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NLJ this week: Bridging the justice tech divide

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In this week's NLJ, Emily Carter and Sahil Kher of Kingsley Napley reflect on the Ayinde case and the broader implications of AI in frontline legal services. The authors argue that while AI offers transformative potential for under-resourced law centres, it also deepens the divide between well-funded firms and those on the frontline

Challenges include affordability, training, data governance, and regulatory uncertainty. Despite government enthusiasm for innovation, current guidance is patchy and often ill-suited to the realities of legal aid providers.

The authors call for targeted support, inclusive regulation, and sector-wide collaboration to ensure AI enhances rather than undermines access to justice. The message is clear: AI must be a tool, not a threat, and human oversight remains essential.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
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