V Mathivanan, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Network Services Pte Ltd (SNS), provides us with a brief look into how technology will improve legal practice for lawyers.
Information Technology (IT) is one of the most important enabling tools in today’s society. From electronic commerce to online entertainment, IT is making its presence felt in a big way to re-engineer the various business processes for organisations.
Today, the legal profession has begun to embrace technology and integrate it into their practice in a variety of ways.
Lawyers are already employing an exciting array of technological tools in their profession, from e-mail to the Internet, from customised client management solutions to multimedia presentations and litigation web sites.
Though some of these IT tools or their uses may be new, the end result has been and always will be the same: to help lawyers in improving their practice and to satisfy clients’ needs.
Reaping the Benefits
Lawyers have long used computers to store and search through vast quantities of textual information. They have also increasingly explored mechanisms for storing higher forms of legal knowledge. Expert systems and other artificial intelligence technologies are but some examples of how lawyers are looking to ‘bottle up’ their knowledge assets for future use by themselves or others.
Also, while the profession has a strong ethos of public service, like in any industry, the public’s expectations often exceed some lawyers’ actual contributions.
Knowledge-based legal systems would play a key role in helping lawyers to carry out their professional responsibility to assist those who are unable to afford legal services and to educate the community about legal matters.
In addition, technology can also be used to filter and digest large volumes of complex information, reducing the information overload that can otherwise overwhelm some practice areas. Malpractice concerns about over-specialisation, carelessness, or disorganisation are also, to some extent, allayed.
By handling the mechanical routines that exist in some aspects of almost every kind of law practice, computers offer lawyers the opportunity to pursue a higher degree of interesting work, thus relieving the tedium and boredom of routine.
The Changing Profession
It is no longer necessary for a client to benefit at the expense of a lawyer, or vice versa, because computer technology offers ‘win-win’ solutions.
The near future looks set to bring on more regular videoconferencing, electronic treatises, legal ‘information refineries’, special and general purpose consultative expert systems and document assembly engines.
The traffic of legal ideas and information among lawyers and non-lawyers is also becoming increasingly robust over high-speed networks. All these developments can contribute to substantially better legal services at significantly lower cost to a broader spectrum of clients.
Singapore is the first country in the world to implement the mandatory electronic filing of a wide range of documents used in civil litigation proceedings.
The recent introduction of Phase 1.2 of the Electronic Filing System (EFS) developed by Singapore Network Services Pte Ltd (SNS) paves the way for the world’s first nation-wide paperless court system.
EFS aims to revolutionise the conduct of civil litigation through its facilities for electronic filing, electronic extracts, electronic service of documents and the provision of electronic information services.
The introduction of court hearings in an electronic environment also frees lawyers from the logistical burden of managing physical files such as tracking, moving and storing them.
Scope of EFS
When fully implemented, EFS will offer the following four services to law firms and the public: Electronic Filing Service, Electronic Extract Service, Electronic Service of Documents Service and Electronic Information Service.
It is set to come online in several phases.
In March 2000, Phase 1.2 of EFS was introduced and the filing of court documents electronically to the Supreme Court and the Subordinate Courts was made compulsory. Within the scope of Phase 1.2 are all proceedings commenced by a writ of summons, including all applications and proceedings brought under or arising from such proceedings, but excluding:
The purpose of the EFS, when completed, will offer benefits such as:
With EFS, it is easier to implement restricted access.
By filing documents electronically, the legal community will derive time and cost savings including reduced paper flow, lesser duplication of paper documents, reduced paper storage when used in conjunction with an office management system, and quick, efficient and remote transmission of information and documents.
In addition, EFS aims to benefit the public with a faster turnaround of court replies and better quality legal services as law firms work more efficiently and effectively, and in a seamless manner with the Supreme Court and the Subordinate Courts.
To complement the launch of Phase 1.2, the two LawNet service bureaux offer electronic filing services for law firms that have yet to implement the IT system.
With EFS enhancing the national legal framework, Singapore’s global leadership position in the application and innovative use of IT is reinforced.
V Mathivanan
Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Network Services
Pte Ltd