Technology and the law in 2020 – the impact of AI
UK - LegalFutures
The legal sector is quickly moving to embrace digital transformation and leaning towards innovation as it recognises the opportunity to improve customer services, drive productivity and adhere to the raft of compliance checks that all law firms have to meet.
In fact, in feedback from legal professionals in our recent Advanced Trends Survey Report 2019/2020, only 40% felt their law firm wasn’t acting fast enough to keep up with the pace of technology innovation – so that means 60% are acting with pace and are certainly well ahead on that journey.
To encourage greater innovation, one technology that we predict will have a transformative effect on the industry is artificial intelligence (AI). Although AI is still in its relative infancy, it is already helping to change the way many industries operate and the legal sector is increasingly recognising its potential benefits. For example, a recent Deloitte study estimated that 100,000 legal roles would be automated by 2036, leaving legal professionals to concentrate on higher-value, client-facing tasks.
LegalFutures
Balancing on one foot: Practical tips for solos
America - LawPracticeToday
You’ve done it. Maybe you’ve left your former firm, maybe you are newly admitted and have decided that solo practice is the way to go. You’ve created a business entity; you’ve ordered business cards; you have a website, a domain name, and a Twitter handle. You are ready to launch your solo practice. Then reality hits… now what? How will you manage running the business and leave yourself time to practice law?
Many solos find themselves in this situation. It doesn’t matter if you started in a big firm and are used to lots of support, or if you are new and have never managed a business before. Suddenly, the administrative functions that come with a solo practice—and particularly, if you have no support staff—can seem overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be, and even better, you don’t have to re-invent the wheel. Help is out there, and you can learn from those who have mastered this balancing act.
At Practice 2.0, our practice management program at the State Bar of Arizona, some common themes have emerged from our work with solo and small firm lawyers. Here are some practical tips based on that experience.
LawPracticeToday
Taxpayers'right to confidentiality: Lessons from Al Capone
South Africa - Garlicke & Bousfield Inc
Several high-profile figures have come under public scrutiny during commissions of inquiry for serious crimes such as fraud and corruption. Prosecuting these offences is often a long and complex processes. Al Capone, the infamous American mobster, was convicted of tax evasion as it was easier for the U.S. Attorney General to secure a conviction for tax offences than comply with the evidentiary requirements of his other crimes. But what right does the South African taxpayer have for the information disclosed to SARS to be kept confidential?
There is an obligation upon a SARS official to preserve the secrecy of taxpayer information and they may not disclose it to outside persons. Taxpayer information is widely defined as meaning any information provided by a taxpayer, or obtained by SARS, in respect of the taxpayer, including biometric information. There is added protection provided insofar as if a taxpayer’s information is disclosed contrary to the law, the person to whom it was disclosed may not in any manner disclose, publish or make it known to any other person who is not a SARS official. A person who contravenes this provision commits a criminal offence.
Garlicke & Bousfield Inc
Leave a comment: