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Law Subject Spotlight

Legal technology: law in the digital age
with Christopher Sykes from Manchester Metropolitan University

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In this fascinating Subject Spotlight, Christopher Sykes from Manchester Metropolitan University takes a deep dive into the world of legal tech, and discusses how it can be used to enhance the industry. In episode 1, Chris introduces the concept of legal tech and how it is being used. He also outlines how the development of AI has changed the landscape of the legal industry. In episode 2, Chris delves into predictive analytics within law and then discusses some of the ethical considerations that are imperative to using legal tech. In episode 3, Chris discusses some industry specific examples of the positive and negative impacts of legal tech, and how each of these instances has impacted the profession. In the final episode, Chris outlines the role of small and large law firms here in the UK. Chris then sets you an exciting activity which puts you in the shoes of someone working at a law firm who is tasked with using legal tech to improve efficiency in the firm.

Christopher SykesManchester Metropolitan UniversityLaw

All episodes
1. An introduction to legal technology
2. The positives and negatives of legal technology
3. Case studies: the other considerations of using legal technology
4. Activity: improving a law firm with legal technology

About the university


Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Met is home to one of the UK’s largest and most diverse student communities, with over 43,000 students representing over 100 countries. Located in the heart of Manchester, we provide a caring environment where students, staff, businesses and communities come together to innovate, share knowledge and help improve life for all. The courses we offer are designed around you and your future, and we collaborate with our partners to help you get hands-on industry experience. Rated Gold standard under the Teaching Excellence Framework, we’re committed to providing an outstanding student experience that gets you career, life, and future ready.

Meet the academic
Christopher Sykes

Christopher Sykes joined Manchester Law School in January and is an alumnus of the Manchester Law School - having studied his GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law) and LPC (Legal Practice Course) at Manchester Law School many years ago.  Christopher is qualified as a solicitor specialising in criminal defence, and although he no longer practices law he retains a strong interest in that area. Christopher left practice to teach law and legal skills in Spain, before co-founding a legal technology business in Hong Kong.  This is what brought him into the world of ‘legaltech’.  After this, he then pursued a career as a tutor, where he focused on the design and teaching of tech and innovation related programmes. Christopher now teaches digital skills and legal technology, and he supervises projects and dissertations focussing on this area.  Christopher is the Programme Leader for the LLM in Legal Practice, and unit leader of Legaltech Projects on the LLB and both Professionals in Practice and Digital Lawyering on the LLM LP.

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