Episode 79 - Legal Innovation, Tech and Practice in the UK – Making different the new norm?

We’re approaching that point in legal innovation and tech adoption where we can pause, think about the contemporary legal market place, ask and answer some critical questions.  There are few people whose experience in, understanding of, and dedication to legal practice, makes what they have to say important – important because they know what works, what doesn’t, what change needs to happen and why…but more, they’re committed to making “different” work not just to be different but because it’s essential for lawyers to remain relevant…..one of them is Christina Blacklaws, Managing Director, Blacklaws Consulting and former President of the Law Society of England & Wales.

In this episode, we discussed how the legal ecosystem is transforming in the UK and why. It’s a jurisdiction where doing legal practice differently has been at the forefront of a change agenda for a decade or more. There’s lessons to learn, reasons to understand, and the benefit of hindsight, as similar transformation takes hold around the world.

Topics we discussed included:

• The work of LawtechUK and the Legal Schema Project in showcasing legaltech and innovation in the UK (and beyond)
• Who or what is driving the legal change agenda in the UK and why it is different
• The changing focus, depth and breadth of regulation of legal practices and practitioners
• The transformation of legal services and products - globally
• If law schools are doing enough to prepare the next generation of lawyers for contemporary legal practice
• The role of diversity, equity and inclusion in legal innovation

Inspiring from the start to the end - thanks so much, Christina – you do amazing work with amazing dedication and YOU are an amazing human!  

Resource: The Technology and Innovation in Legal Services: Final Report for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (2021) referred to in this episode can be found here.