Society's LawscotTech scheme will team solicitors with IT experts

A scheme to encourage lawyers and IT experts to join forces to develop technology-based solutions for the legal sector has been launched by the Law Society of Scotland.

The Society is launching LawscotTech to stimulate legal technology innovation in Scotland which will deliver practical benefits for those working in the justice and legal sectors and their clients. The scheme will provide support from concept stage through to taking a product or service to market.

Solicitors will be encouraged to articulate the challenges they face and collaborate with technology firms, the academic community and other Scottish businesses to design new solutions. The Society will support the most promising concepts and work with those involved to deliver them to the market.

A number of events will be held around Scotland to which solicitors and technology companies will be invited. Dates are to be announced.

Paul Mosson, executive director of Member Services & Engagement at the Society, explained: “We think there is enormous potential to develop technology-based solutions specifically for the legal sector. There have been great strides made in ‘fintech’ and we think there is scope to look at how we can use technology to resolve issues which are particular to lawyers and legal work.

“There has been huge change within the legal sector and it’s no longer enough to have an in-depth knowledge of black letter law. Solicitors want to excel at running their business and provide high quality service for their clients. By creating an environment which supports innovative thinking and provides a mechanism to develop tech-based solutions specifically for the legal sector, we will be able to drive innovation which benefits Scottish solicitors and their clients.”