Students who wish to become a legal practitioner are encouraged to consider alternative pathways into the profession rather than pursuing entry via the customary graduate programs.  These programs are inundated with applicants and it is becoming increasingly difficult for graduands to obtain employment in traditional roles. Obtaining technological skills provides an opportunity to improve employment prospects in a turbulent environment.

Digital disruption has transformed publishing, the transport sector, media, retail, and financial services. The Head of School Professor Michael Adams has stated in his commentary on The Future of Work: Legal Profession that ‘[as] we look to the future: the next three to five years we will start to see, as we are across a lot of industries, new technologies, predominantly around Blockchain which enable through the computer connections to verify accurately trusted information.’ In the near future it will be expected that graduates are at least technology-literate and preferably have some practical experience with technology.

Artificial intelligence and automation are pushing graduates out of traditional roles such as due diligence and legal research. For example, the Ross Intelligence Program can identify and provide a ranked list of cases relevant to a fact scenario or legal issue.  Moreover, platforms are being developed which will produce do-it-yourself wills, conveyancing documents, trust deeds, superannuation fund documents, and commercial contracts.

As those platforms are developed they will enable individuals to bypass lawyers and take care of many of their own legal requirements. Over a short space of time it is likely that individuals will become very comfortable with using online legal services that do not involve human oversight. Furthermore, automated processes are more efficient than humans and can operate twenty four hours a day, seven days a week

However, while artificial intelligence and automation may provide efficiency benefits with low value repetitive tasks, they cannot replace homo sapiens (‘wise man’) in all areas. Kindness, empathy and concern for client distress cannot be provided by robots.  Litigation involving disputed facts will require human judgement as artificial intelligence is incapable of delivering objective analysis and evaluation of oral evidence, demeanour and body language. A divergence from precedent in light of changing societal values requires human creativity. Accordingly, human supremacy will endure with regards to interpretation, compassion, judgement, and imagination.

Technology is transforming the practice of law with lawyers advising on cyber security risk management, data breach policy and legal response plans, the societal impact of artificial intelligence, the regulatory considerations of machine learning, and privacy management. In legal practise technology is infiltrating and transforming case management, reporting analytics, workflow, delegation and back-fill of staff, acquiring new clients, document drafting, client interviews, and prioritisation of matters.

Some legal services may vanish, others may become automated but new opportunities will arise. In the face of technological change, skills such as coding, block chain application, and automation governance can complement a traditional law degree and open job opportunities in areas such as legal project management, data analytics, practice management software development, and online legal services.

It is uncertain exactly what lies ahead for law graduates. However, what is clear is that change and innovation will continue at an ever increasing pace. Transformation has begun and more is on its way. No legal argument will stop the rate or status of change.

About the author

Dr Kip Werren
Lecturer & Course Coordinator
School of Law