In for the long ride? Law and technology education in the UK and its utility in pursuing responsible tech careers

Aidinlis, Stergios

Abstract

Can law graduates contribute to the development of fair technology in a world where rapid technological innovation often outpaces societal considerations? This paper explores the gap between the skills required for a career in “responsible tech” and the skills taught in law and technology courses in the UK. It uses a literature review to identify four types of skills that are relevant for job applicants in this field: technological skills, legal knowledge, context awareness and soft skills. It then analyses 200 job advertisements from three “responsible tech” job boards to determine which skills are most in demand by employers. Finally, it discusses these findings in the light of the current state of law and technology education in the UK. The paper argues that there is a need for more alignment between law and technology curricula and the real-world needs of the “responsible tech” sector. It also suggests some ways to improve legal education in this area, such as interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning and critical thinking.

Citation

Aidinlis, S. (in press). In for the long ride? Law and technology education in the UK and its utility in pursuing responsible tech careers. The Law Teacher, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069400.2024.2336882

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 27, 2024
• Online Publication Date: May 22, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 3, 2024
• Journal: The Law Teacher
• Print ISSN: 0306-9400
• Electronic ISSN: 1943-0353
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1-21
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03069400.2024.2336882
• Keywords: Legal education; law and technology; responsible technology
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/845601
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=ralt20; Received: 2023-07-11; Accepted: 2024-03-27; Published: 2024-05-22