A group of regulators, including the Solicitors Regulation Authority, Bar Standards Board, Law Society and Bar Council have joined a UK government taskforce formed to address strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and protect public interest journalism. The taskforce includes legal regulators, representative bodies, media organizations, and free speech organizations. It aims to commission research…
2Civillity in Illinois, USA, provides a ‘how to’ guide for using AI as a lawyer
2Civility has published a how to guide for lawyers interested in getting started using generative AI such as ChatGPT. This guide includes a step by step guide on how to access ChatGPT on both desktop and mobile devices. The guide then explores effective ChatGPT prompts for summarising content, drafting litigation and drafting marketing content. The…
AI is increasingly important in law firms, but does it have a place in law schools?
In the legal profession, the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT remains uncertain. Law schools and faculty members are currently grappling with the decision of whether to allow students to use these AI applications in their coursework. While AI is already deeply integrated into legal practice, generative AI goes beyond traditional tools…
Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner issues access to justice policy statement
The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner has issued an access to justice policy statement. This policy statement is a statement of intent, articulating the VLSB+Cs role in supporting access to justice. The Policy statement notes the role of the VLSB+Cs as a regulator, funder and investor in access to justice, as well as providing…
New US legal admissions pipeline helps initially rejected applicants to become law students
In the US 22 law schools have developed a new admissions pipeline, ‘LexPostBacc’, specifically for prospective students who were initially rejected during the admissions process. This year-long program offered by these law schools aims to prepare aspiring lawyers, particularly minorities candidates, for the rigors of legal education. Participants must either be from an underrepresented ethnic…
The Solicitors Regulation Authority consults on regulating CILEX members
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has launched a consultation on regulating the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) members. The consultation comes after CILEX proposed re-delegating the regulation of its members from its current regulator, CILEX Regulation, to the SRA last year. The SRA has identified some benefits for consumers that would arise from regulating CILEX…
Law Society of New Zealand Aotearoa accepts in principle proposal for independent regulator
Law Society of New Zealand Aotearoa has accepted in principle the proposal for an independent regulator. This proposal comes from the independent Review Report carried out recently into the future structure of regulation in New Zealand. The primary recommendation from the review was the creation of an independent regulator, as the current structure of regulation…
National Bar Association survey finds black female lawyers in the US continue to experience high rates of discrimination
A National Bar Association (NBA) survey finds black women lawyers continue to experience high rates of discrimination and bias. During 2022, 163 members of the NBA WLD and other Black women’s legal organizations were surveyed. The survey found that 70% of Black women lawyers had experienced or witnessed discrimination and bias in the workplace. The…
The Law Society of Scotland continues work on regulatory regime for Licensed Legal Service Providers
The Law Society of Scotland has provided an update on the status of licensed legal services providers. Traditionally legal practices can only be owned by lawyers holding a practice certificate, these new Legal Service Providers can be owned by non-lawyers, though they still need to be majority (51%) owned by solicitors or members of specified…
The Solicitors Regulation Authority issues a thematic review of the use of Non Disclosure Agreements in workplace complaints
The SRA has released a thematic review that discusses the use of Non Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in workplace complaints. The review recognizes the legitimate place NDAs have in agreements to protect commercial interests, reputation, and confidentiality. The key findings of the review found that generally most NDAs between employers and employees complied with the requirements…