The practice and technology (eDRS)
John West Hendriks writes:
Not too long ago, an early morning at the office was met with clattering of the typebars from the typewriters, hitting down hard on the paper that was fed by our capable staff, tending to amendments of documents that could not be electronically amended. The work was precise and quick and the required skills amazing.
Today the skills, as amazing as in the past, shifted to an understanding of electronics and software, all dependent on internet providers and software companies. These software companies gradually presented solutions to the legal fraternity and eventually to our clients directly. Before long, they found themselves as the middleman between our clients and ourselves, especially our corporate clients.
In a world where the wheel has already been invented, making it turn quicker equates to cost effectiveness. This, of course, being the focus of these software experts and automation is a great tool to achieve these goals. Unfortunately, the unforeseen affect is that a reduced staff compliment is required to do the same work. To date, BMH Inc has been fortunate enough to adapt and expand to adhere to our social responsibility and to retain staff during these changing times, despite the economic pressure and corporate tendencies and despite being regularly approached by software companies with attractive solutions for decreasing our staff compliment.
Recently, the Chief Registrar has invited lawyers’ participation in the implementing of the Electronic Deed Registry System (eDRS), which I can only presume, is similarly introduced with the intent to simplify, and ease the formal registration procedure. In my opinion this can also lead to reduced staff compliments and definitely affect peoples’ positions at legal practices who tend to physical registration of deeds at the various deeds offices.
As much as I appreciate the reasons for such initiatives, it is my view that the social economic responsibilities should outweigh these benefits. In a country with unemployment as high as ours, economic and corporate effectiveness should be balanced with government and corporate socio-economic responsibilities.
In our country, increasing effectiveness and profit should not equate to position redundancy and government especially, should take this into consideration.
We shall advise of all progress relating to the intended eDRS system.
