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15 January 2025
Issue: 8100 / Categories: Legal News , Artificial intelligence , Legal services , Technology
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Lawyers welcome AI action plan

The Law Society has given a warm welcome to the government’s ‘AI opportunities action plan’, published this week.

The plan—described by the prime minister Kier Starmer as ‘a plan to make our country an AI superpower’—sets out how the UK can invest and become a leader in artificial intelligence (AI).

Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: ‘Law firms of all sizes are already using AI to provide world-class legal services.’

Atkinson suggested appointing ‘AI sector champions’ for the legal sector to benefit members including small and medium-sized firms, and creating an ‘AI knowledge hub’ with legal best practice guidance and case studies.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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