Progress in the judicial system sees judges in England and Wales now permitted to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) technology to assist in the preparation of judgments. A recent directive sent to all judges has introduced Copilot Chat, an AI tool developed by Microsoft, now accessible on every judicial device.

The directive includes a glossary of relevant terms while outlining the primary risks and considerations involved in using AI solutions, along with recommendations for minimizing potential issues. Judges are cautioned against the threats posed by misinformation, bias, and inaccuracies or “hallucinations” produced by the software. Prior to employing any AI tools, judges are advised to ensure they possess a foundational understanding of their functionalities and limitations.

In a related development, the adoption of generative AI—machines that conduct research and compose documents—has significantly surged over the past year, increasing from 14 percent to 26 percent among law firms and legal departments, according to research conducted by Thomson Reuters. This study also revealed that the percentage of law firms advocating for an expanded integration of this technology grew from 51 percent to 59 percent within the same timeframe.

Leading Legal Influencers on Social Media

In the dynamic realm of social media, recent findings have highlighted the most influential legal voices on LinkedIn. Analysts at TBD Marketing explored the platform to identify which legal professionals receive the highest engagement in terms of “likes” and comments.

At the forefront is Jen Shipley, a specialist in medical negligence at Irwin Mitchell, who recently responded to criticisms suggesting that LinkedIn was becoming more focused on “personal branding” than on professional content. She shared her disagreement and provided insights about her identity, identifying as a “leftie” with what she described as the “rarest blood type” in the UK.

The remaining members of the top five most prominent legal figures on LinkedIn include: Sophie Wardell, head of personnel at Higgs; Ilana Kattan, an attorney at Hogan Lovells in Washington; Mark Stephens, a partner at Howard Kennedy; and Jon Gregson, a partner at Weightmans.

Rise of Do-It-Yourself Wills

The landscape of will-writing, traditionally dominated by high-street solicitors, is witnessing a notable shift towards DIY approaches. Recent data indicates that fewer than half of the wills created last year were drafted by legal professionals.

Research by IRN Legal Reports highlighted that 41 percent of the UK population has a will, with only 49 percent of those being prepared by solicitors. Legal Futures reported this week that DIY wills now constitute 13 percent of the total, markedly increasing from 8 percent over the past year.