Lawyer and tech expert discusses the benefits and risks that GenAI could bring.

Across the world, police officers, judges, and parole boards are turning to sophisticated algorithmic risk assessments to guide increasingly important decisions. Unknown to many, New Zealand already uses a risk assessment algorithm, the ROC*ROI measure, to assist with sentencing and parole decisions (Colin Gavaghan and others Government Use of Artificial Intelligence in New Zealand (New Zealand Law Foundation, 2019)). This article will assess the use of the ROC*ROI measure from both a normative and practical perspective. This is a difficult task as the arguments for and against risk assessment tools in the criminal justice system are plentiful and, ironically, often cover the same issues: biases, accuracy, consistency, and transparency.

Drafting is essential but can be tedious, time consuming and error prone. How can technology help?

Justice Joseph Williams, in his seminal paper, “Lex Aotearoa: An Heroic Attempt to Map the Māori Dimension in Modern New Zealand Law”, describes New Zealand law in a third stage of evolution.

In a considered judgment spanning 44 pages, Justice Mander yesterday sentenced the Mosque terrorist to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for murdering 51 people, concurrent sentences of 12 years on each of the charges of attempted murder and life imprisonment for committing a terrorist act ([2020] NZHC 2192).

Advertising, party funding, voting age – all of this is governed by electoral law. University of Otago Professor discusses the biggest changes in this space.

Associate Professor Dr. Bridgette Toy-Cronin, a leading advocate for access to justice, discusses her journey in promoting the rule of law

Jaiden Tucker from the University of Otago discusses his paper on Chinese data legislation, and participation in the LexisNexis-sponsored competition

Today’s lawyer must contend with a wide variety of distractions. Context switching, in particular, is mentioned time and time again as one of the most hated time sappers. Carrying out legal work on computers and other internet connected devices brings valuable efficiencies for law firms, not least fast client communication and effortless access to relevant legal intelligence.

Jacqueline So of NZ Lawyer sat down with LexisNexis head of sales, strategic accounts Matt Pedersen to talk the importance of identifying trusted partners who have supported the business through a challenging period, and recognising rebalanced work styles.