Tech could put manners on lawyers

Setting aside my recent sentiments regarding the overuse of technology in social situations, a review of a forthcoming book titled The Future of the Professions aroused my interest. 

The authors are Richard and Daniel Susskind. They have predicted that the input of qualified personnel such as doctors, teachers, architects, lawyers and such like will eventually be superseded by more technological systems.

For example, they have highlighted that a large percentage of legal disputes amongst eBay traders are being resolved without lawyers using online resources which provide empirical data and guiding principles.

While I still value face-to-face interaction with a doctor, or female solicitor the potential usefulness of such a service in certain circumstances is enormous.

Perhaps it could be developed to moderate the outrageous fees paid to our free legal aid teams.

While every human being is entitled to a fair trial, much material presented in court cases seems comparatively uncomplicated.

But clever legal devices are used to prolong trials and raise legal fees as a consequence. Using such a technological approach could save millions, if not billions, of tax payers’ money.

Margaret Humphreys

Ballynaraha

Blarney

Co Cork