How Technology is Changing the Face of Legal Education

By Laura Temme, Esq. on October 22, 2019

In many ways, the tables have turned in the legal profession - putting clients in the driver's seat. Other industries have moved into paperless correspondence, automation, video conferencing, and other technology-based enhancements. Clients use this technology in other aspects of their lives and businesses, so they expect their attorney to follow suit.

Plus, as clients attempt to "do more with less," they want their legal counsel to do the same (no matter how much many of us hate the phrase). Embracing technology will be necessary for many firms to meet the efficiency standards their clients expect. This means the skills needed to master those technologies need to be incorporated into law school curricula.

Meeting Student Expectations

Students enrolling in law school today are already tech-savvy, and they're looking for a legal education to match. In response, several prominent law schools have begun offering certificates in legal technology and innovation. Institutions looking to keep up will likely begin including courses that would have been unheard of ten years ago, such as:

  • Protecting client info through cyber-security
  • Leveraging data analytics
  • Using AI for legal research and document review
  • Smart contracts and blockchain

As these technologies disrupt the status quo in the legal profession, they also create new opportunities. Students interested in both the law and technology can be guided towards careers in legal tech, including creating new technology.

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