choosing IT suppliers
Specialist knowledge and expertise are more important than price or consistency of delivery for law firms choosing an IT supplier, research has found.
Fusion Legal becomes latest Connect2Law hub to go its own way
East Midlands firm Nelsons has launched Fusion Legal, a new regional support network, following West Midlands firm FBC Manby Bowdler, which launched Hub.Legal this summer.
Blog
It’s time for law firms to ask tougher questions
For years, many law firms have treated ID verification as a box-ticking exercise. Run a liveness check, match a face to a document and move on. But that is no longer good enough.
Business fatigue to AI will risk job security
Whilst we know professional learning has always been part of career paths, to hire, retain and keep talent, AI needs to be embedded as a core part of this training.
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.
