QA: Michael Lees, Head of Legal Technology and Innovation, Attorney-General's Chambers (Singapore)
BY
Shay Namdarian
The way that legal services are delivered is fast changing due to advances in technology and business model innovation. This is resulting in a gradual shift towards affordable, standardised services and efficiencies in how law firms deliver services. We interviewed thought leaders on the changing legal industry, emerging technologies impacting the sector, factors holding law firms back and what the future lawyer looks like.
Here is our interview with the Head of Legal Technology and Innovation at Attorney-General's Chambers (Singapore), Michael Lees.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THE LEGAL INDUSTRY IN 5 YEARS?
In five years I believe the industry will have:
- more diversity of operating models
- more free digital services available
- fewer mid-sized firms
- more legally qualified but non practising lawyers
- more industry roles such as legal engineers
WHICH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ARE YOU MOST EXCITED BY AND WHY?
1. No code / low code platforms - because subject matter experts, like lawyers, can automate much of their businesses.
2. Digital signature technology - because authentication of content and identity are at the core of the legal industry.
WHAT IS CURRENTLY HOLDING LAW FIRMS BACK FROM INNOVATING?
1. The investment / retirement dilemma in most (not so large) law firms
2. Historical lock-in of the document paradigm
3. The lack of a crisis in the industry
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LAWYER LOOK LIKE?
Strengths:
- Willing to engage in using (and building) new IT tools and systems
- More demanding of high quality data in IT systems.
- Able to be productive away from office
- Effective in using meeting tools to get legal work done and advocate in court.
- Will seek greater work life balance
Weaknesses:
- Business relationship management
- Info security and privacy awareness
- More reliant on support services (eg. template and
process automation) to get work done.
To find out what 14 other thought leaders had to say on the future of legal services, download the full 21st Century Lawyer report at www.newlawacademy.com/report
The way that legal services are delivered is fast changing due to advances in technology and business model innovation. This is resulting in a gradual shift towards affordable, standardised services and efficiencies in how law firms deliver services. We interviewed thought leaders on the changing legal industry, emerging technologies impacting the sector, factors holding law firms back and what the future lawyer looks like.
Here is our interview with the Head of Legal Technology and Innovation at Attorney-General's Chambers (Singapore), Michael Lees.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THE LEGAL INDUSTRY IN 5 YEARS?
In five years I believe the industry will have:
- more diversity of operating models
- more free digital services available
- fewer mid-sized firms
- more legally qualified but non practising lawyers
- more industry roles such as legal engineers
WHICH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ARE YOU MOST EXCITED BY AND WHY?
1. No code / low code platforms - because subject matter experts, like lawyers, can automate much of their businesses.
2. Digital signature technology - because authentication of content and identity are at the core of the legal industry.
WHAT IS CURRENTLY HOLDING LAW FIRMS BACK FROM INNOVATING?
1. The investment / retirement dilemma in most (not so large) law firms
2. Historical lock-in of the document paradigm
3. The lack of a crisis in the industry
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LAWYER LOOK LIKE?
Strengths:
- Willing to engage in using (and building) new IT tools and systems
- More demanding of high quality data in IT systems.
- Able to be productive away from office
- Effective in using meeting tools to get legal work done and advocate in court.
- Will seek greater work life balance
Weaknesses:
- Business relationship management
- Info security and privacy awareness
- More reliant on support services (eg. template and
process automation) to get work done.
To find out what 14 other thought leaders had to say on the future of legal services, download the full 21st Century Lawyer report at www.newlawacademy.com/report
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about the author
Shay Namdarian is GM of Customer Strategy at Collective Campus and the author of Stop Talking, Start Making - A Guide to Design Thinking. Shay has over ten years of experience working across a wide range of projects focusing on customer experience and design thinking. He is a regular speaker and facilitator on design thinking and has gained his experience across several consulting firms including Ernst & Young, Capgemini and Accenture. Shay has supported global organisations to embed customer-centric culture, working closely with law firms such as Clifford Chance, Pinsent Masons and ClaytonUtz
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