As barristers embrace technology, it is a brave new world for their clerks

Maxine Evers, Philippa Ryan

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Clerks are the laws middlemen: organising, negotiating and fixing their barristers professional and personal commitments. They belong to one of the smallest occupational groups in the world. This article explores how technology has changed the way barristers work over the past 60 years. It will describe how chambers were run in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, by way of comparison with modern sets. It will examine the technologies that have made the biggest impact on the role of the barristers clerk. In particular, the functionality of hand-held devices, including mobile telephony, email and the internet has given barristers more autonomy than ever. In order to survive, and more importantly, to thrive in all this disruption, clerks need to reinvent themselves. Finally, this article will highlight some of the technologies being embraced by tech-savvy clerks; who are redefining their role and securing their place in chambers for years to come.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)350-366
    JournalAustralian Bar Review
    Volume42
    Publication statusPublished - 2016

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