A drive to develop the use of IT in Scotland’s criminal justice system will cut the number of miles solicitors need to travel to meet with clients, according to the Scottish Government.
The administration has recently developed its Making Justice Work programme, which it says will draw together a range of reforms across criminal, civil and tribunal justice.
The goal is to ensure the justice system better meets the needs of those it serves through a series of improvements to make it fairer, more accessible, cost effective and effi cient.
A government spokeswoman told Connect that the use of video conferencing will transform the way lawyers can communicate with clients.
She said: “Making Justice Work is one of the areas of work which is facilitating change across the justice system to ensure it is fair and accessible, cost effective and effi cient, particularly in terms of IT and other technology.
“Justice partners are working on a number of initiatives including the Court Door Listing’s Pilot and also the use of video conferencing, a benefi t of which could be a reduction in the estimated fi ve million miles solicitors travel every year to meet their clients.”