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23 March 2017 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7739 / Categories: Opinion , Profession , Technology
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Innovation hots up

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Roger Smith reviews last month’s most important developments in law & technology

The pace of technological innovation in legal services continues to step up. February began with the American Bar Association (ABA) announcing that it had already raised $600,000 for its new ABA Center for Innovation. Meanwhile, in Belfast, over 200 people turned out for the launch of a new Legal Innovation Centre at the University of Ulster, expressly built on the model of Stanford University’s Law Design Lab. The Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of Law (HiiL) was busy recognising global contributions in developing countries to the use of technology. British Columbia was announcing a step forward in its Solution Explorer—an informal dispute resolution front end to its online court. And, down in Australia, double Oscar winner Cate Blanchett was providing the voice for a digital avatar which will give advice on disability law.

Ulster

Belfast can feel like the edge of the known world. Politics are pretty ossified; the legal profession is small; academically, Queen’s has had the Province pretty well sown

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors announces four promotions

NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
A polished legal defence may owe more to artificial intelligence than legal merit—and creditors risk paying the price in delay and expense
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Should a conviction stand when a later ruling reveals that the law underpinning it was wrong? The answer exposes a clash between finality and justice
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
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