header-logo header-logo

Looking forward

27 November 2015 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7678 / Categories: Opinion
printer mail-detail
nlj_7678_smith

Could technology provide legal empowerment as the government withdraws funding, asks Roger Smith

Remember IBM? They used to make computers that no one got fired for choosing. Then they went quiet as the new boys on the block—Google, Facebook, Amazon—emerged. Well, IBM is back and hungry; looking for diversified markets; hunting lawyers and illustrating one of the themes of the month—the search to define the future.

IBM Watson

IBM is touting its Watson programme as the lawyers’ killer app. Kyla Moran, a senior consultant, has been on the stomp to spread the word and this brought her to the Legal Futures conference at the RBS building in the City.

Moran talks a good game. And IBM has developed a line for professionals which is repeated at its rolling promotions: “Artificial intelligence (AI) is no threat. Far from it. It is better defined as ‘augmented’ rather than artificial intelligence. All it promises is to take out the grunt work of processing information. But, humans still have the key roles of inputting the data and reviewing the answers.” But,

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

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
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
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
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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
back-to-top-scroll