The Law Society has called on criminal law firms to embrace electronic working, as the Crown Prosecution Services seeks to become completely digital by April 2012.

Both bodies want to see more firms sign up to use secure email, to enable information to be shared between prosecutors and defence lawyers quickly and safely, and to increase efficiency within the criminal justice system.

In some fraud and terrorism cases the CPS already uses email to serve correspondence, applications and evidence.

In future, it aims to routinely use email to serve prosecution papers and evidence on the defence lawyers in magistrates' court cases, which could enable some problems to be resolved electronically and reduce the number of court hearings.

Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer QC said: ‘All professionals work electronically and securely on personal issues at home, whether it is booking a holiday or paying their road tax.

‘We should be working that way in the office. The CPS is moving towards the widespread use of digital prosecution case files by 2012, and I am delighted the Law Society, a key CPS partner in the criminal justice system, is supporting the use of secure electronic working by its members.’

Law Society President Linda Lee said Chancery Lane supports the use of secure email to improve communication in the criminal justice system.

She said: ‘The Law Society will continue to address practical issues, such as the use of technology within prisons, but the potential benefits of using secure email throughout the process, from first listing to archiving, cannot be underestimated.’