Small and medium-sized law firms should be included in the government’s National Retraining Scheme and also be allowed to spend apprenticeship levy money on lawtech seats. 

These are among proposals in Chancery Lane’s submission to the Treasury ahead of tomorrow’s budget. As the tenth anniversary of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) act approaches, the Society also calls for the restoration of civil legal aid for early advice. 

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt

Source: Alamy

On education and training, the Society points to data suggesting that the UK is facing a skills gap of about 3 million technology jobs by 2025. Of these, 7,000 are in the legal sector. SME firms should therefore be included in the National Retraining Scheme, which supports adults whose jobs could change because of new technology such as artificial intelligence to develop a new career. Firms should also be allowed to spend apprenticeship levy funds on lawtech seats and training in secondary specialisms.

Chancery Lane also wants to see a new grant scheme, along the lines of Singapore’s Tech-celebrate for law initiative, that would help SME firms pay for new technology. 

Other proposals put to chancellor Jeremy Hunt include an emergency injection of cash at all civil legal aid rates pending the outcome of the civil legal aid review; and more investment in courts staff, judges and maintenance.

 

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