header-logo header-logo

Computers not flawless, says Law Society

16 April 2025
Issue: 8113 / Categories: Legal News , Technology , Disclosure , Procedure & practice
printer mail-detail
The Law Society has called for clear definitions, regular reviews and disclosure to ensure the use of computer evidence does not lead to miscarriages of justice. 

Responding this week to the Ministry of Justice’s ‘Use of evidence generated by software in criminal proceedings: call for evidence’, following the Post Office Horizon scandal, Law Society president Richard Atkinson said the government has ‘sought to define computer evidence, not as evidence captured or recorded, but as evidence generated by software or a device’.

He said ‘computer evidence’ must be clearly defined or legal uncertainties could arise, particularly in a judicial context.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The dangers of uncritical artificial intelligence (AI) use in legal practice are no longer hypothetical. In this week's NLJ, Dr Charanjit Singh of Holborn Chambers examines cases where lawyers relied on ‘hallucinated’ citations — entirely fictitious authorities generated by AI tools
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
back-to-top-scroll