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Fadelah Al Sabah
Keywords: Computer Science, Computing and Society, Law, Law and technology, science, communication
I. INTRODUCTION
Digital technologies are transforming the legal system and the debate surrounding “legal tech” often drifts into the realm of “robo-judges” and “robo-lawyers,” which leaves many questions unanswered. David Engstrom is the LSVF Professor in Law and Co-Director of the Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession at Stanford University. With his book, Legal Tech and the Future of Civil Justice, he has stepped in to narrow the focus to here and now. Engstrom’s “Legal Tech and the Future of Civil Justice” is a breath of fresh air in a discourse clouded with speculative musings about the future. As an accomplished scholar, a seasoned litigator, and a renowned expert in law and technology, Engstrom’s insights are grounded in a wealth of experience. This book ventures beyond the abstract and provides an in-depth exploration of the immediate and intermediate effects of digital technologies on litigation and access to justice. Engstrom dives into the most pressing questions: What are the limits and possibilities of legal tech within the constraints of regulation, organisation, and technology? How will these innovations impact lawyers, litigants, and procedural rules? Importantly, how will technology either expand or limit access to justice, and what changes in judicial administration are needed to ensure a balanced technological evolution that opens courthouse doors for all? Engstrom’s empirically minded approach not only demystifies the digital transformation of the legal system but also offers concrete, practical advice for navigating this ever-changing landscape.
