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Will legal careers be eaten by technology?

This year’s TechStars conference will take place at the Law Society’s Presidents’ Hall at Blackhall Place, Dublin 7, on 26 March.

The 10am to 2pm conference will examine what new technology, such as machine learning, means for Irish legal practice, legal education, and career opportunities.

The conference is timely, since the Irish Courts Service now authorises the use of e-discovery, is experimenting with document-display technology, and developing new user-friendly websites.

Software start-ups are targeting lawyers as a distinct market segment – and adopting ‘lawtech’ is becoming a competitive advantage and a mark of best practice, the organisers say.

Innovations

This event, co-organised by Dr Rónán Kennedy(School of Law, NUI Galway) and Nap Keeling (Ken Kennedy Solicitors), will bring together key innovators and is aimed at practitioners, ICT specialists, and students.

The keynote speaker is Chief Justice Frank Clarke, and the opening address will be given by Andreas Carney of Pinsent Masons.

The first session, facilitated by Nap Keeling, will examine the courts and lawtech. The panel will include Karyn Harty (McCann FitzGerald), Mr Justice Garrett Simons (High Court) and Audrey Leonard (Courts Service).

Legal transactions

The second session will examine legal transactions and lawtech.

Facilitated by Dr Rónán Kennedy, the panel will include Gerard Brady (Irish Water), Tara Doyle (Matheson) and Lory Kehoe (ConsenSys).

The third session will focus on access to justice and lawtech. Speakers will include Mark Edwards (of cloud legal company Rocket Lawyer), Gavin Sheridan (Vizlegal) and Mark Tottenham BL (DECISIS). The facilitator is Alison Hough BL (Athlone IT).

Alternative careers

The fourth session will examine alternative careers and lawtech, and will be facilitated by Dr David Cowan (Maynooth University).

The panel will comprise Dan Fox (Johnson Hanna), Elizabeth Fitzgerald (Fitzgerald Tech Law) and Alex Kelly (founder of Brightflag).

Three CPD points will accrue from attendance at Techstars and tickets can be booked now.