From remote hearings to cutting edge AI research tools, here’s how tech is revolusionising the legal industry
Technology is rapidly reshaping the way lawyers work, and for Richard Little, partner at Eagles Eagles & Redpath, it’s an exciting evolution.
Little specialises in conveyancing, civil and private law, and has a significant interest in mental health proceedings – an area that has benefited hugely from the technological changes of the last four years. Little has seen firsthand how tools like artificial intelligence, audio-visual links, and online portals are transforming accessibility for clients.
Today, as the legal industry stands on the brink of the next big tech revolution, Little believes the impact is only set to become more transformative.
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“The AI side of things is going to be really interesting,” Little tells NZ Lawyer.
“There have been some major changes that haven’t been fully embraced yet, particularly with regards to things like AVL (audio-visual links) and electronic signing. It’s all very exciting, but we’re still at an early stage. We’re going to see lawyers who don’t know a time without AI, and it’ll be interesting to see how efficient they can become.”
Bringing efficiency to the courtroom and beyond
Little’s interest in technology goes back to his days at Otago University, where his double degree included a number of computing-related topics. This interest has only strengthened over time, particularly as the legal industry started to go increasingly digital.
He particularly highlights the impact of remote technology and digital tools. Audio-visual links (AVL) have become more common, for instance in urgent mental health hearings, streamlining processes that once required in-person appearances.
“This technology allows judges to be present at short notice,” he explains. “It’s also common in the criminal court to see 5 or 6 lawyers trying to work in a courtroom, waiting for their matter to be called – and that’s just inefficient. AVL can alleviate some of that.”
For Little’s conveyancing practice, recent changes now permitting a greater ability to witness Authority and Instruction forms by AVL and use electronic signatures are game changers. New Zealand has been a world leader with its land registration system for some time and LandOnline just keeps getting better.
“Finally, research is becoming a lot quicker and easier,” Little adds.
“The first few years of your legal career used to be particularly tough, writing opinions for senior lawyers on the most recent and relevant cases, where finding those could take hours. Now, tools like LexisNexis’ Argument Analyser can recommend what you should be looking at and can bring that process down to a few minutes.”
Balancing innovation with the human element
Despite its efficiency, Little is clear that technology won’t replace the personal connections that are often central to legal practice. Emotional and complex cases, such as those in criminal law, still require human judgment and empathy.
Even in transactional work, Little sees technology as a complement rather than a replacement for human expertise. While AI and digital tools will streamline processes like conveyancing, the value of professional guidance remains irreplaceable.
Still, he says that the ability for clients to do more for themselves has opened up significantly, and this is a positive for accessibility.
“For example, if you want to draft a will, clients can go through an online form and fill out most details themselves, rather that attend two or three times to get basic information to the lawyer.” he explains.
“It’s similar with relationship property matters, there’s a lot of time that’s being saved, and I think that’s just going to keep opening up. Over the next 15-20 years, clients will go to lawyers to ensure that what they have has been done properly, and to bounce their ideas off an expert to ensure they’re not missing anything.”
On the AI side, Little notes that it will be easier to understand and analyse recent acts and case law. Combined with more powerful client portals and information storage, you can compare those against a client’s unique circumstances very quickly.
“I think we’ll see some increased competition in terms of client ability to access lawyers throughout the country,” he says.
“For more technical or tricky situations, that one-on-one support will remain invaluable. What sets Eagles, Eagles & Redpath apart I believe is that we ensure we keep the clients well informed through frequent and transparent communication which is only further assisted by technological advances which permit secure storage of information that is client accessible. Additionally, a lot of transactional matters can easily be handled remotely, and that means a client’s options open up significantly, even to reach us down here in Southland.”
Embracing the next wave of change
Looking to the future, Little is optimistic about how technology will continue to shape the legal profession. While digital tools and AI have already transformed how lawyers conduct research, interact with clients, and manage cases, he believes the real impact is yet to come. As tools become more sophisticated and widely adopted, lawyers will have more opportunities to focus on the nuanced, human aspects of their work—building trust, solving complex problems, and providing expert guidance.
In the meantime, platforms like Lexis+, which are intuitive and deliver insights on legal research coupled with Lexis® Argument Analyser offered by LexisNexis, will help firms stay ahead of the curve.
I value the relationship we have as the LexisNexis team will talk us through the new products, and offer training,” Little says. “We find that really helpful, and we’re looking forward to seeing the new products they have set for next year.”
Lexis® Argument Analyser enables legal professionals to achieve in-depth case law research results in minutes. Learn more and Book Your Free Demo by clicking HERE and submitting the form.