The BSB has today published a report into technology adoption and use at the Bar, highlighting the challenges and opportunities barristers face in adopting technology.
The study finds there is potential for innovation at the Bar. Barristers increasingly recognise and seek out the opportunities of technology, particularly where it enhances efficiency, improves working processes, and strengthens relationships with clients, law firms, and the courts.
Although there are pockets of innovation, the report finds there are significant barriers that limit barristers' ability to adopt and use technologies effectively in practice. These include the structure of the profession, the role of chambers, technology providers’ limited marketing to the Bar, and the considerable time and financial investments individual barristers face when adopting new technologies into their practice.
Mark Neale, Director General, The Bar Standards Board, said:
“Technology is developing quickly, and we need to help the profession to adapt to the risks and opportunities that this brings. We have discussed the findings of this report with the Bar Council. Both organisations recognise the need to work together to understand developments in technology at the Bar and to support the safe adoption of new technology.
I am very pleased that the Bar Council has agreed to take steps to establish a joint working group to share information about technology at the Bar and to consider where we can work together in this area.”
Henry Fingerhut, Technology & Innovation Policy Manager, The Bar Standards Board said:
“This study is an important insight into how technology is adopted and used at the Bar specifically. As an evidence-based regulator, it is critical we understand the mechanisms and barriers to tech use at the Bar. This is so we can support innovation at the Bar in ways that improve outcomes for clients and in the public interest.
The BSB has a role to play to set high standards for best practice and to help overcome the systemic barriers to effective technology adoption, while ensuring that risks are well managed. Use of technology can help to promote high quality, cost-effective legal services in an increasingly digital world.”
The research shows opportunities and barriers to technology adoption at the individual barrister, chambers, and technology provider levels:
Barristers reported challenges with limited resources for training and integrating technology into practice at all stages, whether academic, vocational, pupillage or at subsequent stages of their career. As a result, barristers often prefer to wait to adopt new technologies until they are well-proven, inhibiting innovation across the profession. The study recommends that the BSB and other organisations take concerted action across the sector to support technology awareness and reduce the uncertainty in adopting new technologies.
Chambers recognise that technology could reduce operating costs in the longer term and often do adopt tools that facilitate practice management. However, the investment is often prohibitive, particularly for smaller chambers lacking the innovation focused roles that larger solicitors’ firms increasingly hold.
The research finds that the size and characteristics of the Bar, relative to the solicitors' market, means that little technology on offer is bespoke to the Bar. There is significant untapped opportunity for technology providers to work with the Bar.
There is cautious adoption and usage of artificial intelligence (AI) as an assistant, especially in routine administrative tasks. Barristers anticipate AI to be beneficial to their work but not to replace the important human elements of skill, experience and judgement that define their profession.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The full report can be found here.
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