Susskind seeks National Institute for Legal Innovation
The UK Government should establish a new National Institute for Legal Innovation, in the face of greater competition from jurisdictions such as China, according to legal technology pioneer Richard Susskind.
Speaking today at an event with attendees from across the legal, political, and business world, Professor Susskind, a director of LegalUK, claims that the UK’s legal and common law heritage, while internationally admired, is no longer enough.
Established in 2017 by the Lord Chief Justice, LegalUK’s purpose is to promote English law as an international platform, as the governing law of choice for international business and as a national asset.
Professor Susskind believes that English law is the obvious choice in relation to AI, and that there is a clear opportunity for the UK to show how its courts should take advantage of technological change, for example by helping self-represented litigants to understand and enforce their entitlements.
He believes the UK needs to bring together the best legal and technology minds to harness the full power and potential of artificial intelligence as an opportunity for the economy and the profession, not a threat.
China has plans to roll out an AI system to support the law by 2025, and the EU is "leading the way on AI regulation", but the UK’s attempts to keep pace with change have to date been piecemeal and uncoordinated, Professor Susskind states. While other disciplines already have national centres, there is currently no such body to advance law and legal services on a national basis.
The proposed National Institute would bring together the best people in UK law to think deeply, undertake research, and develop new products and solutions that would bring huge economic and societal advantage to the UK.
Speaking ahead of the event, Professor Susskind said: "Yesterday’s formula is not sustainable. We cannot rely on tradition to help us meet the challenges the UK justice and legal systems are facing. Technology is driving forward change at a rapid rate, and to maintain our leadership, we need to innovate and embrace technology as a force for good.
"We are calling for the establishment of a new National Institute for Legal Innovation to systematically bring together the best legal minds and ensure we are ahead of the game and position ourselves as global leaders.
"Until now, the loudest voices have been those who see AI and technology as a problem, rather than the clear opportunity that it is. All the while, the pace of technological change is accelerating.
"The Institute will become a focal point in the UK for new thinking on how we improve access to justice, preserve our global position, and respond to the rapid development of technology."