Top judge warns of nasty surprise in civil IT reform

Solicitors must respond to government proposals to modernise civil justice, or they will be in for a very nasty surprise, a top judge warned this...Solicitors must respond to government proposals to modernise civil justice, or they will be in for a very nasty surprise, a top judge warned this week.The warning was issued by Lord Justice Sir Henry Brooke, president of the Society for Computers and Law, to encourage solicitors to reply to the governments recent consultation paper, Modernising the Civil Courts.He told the Gazette that the level of response from the profession so far has been disappointing.The consultation paper published by the Lord Chancellors Department in mid-January this year outlines proposals for harnessing technology in the civil courts.These include the use of virtual courts, partnering court services with advice agencies, and restructuring the court network.

The consultation period ends on April 21.

Lord Justice Brooke said: We are looking ahead to the biggest shake-up in the civil justice system for ages; far, far bigger than the Woolf reforms.Within ten years, Lord Justice Brooke explained, the civil courts would probably have electronic files on parties that would be used as the basis of litigation.

Solicitors need to consider the proposals, otherwise when the future hits, it may be a very nasty surprise, he said.The consultation paper is available on the Court Service Web site (www.courtservice.gov.uk).The Society for Computers & Law will be responding to the consultation paper, and solicitors who wish to contribute are invited to write to the societys vice-chairman, Lawrie West-Knights (e-mail: lawrie@west-knights.com).Jeremy Fleming