BLTF 2023 - where is the legal sector now on tech?

A great day and a willing crowd at the British Legal Technology Forum 2023. Key points from me across my keynote and panel:

//Client needs and tolerances have changed. Responsibility is at a premium in society. The call is to remember why we are here in respect of how we think about tech in law.

//We have shifted eras in lawtech. Tech is now fundamental to legal practice and it’s only going one way: #acceleration #postlawtech #competencerequirement

// The cooler tech investment landscape globally is a big feature for the development of lawtech. Internal investment and sophistication in tech and R&D is creeping up though, but still has a way to go to match business averages.

// I’m particularly watching the development of applications addressing knowledge management, risk reduction, contract self fulfilment and behavioural change. Getting a handle on corporate intelligence and risk offers serious competitive advantage and service to the S in ESG. The latter is particularly pertinent with public focus on corporate and institutional misconduct, including the part lawyers play.

// Advances in generative AI (and associated costs reductions) have changed the conversation of what’s possible, but it has also sent people nuts. There is a huge amount of foundational work to do to before we can all go home, including around governance. And ML is not the only tech, e.g. we’re still not even scratching the surface of the utility of DLT and humble process automation.

// Quantum is nowhere near short term but breakthroughs are inevitable. Because of the ability to run multiple steps/properties simultaneously, the most interesting potential use cases in law are around scenario evaluation and risk prediction. Governance is key again here e.g. #thedeathofencryption.

//GCs share data and insights in informal networks at increasing rates. As behaviours change around data and willingness to share increases further, scaling shared access in a compliant way takes on a greater imperative - something there is already architecture for today.

// It would be very cool to have KPIs tracking the complexity, pace, cost and divisiveness (culture) inherent within the legal sector overall. This would enable us to see how far we have to go and be honest about progress.

// Ultimately, technology doesn’t change things, people do. And that’s all of us.

https://lnkd.in/eJmuznpQ

#stayhumble