TECHNOLOGY AND THE LAW – FUTUREPROOF YOUR LEGAL CAREER
standardised product at a fixed price. PLS enhance access to justice by assisting people with legal problems at a more affordable price point than bespoke legal advice. A fantastic example of a free PLS is the “Dividing Fences App” from Subiaco Justice Centre which helps people resolve dividing fence issues with their neighbours.
• Increased demand for legal advice on new and emerging technology e.g. AI, smart legal contracts, blockchain, 3D printing, digital Senior Legal Counsel assets like Non Fungible Tokens, autonomous vehicles, internet of things, cryptocurrency and Chevron Australia cyber security. Welcome to the Fourth Industrial Fantastic news - an exciting, intellectually Revolution, where technological development is challenging legal career awaits you! fast outpacing the law. As new lawyers you’ll spend more time on higher level strategic legal analysis than any previous • Legal advice and services focused on a positive client experience and delivered in new and generation, all because of tech! The repetitive, unique ways to meet the needs of the client (e.g. routine (aka dull) legal work is increasingly being use of interactive decision trees, automated flow undertaken by technology. Happily, that means charts, and enhanced graphic design elements you’ll be liberated from the routine to focus on such as attractive colour palettes, fonts and the type of complex legal problem solving which icons). This is called Human Centred Design. attracted clever people like yourselves to the law in Legal Careers may include new roles in: the first place.
SCHELLIE-JAYNE PRICE
So, the practice and business of law is changing • Legal Operations: optimising the delivery of legal services through more efficient processes, – fast. And while it’s impossible to predict exactly capturing cost efficiencies and deploying how things will develop in the future, it is certain to technology. Legal Operations roles are available be very different to the past. Here’s a preview of in law firms and organisations with in-house what’s already on the horizon: legal departments (Government, Not-For-Profit, • Lawyers routinely use increasingly sophisticated Business). technology to automate tasks, generate insights and predict outcomes. In particular, Data • Legal Innovation: rethinking the delivery of legal advice and services using problem solving skills, Analytics and Machine Learning, a type of off the shelf technologies and legal automation AI where systems learn autonomously from expertise. Legal Innovation roles are available information and experience, will be deployed in law firms, organisations with in-house legal by lawyers in new and unique ways to deliver departments, legal start-ups and legal tech faster, better, more cost effective legal services providers. Top tip: zeitgeist savvy lawyers are and to gain deep insights into the legal market continuously on a journey of legal innovation! and potential new business opportunities. • Lawyers (even those without coding experience) • Legal Tech Start-Ups and Legal App development roles: building apps to support lawyers or build their own legal apps using low code creating productised legal services. and no code platforms. This is called Citizen Development and in the future, more legal apps • New and Emerging Technology Legal Practice: will be built by lawyer citizen developers than understanding new and emerging technology. professional coders. Working with clients as partners on product development. Advising on legal considerations • Burgeoning market of Productised Legal Services and compliance under existing laws and ethical (PLS). PLS are offered, typically online, as a 214
