What does it mean to have a Career in Legal Tech?

In the last decade, the world around us has witnessed several drastic changes. Technology has steadily been the biggest player throughout these times. With it transforming the way we think, learn, work and express ourselves; every aspect of life has been shaken, stirred and rocked sideways a multiple number of times. But it is important to remember that while change is inevitable, personal growth is a choice. And the legal world is no exception to this rule. While there are many merits to the traditional safety of old-school law practices; there is no denying that law is evolving. And as the industry moves into the future, as more and more practices embrace the benefits of technology-based solutions, new opportunities and new legal roles are bound to emerge.

One such well of opportunities is the recent boom in Legal and Justice Technology. No longer is Legal Tech seen as a disruptor of the practice; but rather it has now become a vital tool that enables, enhances and facilitates a much more productive practice of the law. While Justice Tech on the other hand has made it possible for common people to directly access legal expertise, products, services – in short, access justice directly by themselves. What both these phenomena have in common is the use of technology, yes; but also the efforts of knowledgeable, skilled and tech-savvy legal minds.

The acceptance of legal and justice tech-based solutions into the larger practice of law has paved the way for many more legal expertise – from Legal Technologists, Legal Engineers and Legal Solution Architects to Data Analysts, Cybersecurity professionals and Privacy Managers. Regardless of the designation, there is no doubt, new types of legal roles have emerged and are here to stay. Legal and Justice tech experts can now be found in many high-end law firms and organisations, with their roles being increasingly indispensable. In the last few years, many tech-savvy, fresh law graduates have jumped onto this new opportunity as it allows them a way out of the grind of traditional law practices and provides an alternative legal career – one, that owing to its fairly nascent stages, is full of possibilities