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NLJ this week: Justice tech

18 June 2021
Issue: 7937 / Categories: Legal News , Legal aid focus , Technology , Covid-19
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Lawtech may be booming, but the impact of technology on access to justice is a lot less clear, solicitor and author Roger Smith writes in this week’s NLJ.

In the first of four articles, Smith looks at the meaning of ‘access to justice’ and highlights some forward momentum in technology as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He writes: ‘Over the whole sweep of its activity, the access to justice sector should emerge from the pandemic more efficient and with leaner administration costs. Funders have seen the necessity of immediate investment to keep services going. To its immense credit, the sector has seen upgrades that might have taken years implemented in days.’

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
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