Posted by The Law School
4 June 2025The Futures Group of the Civil Justice Council co-chaired by Professor Sue Prince, alongside Professor Liz Smart from Birmingham City University have published their first report, āDigital Disadvantageā. The Report considers the need for digital assistance at a time when digital development is being prioritised over paper-based or court-based legal processes.
The ambition of the work is to think about how we can develop a shared language about what is meant by digital disadvantage for those who find the courts hard to navigate. The researchers agreed there is no universally acceptable definition of digital disadvantage and instead argue for a language of inclusion as being more appropriate and to focus on what we mean by inclusive design principles for those bringing cases before the courts.
The Report makes 5 recommendations: a focus on inclusion; to recognise the evolving nature of digital development and to consider how success should be measured; to encourage system design concentrated on data collection; to work in partnership with stakeholders and users and to deliver public legal education where possible.
Professor Sue Prince said,
At a time of huge change in the justice system we are keen to encourage a positive focus on inclusion rather than using the more negative language of digital disadvantage.Ā This brings with it a series of actions to articulate access to justice for everyone as an explicit element of digital design.