To boldly go

In an era where technology is reshaping every industry, the Law Society’s Technology Committee is scanning the wormhole of this significant transformation. Mary Hallissey makes it so

With 20 members from all corners of the country and profession – including in-house counsel, small and medium-sized firms, sole practitioners, academics, and partners from large firms – the Law Society Technology Committee is tasked with guiding the profession through the complex and ever-evolving intersection of the use of technology in legal practice.

The committee is chaired by Kate McKenna. Kate trained at McCann FitzGerald, where she picked up her passion for technology law.

When qualifying in 2011, she focused initially on IP and tech law, but pivoted in 2020, when she joined Frontline Ventures. Here, her interest in IP and tech law serves her well in her role as head of legal at a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage European and growth-stage US B2B software companies.

“With technology, it’s so relevant to our daily lives – at home, at work, and how we interact with the world around us,” she comments.

“That has been a major hook for my continuing passion for the area. Technology can also help the law to be a more sustainable profession.”

Technology has also enabled greater work flexibility in what can be a highly stressful profession, both in private practice and in-house.

The ability to work remotely has created a more flexible and inclusive working environment for practitioners, especially those who have young families, are out on sick or maternity leave, or have a disability, she says.

Strange new worlds

The Technology Committee’s mission is clear: to empower the profession as a whole to confidently and competently navigate the rapidly evolving technological landscape in their legal practice.

“We sit down together as a committee, annually, to refresh our mission statement to ensure we are doing all we can – through guidance on systems, regulatory compliance, and accessibility – to support practitioners integrate technology sustainably in their legal practices,” explains Kate.

The committee has dedicated subcommittees to tackle the major issues facing the profession (as identified in polls undertaken by the Law Society during its strategy refresh last year), including in AI, generative AI, and cybersecurity.

“We also have a subcommittee liaising with the Courts Service team in connection with their Digitisation of Justice Strategy, as well as a Practice Technology Subcommittee helping professionals stay ahead of the curve,” Kate says.

Discovery

AI is one of the most transformative forces in legal practice today, and the committee wants to make sure that lawyers understand its potential and its pitfalls.

The AI Subcommittee has been instrumental in educating the profession on the intricacies of AI regulations, especially as the EU prepares to implement its landmark AI Act.

With a focus on compliance requirements and practical applications, it has published a series of guides aimed at demystifying AI for Irish solicitors. Topics range from AI literacy and prohibited uses, to timelines for compliance.

The Technology Committee is also committed to working towards educating the profession on how to use AI responsibly in their legal practice, in areas such as legal research, contract automation, and predictive analytics.

“AI is going to change the way we practise law, and we want to make sure that legal professionals are prepared to embrace it ethically and effectively,” Kate says. AI isn’t just a passing trend – it’s part of the future of law, and the committee is ensuring that the profession is ready for it.
Enterprise

In a world where cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated by the day, protecting sensitive client information has never been more crucial.

The Cybersecurity Subcommittee is working hard to raise awareness about the risks of phishing, data breaches, and ransomware. Through practical advice and thought leadership, the subcommittee is now a key resource for law firms looking to bolster their cybersecurity defences.

It has collaborated with the Education Committee to produce a series of webinars on best practice for digital security, covering everything from securing digital infrastructures, to training staff in spotting phishing attempts. This offering should be available for practitioners very soon.

Deep Space Nine

As the digitisation of courts’ services accelerates, the Technology Committee is determined to ensure that technological systems are designed with the correct functionality and interoperability with other relevant core systems that are required to interact with the Courts Service’s platform.

By liaising closely with the Courts Service, the committee hopes to be a voice for the practitioner having to interact with these new systems in a way that ultimately benefits the profession as a whole, and their clients.

The committee is devoted to aiding accessibility and breaking down the barriers to inclusion in the Irish legal sector.

“Technology should be a tool for inclusion, not exclusion, and improvements should benefit everyone,” says Kate.

The Technology Committee recently collaborated with the disAbility Legal Network to publish a list of assistive technology available for use in legal practice.

It is the view of both that, with more and more workplace interactions taking place online (from the hiring stage to engaging with our colleagues and clients on a daily basis), and with the increased use of AI by many businesses, technology can be harnessed by law firms, large and small, to bring about greater accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Voyager

Kate points out that the adoption of technology in legal practices is no longer optional – it’s a necessity. From client-relationship management systems to document-automation tools, the Practice Technology Subcommittee is helping firms choose the right technologies to streamline their workflows.

But it’s not just about convenience, it’s about compliance, too. The committee works to ensure that the technologies that law firms adopt are in line with the General Data Protection Regulation.

By offering practical guidance on technology selection, the committee is helping firms integrate the right tools without compromising on confidentiality, intellectual-property rights, or data security.

The committee meets online monthly and is committed to strengthening its relationships with key stakeholders across the legal ecosystem. By engaging with the Law Society, Courts Service, and external bodies, it stays at the heart of all discussions shaping the future of legal technology.

The committee is also looking at how technology can help practices to reduce operational inefficiencies and better adapt to hybrid-working environments.

The committee will be beefing up its educational efforts in cybersecurity and AI, with conferences and guidance documents, and further collaborations with other committees are all in train.

The next generation

The Technology Committee chair believes that the future of the legal profession lies in the hands of young lawyers and trainees.

By engaging with the next generation early, the committee hopes to cultivate a workforce that is not only tech-savvy, but also prepared to tackle the looming challenges.

As technology continues to transform the profession, the committee’s efforts to guide, educate, and support it are helping to ensure a future that is not only more efficient and technologically advanced, but also more inclusive, secure, and sustainable.

The Technology Committee has engaged warp drive!

Mary Hallissey is a journalist with the Law Society Gazette.