Nicolaas Vinckier agrees: “Take the average lawyer. It may be a stereotype, but she`s not the most innovative person. I would say it is rather conservative. And I dare say that`s the problem, not the ethics that are often used as an excuse for not complying. We have had many examples in the past where ethics have been adapted to reality. Kristiaan Markey also believes that the rules of ethics do not hinder innovation and legal tech. “Much is possible as long as the core values of our profession are respected: the independence of the lawyer, solicitor-client privilege, the prevention of conflicts of interest and the quality of legal services. And let`s face it: in some ways, most lawyers are already using legal technology, so why not make sure there`s a solid framework in place? Hoewel advocaten het nut van technologie inzien, is een andere conclusie echter dat het gros technisch niet goed is onderlegd. For example, 69% of law firms expect big data and predictive analytics to impact their organization, but only 22% understand these technologies well. In addition, only 36% of law firms believe they are very well prepared in the area of essential technologies, among other things. In addition, legal services want to ensure that the selected firm meets their needs, specializes in types of services, demonstrates efficiency and productivity, and provides employees with the right tools. The survey shows that less than a third of law firms fully meet these requirements.

Arnoud Engelfriet, an ICT lawyer (photo), believes that it is up to him, among other things, to dispel myths about legal technology. Hij schrijft al twintig jaar over technologie en zijn site iusmentis.com wordt door zoekmachines vaak bovenaan geplaatst op het scherm van degene die naar onderwerpen op het raakvlak van technologie en recht zoekt. As is often the case, innovation comes from pain. As a result, technological solutions are being developed. Nevertheless, all panelists agree: technology will never be the lawyer`s core business. The legal profession is evolving, as are many others. And while lawyers need to embrace technology, that doesn`t mean they have to become legal tech players themselves. “I don`t think we should start developing everything ourselves. Henchman and other legal tech startups can achieve economies of scale by gathering information from different law firms,” says Valgaeren. Young law students don`t need to learn how to code, but they do need to learn how legal technology can help them improve their services.

Over the past year, the employment lawyer has become an important voice within the Bar Association on the subject of Legal Tech. She wants to change the way lawyers think, because just like Engelfriet, she still sees a lot of absurd stories. “There will be no hologram that continues to speak. It`s about constantly asking yourself what a certain innovation means for your practice and your clients,” says van Kranenburg. “The future is already here, it`s just unevenly distributed,” science fiction author William Gibson once wrote. His insight fits perfectly with the current state of legal technology. There are many things happening, there are wonderful inventions (often still without users or for non-existent problems) and above all many questions. We are a technology-driven company. We are really integrating software into the legal profession, the first in the Netherlands. We are your business partner for transactions, contracts and strategic consulting. But if you`re still getting job satisfaction as a lawyer by creating a new contract, you need an upgrade quickly, Engelfriet says. Above all, legal tech could do something to bridge the gap between the legal profession`s offer and the specific demand of the client: “Many clients do not need adaptation at all.

After filling in the variables and facts, a standard contract can work well in many cases after a small adjustment. Think about demand-driven decision systems, make a structured record, and then look at the analysis with potential scenarios. Such standardized filtering already makes sense for AI. “Our platform is revolutionary for the legal industry,” says Van de Pol-Mensing. “Not only because we use the latest technology, but also because the interface was developed specifically for the litigant. This is how Uncover brings lawyers to the digital top. Our goal is to become a globally recognized name in the legal profession. “Henchman and other legal tech startups can bring economies of scale. – Erik Valgaeren The independent and continuous validation of the results and the defensibility of the automated process is one of the most important parts of the entire process.

By taking a sample and verifying it by experienced specialists or lawyers, the quality of the process can be continuously monitored. In addition, it is important to properly document the underlying steps and decision-making moments of the automated process and record them via an audit trail and detailed reports. Learn more about the justifiable use of AI in legal processes. Our lawyers have worked for leading law firms, regulators and innovative companies. On the other hand, most clients expect lawyers to work faster, more efficiently and more cost-effectively, while adding real value.