Tapping into progress

As a partner in a six-partner provincial firm, I read with interest the article by judge George Harrison (see [2002] Gazette, 25 April, 16).

Despite having relatively modest resources, we made a big investment in IT last year to ensure that we are able to operate efficiently in the interests of our clients and ourselves.

We had to find that money out of our pockets, and many hours of partner and staff time went into implementation.

No one paid us to do this.

No grants were available and no financial assistance with training.

We have had no approach from the Court Service or any other arm of government to encourage us to explore the interface with the courts or the judicial system.

No doubt if we had a fraction of the 600 million budget to which Judge Harrison refers, then we would be able to achieve the progress that he obviously believes is sadly lacking.

Jim Kieran, Kieran Clarke, Chesterfield