Committee to advise on IT in civil courts

Solicitors and barristers in London are joining forces to make their voices heard in the debate over the proper use of IT in the civil courts.

The London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA) has set up a working party which intends to give a unified response next month to the civil courts sub-committee of the Court Service's information technology and courts committee.

The sub-committee is considering the best ways to install new IT in civil courts.

The working party, chaired by KLegal director and LSLA committee member Anthony Maton, includes representatives from the Criminal Bar Association, the Commercial Bar Association and the Technology and Construction Solicitors Association.

Mr Maton said the group would look at the most suitable ways of investing the funds.

'We understand that there is money earmarked for this scheme, and we will be trying to give a practical point of view on how that can be best applied to be most effective for solicitors and clients.'

For example, he said, they would consider whether it would be best spent on hardware or software.

'There is a school of thought which believes that the money should go on installing an infrastructure in as many courts as possible; but others think that it is more important to have an excellent software package,' he said.

Mr Maton added: 'This is a real opportunity to install technology that will save time and money for everyone involved, and it is important to get it right from the start.'

Victoria MacCallum