New innovation and technology hub set to tackle the future of law and the legal profession

24 November 2017

Two new strategic alliances between UNSW and each of Allens and the Law Society of NSW will aim to tackle some of the increasingly complex challenges presented by digital and other technological transformations and its impact on lawyers, law and the legal system.

The Allens Hub for Technology, Law & Innovation will sit within the UNSW Faculty of Law and work closely with staff from leading law firm Allens to explore the many disruptions facing the legal system now and into the future such as the reliance on data-driven decision-making, new kinds of biological, artificial and legal 'persons', and threats to cyber security.

The Law Society of NSW will collaborate with UNSW to generate a separate stream of research to consider and respond to the recent questions raised by the Law Society's ground-breaking The Future of Law and Innovation in the Profession (FLIP) report, surrounding the future of the legal industry in the digital age.

Associate Professor Lyria Bennett Moses, whose world leading research explores the relationship between technology and law, will lead 21 academics as the newly appointed Director, and says the Hub will help the university to undertake crucial research in this increasingly important area of law and legal practice, and leverage the findings to better equip legal institutions and law students with the knowledge and skills they will need in the future.

"Legal systems all over the world are already working hard to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technological changes happening in our societies. Coming together to consider the kinds of technologies that will shape the environments in which we live and how they will impact the laws and governance of our communities is an important first step in addressing these challenges," Assoc. Professor Bennett Moses said.

UNSW Law's Professor Michael Legg, a member of the Law Society of New South Wales Future Committee, who has a long history of research in the impact of technology on litigation and dispute resolution, will lead the FLIP Stream of research within the Hub exploring some of the questions and issues raised in the Law Society's FLIP report, including cutting edge issues such as artificial intelligence and the practice of law, technological solutions to access to justice, unbundling of legal services and alternative fee arrangements.

"Technology presents both challenges and opportunities for the legal profession.  Consideration needs to be given to how the legal profession and legal system will evolve while preserving core social and legal values, rights and protections," Professor Michael Legg said, "The $250k per annum over five years from the Law Society will hugely benefit the legal system by aiming to provide answers to some the questions posed in the FLIP report."

Professor George Williams AO, Dean, UNSW Law said the benefits and opportunities for students, the university and industry that would flow from the new Hub and FLIP Stream were enormous.

"This is incredibly important and necessary work that will have an impact upon some of the most important debates facing the community and the legal profession. The key is driving meaningful change and policy development for the real world.

"I would like to thank Allens and the Law Society of NSW for their generous sponsorship which will see UNSW Law continue to set the standard for Australian legal education, research and public engagement," Professor Williams said.

Anna Collyer, Partner and Head of Innovation at Allens, said the firm was delighted to be working with UNSW on this market-leading work to address the impact of disruption on the legal system.

"Technological advancements are causing significant disruption at all levels of our economy, with the law in many cases unable to keep up with the pace of change. We are seeing major impacts on the regulatory landscape, the challenges faced by our clients and the way lawyers do their work," Ms Collyer said.

"The response of the law and lawyers to innovation will play a huge role in defining the benefits Australian businesses derive from new technologies and ways of working. It is essential that the law strikes the right balance between helping and hindering in this period of disruption.

"We look forward to connecting academic thought leadership with the insights and experience of our clients."

Chief Executive Officer at The Law Society of New South Wales Michael Tidball said technology was speeding up the drive for greater efficiency in the practice of law and legal services as well as making access to justice easier, cheaper and more effective.

"The development of low-cost or free solutions will also resonate with future generations including Millennials who turn to the digital world first for products, services and support," Mr Tidball said

President of The Law Society of New South Wales Pauline Wright said technology could be deployed to fill the "access to justice gap" for vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the community, including Indigenous people and those living in rural, regional and remote areas.

"Supporting initiatives like this are important to ensure that any innovative new solutions embody ethics and design principles that are premised on improving access to justice for the needy," Ms Wright said

For more information, including research and study opportunities, visit - www.allenshub.unsw.edu.au

For more information on the Report on the Commission of Inquiry into the Future of Law and Innovation in the Profession, visit - The Law Society of NSW - FLIP