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Levelling up access to justice

18 June 2021 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7937 / Categories: Opinion , Legal aid focus , Technology , Covid-19
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In the first of a three-part series, Roger Smith explores the current & future state of the access to justice sector

Few would dissent from the proposition that technology is changing our world—from online shopping to the application of artificial intelligence. And there would be similarly little opposition to the observation that technology is, more specifically, changing the practice of commercial law. Just look at the investment that firms like Allen & Overy are making in their own in-house innovation hubs to anticipate developments in the law tech market.

By contrast, the impact of technology on access to justice is much less clear. This article is the first of four to look at this issue. It covers some of the general issues. Three subsequent pieces will cover separate elements—legal practices focusing on clients with low incomes; the not-for-profit sector; and the courts.

Patchwork funding

Part of the obscurity comes just from the concept of ‘access to justice’ itself. This is a handy, ‘you know what I mean’ kind

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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