Introduction
As a student with a passion for legal tech, one way I believe we can improve legal services over the next ten years is to better support diversity of aspiration for law students.
Clearly most students will not give legal tech a second thought, as they follow down the path of a career as a solicitor or barrister. However, at every university in the country, I am certain there are some students with a passion for law but who are not necessarily passionate about practising it themselves.
Additionally, I can appreciate that the legal tech industry will not necessarily be the answer for all these students. However, with the vast opportunities arising under legal software, solicitor digital marketing, and digital legal aid to name a few; there are some students that will significantly benefit from universities shining a light on the legal tech world.
Methods to increase student legal tech awareness:
- Student-wide digital access is a must for the modern student experience and opening up legal tech opportunities. Whilst this issue will not affect the majority of your enrolled LLB students, there are some for whom it won’t be financially possible to buy digital equipment. This issue has been rectified for the most part with on campus libraries providing digital access, however this can cause problems with availability and the need to be on campus to work. An alternative option would be a free laptop leasing scheme for the academic year.
- Indirect event exposure was a technique my university applied which boosted student legal tech awareness on campus. Purely hosting events on campus relating to legal tech will help to plant a metaphorical seed for students. Students who are interested in the subject will attend benefiting them first hand. Additionally, universities can record the event and post it to their blog/social channels showcasing an awareness of what is going on in the legal world – boosting their attractiveness to potential students.
- Increase accessibility to legal tech events. It is amazing to see legal tech events becoming more and more prominent, especially as a student living outside of London. However, student accessibility to these events needs to be improved going forward. Bar my interactions with the Legal Services Board, all the legal tech events I’ve seen are either priced unsuitably for students or require them to volunteer for free entry. More must be done to encourage an interest from the new generation, as opposed to restricting their access.
- To pique interest in the legal industry, exposing them to complex terms like AI, CSS and Blockchain will not help them want to learn more. Avoid using buzzwords and instead focus on the foundations.
- Prioritise how legal tech can help the law evolve, and how it is benefitting firms in their client interactions.
Legal tech courses
With institutions like the University of Law and Swansea University providing new legaltech modules and courses, it will only increase student legaltech awareness.
Despite the varying opinions online regarding what content should be included in such a course and who should be qualified to teach it, how these universities are making the course available must be commended.
The modules/courses are optional. They are also being made available either in the very last term of the LLB or as a Masters course, both of which allow a student to explore their career options.
How addressing this issue relates to the LSB’s 10-year plan
The software, websites and marketing methods being created by legaltech companies are becoming the face of the law to the public. Today, digital solicitor directories and CMS software are the tools the public use to find legal advice and to keep up to date with their case.
If we want the public to have greater confidence in legal services, the tools these legal service providers are using must be created by people with the same values as solicitors or barristers. Higher education is the place law graduates develop the strong professional ethics and public centred approach that needs to be ensured in ten years’ time.
Conclusion
Hopefully this has provided some insight into how best to increase student legal tech awareness, from a student’s perspective; along with why it must be a necessity for universities. The opinions of this blogpost are formed from personal experience and are purely expressed to act as a guide for what can be done going forward.
If you have any questions on the content of this post and would like to follow up on something, please send me an email: callumgee@lexally.co.uk
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