header-logo header-logo

23 June 2023 / Roger Smith
Issue: 8030 / Categories: Opinion , Technology , Profession , Legal aid focus
printer mail-detail

Tomorrow’s lawyers: don’t despair

127514
No matter the advances of legal tech in widening access to justice, there will always be a place for human advisers, as Roger Smith explains

Richard Susskind (pictured) ploughs a straight furrow. He has travelled through The Future of Law (1996), Transforming the Law (2000) and The End of Lawyers (2010). With a study on The Future of the Professions (2015) with his son, Daniel, his writing has even become a bit of a family business. In March, he published the third edition of Tomorrow’s Lawyers: An Introduction to your Future (Oxford University Press, 2023). It all amounts to a solid and commendable body of work. He has battled his way to widespread acceptance of views once seen as extreme. But, perhaps at least in the access to justice field, Professor Susskind’s thoughts might need a little refinement.

Professor Susskind is engaging, polemical and interesting. He is also—on the big issues—right. His main thesis has remained constant. The ‘legal market is in a remarkable state of flux’ (the words with which he begins this edition) because of downward pressures

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Anthony Collins—20 promotions

Anthony Collins—20 promotions

20 promotions mark major people investment at national law firm, Anthony Collins

Sidley—Elaine Whiteford

Sidley—Elaine Whiteford

Sidley adds competition litigator Elaine Whiteford in London

Charles Russell Speechlys—Claudina D’Costa

Charles Russell Speechlys—Claudina D’Costa

Charles Russell Speechlys welcomes Claudina D’Costa as Director of Client Development Marketing

NEWS
The 25th Pro Bono Week begins today until 6 November, with events hosted by law firms, chambers, law schools and charities across the UK
Pro bono is celebrating a silver anniversary, with initiatives putting businesses and students at the heart of access to justice
Choosing the wrong expert can cost a clinical negligence claimant more than their case
Judges risk weakening their own independence by staying silent over government reforms, a leading public lawyer argues
A discount on damages does not automatically mean an equivalent haircut for legal costs in military deafness claims
back-to-top-scroll