Richard Harvey, President of the Law Society of New South Wales, has welcomed changes implemented by the NSW government and Attorney General, allowing for electronic witnessing of legal documents. The move has come about as a temporary reaction to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, and has been added to the Electronic Transactions Regulation 2017. Mr Harvey…
Legal Serevices Board publishes collection of articles on lawtech and regulation
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published a collection of 11 focused on lawtech and regulation as part of its ongoing work in the area. The collection, entitled ‘Perspectives on Lawtech and Regulation’ includes contributions from Chris Handford, Director of Regulatory Policy at the SRA, discussing the regulatory challenges of lawtech; Mariette Hughes, Head Ombudsman at the…
Law Society of Scotland and Information Commissioner’s Office collaboration on legal tech
A collaboration between the Law Society of Scotland and Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is set to provide a boost to the legal tech sector in Scotland, through assistance in developing technology-based solutions to GDPR issues. The Law Society of Scotland has signed a memorandum of understanding with the ICO which allows it to act as a…
Digital Justice: Technology and the Internet of Disputes (Introduction)
Abstract Improving access to justice has been an ongoing but frustrating goal of our society. The theme of this book is that we have new technological tools to resolve disputes and new tools to prevent disputes. Alternative dispute resolution, namely, mediation and arbitration, brought dispute resolution out of court. Digital Justice introduces the reader to…
BRAK sets up new committee on legal tech
The 7th Statues Assembly, “the parliament of the legal profession” of the Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer (BRAK) held its inaugural meeting on November 4th 2019. Through a clear majority, the assembly voted to not only retain all previously established committees but also to set up a new 7th committee on legal technology. For more information about the new…
Professions and Expertise: How Machine Learning and Blockchain are Redesigning the Landscape of Professional Knowledge and Organisation
Abstract Machine learning has entered the world of the professions with differential impacts. Engineering, architecture, and medicine are early and enthusiastic adopters. Other professions, especially law, are late and in some cases reluctant adopters. And in the wider society automation will have huge impacts on the nature of work and society. This paper examines the…
Harnessing data to advance evidence-based regulation from Standpoint Decision Strategy
This month Steve Wilson, founder and Director of Standpoint Decision Support, lends his experience with data analytics and legal regulation to unpack how regulators can better harness data for more effective regulation. By now everyone is familiar with the wave of “big data” that is invading nearly every aspect of private and public life. There are…
Regulators “must guard against misuse of lawtech”
Artificial intelligence-backed lawtech has the potential to improve access to justice but also carries a danger that automating law will be used negatively, meaning regulators will have to step in, a global innovation charity has warned. Nesta, which is working with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to identify and support transformative AI legal technology, backed…