Police and prosecutors ‘losing sensitive evidence’ – BBC News

‘Sensitive details held by police and prosecutors in England are being lost because evidence is still being shared on computer discs, watchdogs say.’

Full story

BBC News, 13th April 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Susskind: online court is just the beginning – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The proposed online court is a “pragmatic first step” on the road to a fully integrated online and conventional court service, an influential body has predicted. Professor Richard Susskind (pictured), who leads a panel of experts on digital dispute resolution, said proposals by Lord Justice Briggs for an online court for small claims were to be welcomed.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th April 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Controversial online court will need careful piloting – CJC – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 30th, 2016 in civil justice, courts, electronic filing, internet, judiciary, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘Influential advisory body the Civil Justice Council has urged a measured approach to the adoption of a new online court for civil cases.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 30th March 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Speech by Sir Ernest Ryder: The Modernisation of Access to Justice in Times of Austerity – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 9th, 2016 in budgets, electronic filing, speeches, tribunals by tracey

‘Speech by Sir Ernest Ryder: The Modernisation of Access to Justice in Times of Austerity; 5th Annual Ryder Lecture at the University of Bolton.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 7th March 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Speech by Sir James Munby to the Family Law Bar Association – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted March 4th, 2016 in barristers, divorce, electronic filing, family courts, speeches by tracey

‘Speech by Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division, 26 February 2016.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 29th February 2016

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

No “big bang” on fixed costs, Lord Chief Justice predicts – Legal Futures

Posted February 24th, 2016 in costs, electronic filing, news by sally

‘The Lord Chief Justice has predicted that the use of fixed costs will be extended gradually and not in “one big bang”, which people would find “uncomfortable”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 23rd February 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Four-year target for ‘digital court’ in England ambitious, but not unworkable, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 19th, 2016 in courts, electronic filing, news, small claims by sally

‘An ambitious new report proposes digitising all court processes in England and Wales within four years – but this, as the report itself recognises, will require significant behavioural changes from practitioners if it is to come to fruition.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 18th February 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Compulsory use of new format bill of costs postponed indefinitely – Litigation Futures

Posted January 13th, 2016 in costs, electronic filing, news by sally

‘The plan to make the new electronic bill of costs mandatory in the Senior Courts Costs Office has been shelved indefinitely because of the “major implications” it would have for the profession.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 13th January 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.co.uk

Set up online courtrooms to cut lawyers out of legal process, says official report – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 13th, 2016 in consultations, electronic filing, news, reports, small claims by sally

‘Senior judge says civil cases up to £25,000 should be carried out in ‘paperless’ courts with most work done by admin staff rather than judges or lawyers.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th January 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Check settlements’, couples told after divorce form error – BBC News

Posted December 21st, 2015 in computer programs, divorce, electronic filing, litigants in person, news by sally

‘Couples who divorced in the last 20 months have been advised to check their financial settlements after a glitch was found in an online government form.’

Full story

BBC News, 18th December 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Divorce error on form caused by UK Government software glitch could affect 20,000 people – The Independent

Posted December 18th, 2015 in computer programs, divorce, electronic filing, litigants in person, news by tracey

‘Divorced couples may be forced to return to court to renegotiate their separation after it emerged a Government software error may have altered the terms of their settlement.’

Full story

The Independent, 18th December 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Digital ‘Make A Plea’ system means people can choose where and when they plead – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 27th, 2015 in electronic filing, pleadings, press releases by tracey

‘A new digital service will allow people charged with minor motoring offences to make a plea online at a time and place of their choosing.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 26th February 2015

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Why is the immigration tribunal so uniquely impervious to modernity? – Free Movement

‘In a recent determination, the President of the Upper Tribunal suggested that documents and submissions could be sent electronically to the tribunal in order to facilitate efficient justice:

“…parties and their representatives are strongly encouraged to communicate electronically with the Tribunal and, further, to seek confirmation that important communications and/or attachments have been received.”‘

Full story

Free Movement, 26th February 2015

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Legal experts call for English ‘online court’ to handle low-value civil court cases – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 18th, 2015 in civil justice, electronic filing, internet, litigants in person, news by sally

‘An online mechanism should be set up to handle low-value civil court cases, with judges removed entirely from the process for the simplest cases, according to a new report.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 17th February 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

‘Wholly antiquated’: lord chief justice on court technology – LegalVoice

‘Our “antiquated” courts faced “severe crisis” without significant investment, the lord chief justice said yesterday. Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd offered journalists a judicial perspective on the financial pressures being imposed upon the courts at his annual press conference.’

Full story

LegalVoice, 13th November 2014

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Practice Note: Chancery Chambers Changes 1st October 2014 – Judiciary of England and Wales

‘From 1 October 2014 the Chancery Division in London will commence using the new CE-File electronic court file and some data stored on the old IT system will be transferred to CE-File.’

Full practice note

Judiciary of England and Wales, 11th September 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

How to protect yourself from data breaches – The Future of Law

‘Barristers and solicitors need to make sure they keep personal information secure, especially information on paper files, says a statement from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This warning follows a number of data breaches reported to the ICO over the last few months involving the legal profession.’

Full story

The Future of Law, 26th August 2014

Source: www.blogs.lexisnexis.co.uk

Second bites at the cherry, defective witness statements and sanction: a practical view from the Bar – Littleton Chambers

‘In his monthly column, James Bickford Smith discusses the Court of Appeal’s recent guidance on communications with judges after draft judgments are circulated, some interesting judicial
observations on defective witness statements, and the Commercial Court’s important relief from
sanctions decision in Re C (A Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 70.’

Full story

Littleton Chambers, 7th March 2014

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Getting active! – New Law Journal

“HH Simon Brown QC continues his exclusive NLJ online series on costs management post-Jackson.”

Full story

New Law Journal, 2nd July 2013

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

New online application service for Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) – Ministry of Justice

Posted July 2nd, 2013 in consultations, documents, electronic filing, powers of attorney by sally

“Thousands of people will be helped by a new online system which will make it simpler, clearer and faster to apply for Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA).”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 2nd July 2013

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice