Lucy Reed, the first law blogger to be cited in a High Court judgment

A barrister at St John's Chambers, Lucy Reed who blogs at Pink Tape, has becomes the first law blogger to be cited in a High Court judgment (see paragraph 27 here). It's also covered here with blog titled, Blogosphere in the Judgosphere.

Adam Wagner - The very definition of a modern lawyer

In his own words:

@tim_forte I am the very definition of a modern full-service barrister
— Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) December 11, 2013

Northern Ireland Bar Conference 2013

Richard Susskind with Brian Spencer at Titanic Belfast.

The Northern Ireland Bar Council conference 'Transforming Legal Practice Through Innovation' (preview here) was headlined by the eminent legal futurist Richard Susskind (@RichardSusskind). Ahead of his keynote address, a number of other esteemed speakers addressed the conference. Here they are in order:

Attorney-General John Larkin began by his address by admitting that he had not been at the forefront of transforming practice. He noted two errors that he and others have made:

One: That technology doesn't matter and we can get along with it. 

Two: Some have idolised technology and technological innovation for its own sake. 

John Larkin elaborated. On the first error made, he said: Those who ignore tech advance will soon realise the error of their ways in the exhaust fumes of their competitors. On the said error made, he said: The second is a subtler risk. Technological advancements for lawyers cannot be an end in itself. It can only be better so long as we can use it to better serve our clients. There is little value in wielding a technological masterpiece if we cannot be sure of its reliability. 

He said finally that: "We lawyers should also be solvers of problems. Seek better solutions. I commend this conference heartily as it takes its first step in that direction."

QUB alumnus and Supreme Court Judge Lord Kerr took to the podium. Lord Kerr began by confession. Until recently he said, "I couldn't think without a pen in my hand, I was a complete Luddite." But Lord Kerr is now a convert and advocate of technology as tool for enhancing justice and the work of legal practitioners.

The Barrister Trade is to be Liberalised

Ever since October 2011 the legal economy in England and Wales has seen some exciting new competitors emerge. Thanks of course to the 'Big Bang' moment brought about by the Legal Services Act 2007 - otherwise known as Tesco Law.

All the while the Barrister trade has remained static (bar a few developments such as Stobbart Barristers and myBARRISTER, an online barrister portal) and as we've seen, under attack from Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling and the Justice Department in Whitehall.