Legal Technology and Legal Education in China
- 1 College of Humanities and Law, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
- 2 College of Humanities and Law, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
Abstract
Legal technology, otherwise known as legaltech, refers to the use of innovative technologies within the legal system with the aim of enhancing accuracy, efficiency, effectiveness and competence. A notable example of this is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in judicial decision-making. Legaltech is an evolving field that impacts all stakeholders within the legal system, including but not limited to lawyers, judges, technologists, policymakers and clients. It has also transformed the rule of law, particularly the justice system. Despite this, legal education in many jurisdictions has not been reformed to meet the new demands of legaltech, such as teaching skills and training people with a combination of science, technology and law. Although legaltech is well-established in China, there are only about 20 universities that offer legaltech courses, mainly for graduate students, and there are almost no training programmes for lawyers and judges. This article examines China’s legaltech education and finds that the established legal education system needs to make substantial adjustments to legaltech education and training to provide more legaltech human capital. At present, it is important for higher education to incorporate legaltech into their undergraduate courses. This strategic initiative is crucial in addressing the pervasive shortage of legaltech professionals.
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