Welcome back to the Dye & Durham Docket! Those of us in the northern hemisphere are in the dead of winter, and therefore very envious of our Australian and South African colleagues — and Docket readers — as they enjoy summer. Raise a cold drink to us while sitting on a sunny patio, please! And take a moment to read about the latest news and developments in legal technology and other issues pertinent to legal professionals around the world. 

Featured articles

A legal scholar explains how the law profession can avoid ethical disasters as it embraces AI. Spoiler alert: It’s all about oversight and regulations. 

Read Dye & Durham’s 2024 strategy for law firms and legal professionals on how to capitalize on both the opportunities and challenges the year presents.  

Related: Here’s how legal technology can be an essential part of any successful law firm’s operations. 

Industry News and Trends

Law firms traditionally measure productivity via billable hours, but should they? Don’t miss this insightful piece on new and probably better ways to gauge productivity. 

International law firms are racing to obtain local licences and set up offices in Saudi Arabia after the country amended its Code of Law Practice. 

Is your law firm struggling to make the most of social media? Here’s a guide on how to do it right by a respected social media guru. 

Global news and trends

The Australian scene

A growing number of big Australian law firms are launching what are known as cadetship programs in an effort to reverse the longtime underrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in the country’s legal industry. 

A former New South Wales chief justice will review state laws on regulating incitement to violence. 

What's up in Canada?

February is Black History Month. Read about what the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers achieved in 2023 in terms of justice reform advocacy — and how it’s intending to keep up the momentum this year. 

Here’s the latest update on comings and goings at Canadian law firms. 

The Irish Market

Entries for Dye & Durham’s Irish Law Awards are now open! The deadline is April 5, so get your entries in! 

Good news for Irish real estate lawyers: House prices are continuing to climb in Ireland. 

The scene in South Africa

South African law firm Webber Wentzel has expanded and rebranded its legal technology division as Webber Wentzel Fusion. The change is aimed at creating value for clients. 

What's up in the UK?

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office has found British law firms are falling victim to data breaches primarily because of insider threats and human error. 

A British law firm’s “switch on/switch off” program allows lawyers to book time off that represents a portion of their annual billable hour requirement. Read how it works here — and how it’s enhancing work-life balance for employees. 

Dye & Durham in Action

Our Canadian Pulse Report has found fewer than one-in-10 Canadians believe a recession can be avoided in 2024. Yet the results suggest they’re also impatient with the state of the housing market and eager to buy in, regardless of concerns about the economy.   

Our Australian Pulse Report, meantime, has found that Australians’ enthusiasm for selling their homes to buy new ones hasn’t been affected by rising interest rates or concerns about an economic slowdown.  

Dye & Durham in the news

The insights of both Chief Operating Officer Martha Vallance and Chief of Product David Nash were featured in media coverage of the Canadian Pulse Report. 

A lighter note 

Now that’s an enticing slide deck: This Irish firm has installed a big yellow slide to attract new employees and emphasize the importance of having fun at work. 

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