Filling the Technology Gap in the Legal Sector : The Need for Future Training
This article is part 3 of 3.
- Christina Blacklaws
- November 16, 2020
- Armand Chateau
In our threefold article, Filling the Technology Gap in the Legal Sector, we analyze the current landscape of the technology gap in the legal sector. Read the first part on why investment is key here and the second part on the demand for new skills here.
This third and last part ends with the need for future training which answers the demand for new skills, and which is why the Legal Technology and Innovation Certificate (LTIC) was created to bring a breadth of understanding and engagement to legal practitioners around the world to enable them to engage fully with all relevant technology.
The recognition that lawyers need to develop new skills brought about by technology implies a need for training to develop these new skills and drive adoption of technology.
Research indicates that this is something legal professionals are well aware of, and that they are not reluctant to undertake training. On the contrary, the LawTech Adoption and Training Report (a joint University of Oxford and Law Society of England and Wales research which surveyed qualified solicitors across England and Wales) found that when asked about their anticipated technology training needs in the next 3 years, a clear majority of respondents (90%) indicated that they would need training in at least one area.
Looking forward, survey respondents were generally keener to undertake training in technology and innovation-related issues, and four-fifths said that productivity at their organisation would improve if lawyers were trained further in how to use new technology.
Nevertheless, the survey found that training remains low amongst solicitors.
Only half of respondents had undertaken any form of lawtech training in the past three years, with training in specific software packages the single most popular option (38%). The majority of respondents, therefore, had received no generic training in skills relevant to new technologies in the previous 3 years. For example, 71% of respondents said they anticipated the need for future training in data analytics – compared with 3% who had already received such training.
A total of 44% of survey respondents said they would be interested in receiving training in innovation techniques, compared with the 7% who had done so within the past three years. Time must be invested in training as it is the answer to both students’ and legal professionals’ lack of technology skills, and ultimately the way to adopting technology successfully in law firms and legal departments.
The role of the Legal Technology and Innovation Certificate (LTIC)
The Legal Technology and Innovation Certificate (LTIC) will enable legal professionals to engage fully with all relevant technology. Its aim is precisely to address the lack of information, understanding and training of legal professionals not only by equipping them with the right skill set, but also by offering the experience of its implementation.
Indeed, the course, heavily focused on hands-on practicals, will enable participants to deep dive into real use cases as a way to bridge the gap between theory and practice. This will enable the participants to acquire substantial hands-on skills across a broad range of technologies.
The LTIC covers all the key areas of technology relevant to legal professionals, including those which were found to need the most training, such as Big Data & Analytics, Cyber Security, Blockchain, eDiscovery, and many more.
Unrestricted by geography, the LTIC will help create a global legal technology community to house discussions and allow faculty and international participants to connect and expand their network. The LTIC will also constitute a platform enabling access to a global ecosystem, whereby you have a global faculty comprising some of the best legal and technology experts.
This international presence will be supported by global partners across Law Societies, Bar Associations, technology firms and academia, which will help towards building global coverage and taking a huge step in establishing a global benchmark in learning.
Legal Technology & Innovation Certificate
The LTIC has now run two cohorts since launching in November 2020,
We delivered the Full Programme to the Pilot Cohort from February-July 2020, followed by the first cohort of the Accelerated Programme In July/August 2021.
We are thrilled to be commencing our second Full LTIC Programme in October 2021.
Visit the LTIC Page Here to explore the most up to date information on the modules available, the faculty, partners, and Legal Lab opportunities.
If you would like to reach out specifically for the LTIC, please email at info@lti.institute.