Perhaps you’ve heard of fully electronic courtrooms and hearing rooms, like those being developed in Singapore and the UK? Or did you know that the first integrated, shared-system hearing rooms in the U.S. were launched this year in Miami and New York? Meaningful technological innovation in legal proceedings is finally beginning to emerge, and the potential is limitless. Here are some major trends to look for:
1. Easy-to-configure, “pop-up” technology will play a big role, acting as a testing ground for more permanent installations of electronic trial and hearing infrastructure: Cloud computing is known for its flexibility and easy configurability, and that’s already driving the introduction of paperless technology in courtrooms and hearings facilities. “Plug-and-play” systems are now beginning to appear in support of international arbitrations, often driven by large and complex cases where lawyers and witnesses are videoconferencing from diverse locations across the globe, where multiple languages are involved, and where participants need reliable access to real-time transcriptions as the case proceeds.
