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13 February 2021
Issue: 7921 / Categories: Legal News , Technology , Profession
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LawTech in the ‘Wild West’

Lawyers and regulators need to consult more with consumers about LawTech, the Association of Consumer Support Associations (ACSO) has urged

The non-profit, which represents civil justice claimants, published its report, Technology and Innovation, last week to coincide with the arrival of noted technology enthusiast Sir Geoffrey Vos QC as Master of the Rolls.

The report highlights that law firms and civil claims organisations will struggle to survive unless they invest in technology, and sets out a series of recommendations, including putting consumers at the heart of innovation, ensuring technology is ethically designed, promoting best practice for data security and learning lessons from InsurTech and FinTech.

For legal regulators, it asks them to provide clarity on liability regarding harm caused by a LawTech product, consider regulating unregulated service providers, and considering ways to regulate the use of AI to protect consumers.

ACSO executive director Matthew Maxwell Scott said LawTech ‘can increase efficiency, reduce costs and tackle the problem of incomplete or asymmetric consumer information’.

However, ‘Without clear guidelines and standards, there is a risk of creating a Wild West where anything goes. That may not be in the public interest.’

Issue: 7921 / Categories: Legal News , Technology , Profession
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Jordan Wallace

Thomson Hayton Winkley strengthens family law team

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Ward Hadaway—Barnaby Rosenthall

Construction lawyer returns to Ward Hadaway in Teesside role

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei

Bird & Bird—Shahin Baghaei

Bird Bird hires leading legal transformation expert

NEWS
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

How forcefully can a litigant criticise a public authority before robust advocacy crosses the line into unreasonable conduct? 
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