Welcome to the August 2025 edition of the Dye & Durham Docket. As AI tools become a fixture in legal practice, our featured article asks a timely question: Should firms bill for AI-generated legal work—and if so, how?
Also in this edition: the possibility of a legal right to work from home for some Australians, the Canadian Supreme Court’s take on whether a farmer’s thumbs-up emoji sealed a contract, and a sharp, funny piece from a UK lawyer-turned-comedian on the role of comedy in the criminal justice system.
And on a Lighter Note: selfie bans, high heel laws, and other quirky international rules to know before your next vacation.
Featured article
As AI becomes a staple in legal work, firms are grappling with how to fairly bill for AI-generated output. Should it be folded into traditional billing structures—updated billable hours or flat fees—or treated as a separate expense, like a “tech charge”?
This article explores the tension between clients’ expectations and firms’ needs, highlights how some firms approach the issue, and asks whether outdated billing models are holding back legal innovation.
Global news
The Australian scene
While many organizations are introducing return-to-office mandates, Victorians could soon have a legal right to work from home two days a week under the first laws of their kind in Australia.
As the ‘sovereign citizen’ and ‘pseudolaw’ movement continues to test the limits of Australia’s justice system, this analysis explores what the law actually has to say about it.
What's up in Canada?
The Supreme Court dismissed a farmer’s application to appeal a Saskatchewan Court of Appeal ruling that a thumbs-up emoji met signature requirements and formed a legally binding agreement. Read legal experts’ analysis from the time of the original judgment.
As the EU continues its gradual rollout of the AI Act, starting in August 2025, providers of general-purpose AI (GPAI) models will be required to publish a summary of the content used to train those models. Here’s what the change means for AI providers operating in Ireland.
Have you registered for the Law Society’s free course on AI in legal practice? The deadline has been extended to 19 August after a record number of sign-ups.
This piece from lawyer-turned-comedian Abby Rolling offers a funny yet sobering take on the role of comedy in the UK’s criminal justice system.
Quotable: “In the advocates’ room, the public can’t hear you scream.”
From automated court transcription to knowledge-retrieval assistants, the government’s new ‘AI action plan for justice’ outlines how AI will be harnessed to deliver swifter, fairer, and more accessible justice for all.
Dye & Durham in action
We welcomed clients to our Toronto office for an open dialogue about their journey with us, product feedback, and meaningful progress made through our renewed customer-first focus.
We also hosted summer socials in appreciation of customers in some of our key operating regions, including Sydney, Melbourne, London and Vancouver. Keep an eye on your inbox; your city might just be next.
Our GhostPractice team in South Africa helped transform two primary school playgrounds into vibrant spaces where children can dream bigger, play harder, and grow with confidence.
Dye & Durham in the news
Four new senior leaders, including a Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Legal Officer and President of our Canada operations, have joined our executive team, signalling our commitment to continued growth and innovation. Read the full release.
A lighter note
From selfie restrictions to high heel bans, check out Reader’s Digest’s roundup of quirky international laws to know before booking your next vacation.
Thank you for reading this edition of the Dye & Durham Docket. See you next month.
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