Studying Law in a digital age: interpreting digital readiness to prepare students for a technologically advanced, multidisciplinary and complex professional environment

The world of professional work is changing in new and creative ways by embracing digital practices. We regularly hear about advances in new technologies such as the use of artificial intelligence and algorithms in decision-making, the delivery of legal services online through encrypted virtual law offices, the use of blockchains to manage legal transactions, in particular the execution of smart contracts, the use of big data and data analytics for discovery of evidence in criminal and civil matters and the piloting of virtual reality in the reconstruction of cases in jury trials. Together with these new
technologies, work has been underway in our justice system piloting and testing the affordances and limitations of court processes online for small value claims, development of new procedural rules to support the online processes, online courts, online dispute resolution platforms, the use of technology in the courts and online hearings. Further, the 2017 Industrial Strategy (green paper)6
in the United Kingdom has flagged up the importance to universities, students and the broader economy, of graduates leaving higher education armed with the skills and attributes that employers need.