Australian practice management system launches in UK
An Australian practice management system has formally launched in the UK at this year’s Legalex Conference. Smokeball is a cloud practice management platform first launched in Australia in 2008 and since then has expanded in to the USA in 2012. It says it now serves 15,000 clients across various practice areas with the ambition to […]
LPA reform receives Royal Assent
Reforms designed to transition the process of creating Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) from a largely paper-based process to a digital one are to be enacted. The Powers of Attorney Act passed its third reading in the House of Lords last week and has today (19th September) received Royal Assent. The updates are in response […]
Tech platforms failing consumers on legacy settings
Research into the legacy provisions of leading tech organisations has revealed that more work must be done to support users, and loved ones of those who die or become incapacitated. Ten major providers have been assessed and scored on a newly released Digital Legacy Scorecard which rates the platform on the extent to which the […]
How Will writing software helps you mitigate risk
Will writing software is designed to support the estate planning professional in drafting documentation. It cuts out admin, precedent research, data re-keying and more. Lightening the administrative load. But importantly, it also helps protect the drafter and their reputation. Contentious probate claims are on the rise, almost doubling in recent years. The supportive, in-built features […]
The Power of AI – We Asked ChatGPT Why Solicitors Should Use Will Writing Software…. Here’s What it Said
ChatGPT is a new chatbot, built by Open AI. It was launched in November 2022 and it’s become very popular in a short amount of time. Users can ask it all sorts of questions and ChatGPT will give succinct and clear answers. Here at Arken, we’ve been testing it out. We asked ChatGPT why it […]
Only 48% of Estate Planning Professionals Received a Low-Risk Exposure Score
Our Risk Exposure Quiz has produced some interesting results so far. The market is changing, contentious probate claims and cyber-attacks are on the rise. So, amid the challenges, we decided to run a short quiz that quickly calculates your businesses exposure to risks in the following areas: Precedents Processes Data and Records Staff Digital Solutions […]
Lawtech 365 launch revolutionary ID verification tech “DynamicID”
Lawtech 365, a premier provider of legal technology, has announced the release of “DynamicID”, a cutting-edge biometrics identity verification software based on NFC technology. Developed in the UK, DynamicID is the most advanced solution of its kind, providing a secure and convenient method for verifying identities online. The technology is currently incorporated as the primary […]
Why you should be using WillSuite’s client portal
Since the official launch of the Connect client facing portal in January 2022, we’ve been busy making improvements and building on user feedback. With that in mind, I thought It would be a great idea to take a deep dive into the portal, best practices and the benefits of incorporating it into your business. Connect is an […]
Improving service delivery in private client
In this latest Today’s Wills and Probate podcast host David Opie is joined by Arken.legal CEO Dave Newick. A “technologist” in an industry where technology adoption has traditionally been slow, Dave shares his thoughts on whether the private client is ready for a technology revolution, or whether it will be more of an evolution. Add […]
Technical Corner: digital assets, personal property law and “data objects”
Technical Corner, 5th August 2022 – Emily Deane TEP, STEP Technical Counsel & Head of Government Affairs The Law Commission of England and Wales published a new consultation paper on 28th July. It seeks views from legal and technology experts in order to examine how existing personal property law should apply to digital assets. The UK […]
Digital probate: a significant step forward?
Joe Cobb, Partner and Head of Department in Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning at JMW Solicitors, offers his view on the challenges faced by the digital probate system, and how it could be improved moving forward in 2022. The UK Government’s digital probate system has developed significantly since its public offering commenced in January 2019. […]
Paper probate applications taking twice as long as digital ones
The latest figures from HM Courts & Tribunals Service have revealed that paper probate applications are sometimes taking more than twice as long as their digital counterparts. In May, the probate service performance figures show that digital applications took 13.5 weeks when stopped and 4.1 weeks without stops. In the same period, paper applications took […]
LexisNexis Bellwether Report: legal tech is dividing firms
Many small law firms are thinking big when it comes to the tech they need to see them through another period of profound change. But the latest research from LexisNexis’ Bellwether report shows that 47% say they have no plans to invest in any technology at all. Today, LexisNexis Legal & Professional released the 10th […]
Digital legacies: the state of affairs
Dr Ritesh Chugh of Central Queensland University, Australia, says you should “prominently engage in planning for your digital legacy”. A digital legacy may sound like a term used only by those of the technological avant-garde, but to many practitioners it is a very real issue – and Parliament is taking notice. According to the Digital […]
Digital go-live for subject access requests
Requests for personal information can now be made through a new digital service. A new digital service allowing individuals to request personal information is now available which aims to improve the user experience for subject access requests (SARs). The process allows individuals to request information held by the Legal Aid Agency and other parts of […]
Video Will Witnessing: What happens next?
The Law Society of England and Wales has launched a survey to inform its response to future consultations on extending the witnessing of wills via video beyond the end of January 2022. In July 2020 the Ministry of Justice announced that temporary legislation would be enacted to legalise the witnessing of wills via video in […]
Will-making is about to go back in time to 1837
Changes to the law due to come into effect in January are set to transport the world of wills and probate back in time to 1837. No, not 1987; all the way back to 1837. Let me explain. The Covid pandemic saw an increase in Will writing demand but social distancing rules, shielding and self-isolation […]
Alpha Legal has been updated – it’s a big one!
The latest Alpha Legal update is now live and it’s a big one! Look out for: a new Meeting Planner to help you to find a suitable time to meet your clients – ideal for Trustee meetings, for example, where there are many attendees, all with busy diaries! Zapier integration so that you can automatically send forms […]
Lead generator back by UK Private Equity House
A Manchester-headquartered law firm lead generator has secured funding to support the growth of the business as it looks to strengthen its market position both organically and via acquisition. mmadigital already captures more online leads than any other provider in the UK legal marketplace and boasts more than 70 law firm clients. Launched in 2016, […]
HMRC investigates 3,574 IHT accounts in bid to claw back revenue
Law firm Pinsent Masons confirms that HMRC opened 3,574 investigations into Inheritance Tax (IHT) in 2020-21 resulting in £254 million in revenue. The firm also revealed that more people are now filing their own returns rather than seeking professional IHT advice in a bid to cut down expenses. But with more scope for error, HMRC […]