*/
Technology will revolutionise the practice of law ‘within a generation’, the Chancellor of the High Court said.
Giving the inaugural Law Society lecture on the ‘Future of Law’, Sir Geoffrey Vos urged lawyers to think ahead and embrace innovation. Lawyers and judges, he said are renowned for being a conservative bunch and accepting change at a glacial speed. But: ‘In a world of rapid technological advance, we can no longer afford to be thought of in that way,’ he said.
Vos said dispute resolution will need to be speedier and cheaper for ‘the millennial generation, which expect to be able to obtain everything they want in an instant on their mobile devices’ and ‘will not make an exception for justice’.
He predicted that smart contracts and automated documentation will reduce the ‘grunt work’ for transactional lawyers, but said ‘talk of the end of litigation in the 21st century is overstated’ as the technology that seeks to predict the outcome of cases, cannot take into account ‘human frailties’ and emotions that motivate litigants.
Crime, he suggested will be different ‘once the digital revolution is complete’ with cyber and sex crime the most prevalent, and criminal prosecutions will reduce over the next 30 years, because of the increased use of mobile phones to record and track our movements. But he did not think that computers would replace juries.
Technology will revolutionise the practice of law ‘within a generation’, the Chancellor of the High Court said.
Giving the inaugural Law Society lecture on the ‘Future of Law’, Sir Geoffrey Vos urged lawyers to think ahead and embrace innovation. Lawyers and judges, he said are renowned for being a conservative bunch and accepting change at a glacial speed. But: ‘In a world of rapid technological advance, we can no longer afford to be thought of in that way,’ he said.
Vos said dispute resolution will need to be speedier and cheaper for ‘the millennial generation, which expect to be able to obtain everything they want in an instant on their mobile devices’ and ‘will not make an exception for justice’.
He predicted that smart contracts and automated documentation will reduce the ‘grunt work’ for transactional lawyers, but said ‘talk of the end of litigation in the 21st century is overstated’ as the technology that seeks to predict the outcome of cases, cannot take into account ‘human frailties’ and emotions that motivate litigants.
Crime, he suggested will be different ‘once the digital revolution is complete’ with cyber and sex crime the most prevalent, and criminal prosecutions will reduce over the next 30 years, because of the increased use of mobile phones to record and track our movements. But he did not think that computers would replace juries.
The Bar Council faces both opportunities and challenges on our key areas this year
Girls Human Rights Festival 2025: a global gathering for change
Exclusive Q&A with Henry Dannell
Casey Randall of AlphaBiolabs discusses the benefits of Non-invasive Prenatal Paternity testing for the timely resolution of family disputes
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Have you considered being a barrister in the British Army? Here’s an insight into a career in Army Legal Services
Patrick Green KC talks about the landmark Post Office Group litigation and his driving principles for life and practice. Interview by Anthony Inglese CB
Sir Nicholas Mostyn, former High Court judge, on starting a hit podcast with fellow ‘Parkies’ after the shock of his diagnosis
‘Hard work and commitment can open doors. I believe that I am proof of that,’ says Senior Treasury Counsel Louise Oakley. She tells Anthony Inglese CB about her journey from Wolverhampton to the Old Bailey
What's it like being a legal trainee at the Crown Prosecution Service? Amy describes what drew her to the role, the skills required and a typical day in the life
Barbara Mills KC wants to raise the profile of the family Bar. She also wants to improve wellbeing and enhance equality, diversity and inclusion in the profession. She talks to Joshua Rozenberg KC (hon) about her plans for the year ahead
