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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

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
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