New Singapore programme to prepare legal pros for tech disruption
A new programme aims to prepare legal professionals, especially those from small and medium sized law firms, for technological disruption.
The Singapore Academy of Law’s FLIP (Future Law Innovation Programme) is due to launch in the fourth quarter of the year as a two-year pilot programme to help develop the model for the legal profession of the future.
“These challenges to the existing legal practice models are a reality, and they loom greater with each day. Technology is revolutionising the practice of law through machine learning and automation,” said Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, president of SAL.
He added that while tech advances may bring benefits for consumers of legal services, for providers it may not be such good news if they fail to adapt.
FLIP will also give all legal professionals access to an online platform with training resources to help them broaden technology skills.
Herbert Smith Freehills appoints Brexit director
Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed Paul Butcher as Brexit Director to represent the firm externally in relation to the UK’s exit from the EU, and the firm’s coverage of Brexit issues for clients.
“With negotiations now underway, Brexit is becoming a higher priority for a growing cross-section of our clients around the world,” said Gavin Williams, partner responsible for Brexit coverage. “Paul's appointment will help us leverage the enormous amount of work we have already done and sustain momentum as we enter this new phase in assisting clients with their detailed plans to meet challenges and seize opportunities of Brexit."
Paralegals resign over Grenfell Tower poster
Two paralegals have reportedly resigned from UK-based human rights law firm Leigh Day following over posters offering legal services posted near the scene of the Grenfell Tower fire.
The Law Society Gazette reports that the two paralegals put their names and private email addresses on the posters which said the legal advice was free but that a third party “may charge for its services.”
Leigh Day suspended the pair and told the Gazette that it was not the third party referred to on the posters. It said that it launched a formal investigation when the posters came to its attention and suspended the paralegals but that they resigned before that probe was concluded.
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