header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us
31 January 2014 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7592 / Categories: Opinion , Legal services
printer mail-detail

Across the pond

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.
web_smith_1

Roger Smith takes legal lessons from the US

Americans display the vigour of the New World. Days at the January Legal Services Corporation (LSC) conference on the use of technology began at 8.30; went into the evening; and continued over lunch. The result of two and a half days in Jacksonville, Florida was a tiring but thorough covering of the issues. The LSC dispenses federal funds for the equivalent of civil legal aid. It boasts that its programmes lead the way over the private sector in the use of digital communication because of its centralised funding. So, what lessons might the New World have for the Old?

Leadership & the LSC

One very evident factor, particularly when compared with us and which is nothing to do with technology, was the benefit of leadership. This was primarily a conference for those involved in its technology initiative grants (TIG) programme. For several years, the LSC has put aside a reasonable annual sum, now well over $2m, to encourage initiatives using new technology. Grants

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
Sponsored by
London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

Fieldfisher partner appointed president as LSLA marks milestone year

Kingsley Napley—Kirsty Churm & Olivia Stiles

Kingsley Napley—Kirsty Churm & Olivia Stiles

Firm promotes two lawyers to partnership across employment and family

Foot Anstey—five promotions

Foot Anstey—five promotions

Firm promotes five lawyers to partnership across key growth areas

NEWS
Read All
NLJ this week: Divorce ‘nuclear weapon’ freezes assets but entangles outsiders
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
NLJ this week: What counts as ‘rent’? Court says labour alone won’t do
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Your magistrates’ court needs you!
Thousands more magistrates are to be recruited, under a major shake-up to speed up and expand the hiring process
NLJ this week: Freed but failed—justice system leaves the innocent empty-handed
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
NLJ this week: Clarity on whistleblowing, settlements and tribunal limits
A quiet month for employment cases still delivers key legal clarifications. In his latest Employment Law Brief for NLJ, Ian Smith reports that whistleblowing protection remains intact even where disclosures are partly self-serving, provided the worker reasonably believes they serve the ‘public interest’ 
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll