- Australia’s innovation-focused law firm, Lander & Rogers to hold an experimental trial at renowned festival of cutting-edge technology and innovation
- A skilled courtroom lawyer will compete against artificial intelligence (AI)
Lander & Rogers will pit human intelligence against artificial intelligence in a courtroom setting at SXSW Sydney, the annual gathering of visionaries, thought leaders, and emerging talents.
Hosted by Courtney Blackman, head of partnerships and director of the LawTech Hub and AI Clinics within Lander & Rogers’ iHub innovation function, the mock trial will focus on a simple legal matter that everyone in the audience can relate to for what is sure to be a both an entertaining and eye-opening live experiment.
Ms Blackman said: “Being part of the 2024 SXSW Sydney program on behalf of Lander & Rogers’ iHub is a brilliant opportunity to explore the intersection of AI and the law as it relates both law firms and the wider public. This experiment will provide a glimpse into the future of legal practice, namely, can people represent themselves in a courtroom setting with an AI assistant? It’s an exciting opportunity for the audience to engage with emerging technology and see firsthand whether AI can truly hold its own against a trained and seasoned legal professional. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds in front of a live audience.”
Can a lawyer out-skill a specialised legal AI tool?
Jeanette Merjane, Lander & Rogers senior associate and innovation manager, will go head-to-head with an AI in the SXSW Sydney “courtroom”, to see if she can out-skill technology, representing a randomly selected audience member.
A second randomly selected audience member will “represent” themselves, using a specialised legal AI tool called NexLaw, which is not available to the general public. The defendant using NexLaw will be supported by Kenneth Leung, technology lawyer and AI expert at Lander & Rogers.
The concept of AI in the courtroom has been debated in the media and within the legal profession. A “robot lawyer” startup in America recently claimed an AI could listen in on a hearing and “whisper” suggested responses in the defendant’s ear, thereby allowing people to represent themselves and avoid legal fees. However, the CEO of this startup was threatened with legal action for engaging in the unauthorised practice of law and violating courtroom rules amongst other issues, putting the idea on hold.
Human intelligence vs. artificial intelligence
But is the idea of AI in a court setting really that far off? Lander & Rogers aims to explore this question in real time at SXSW Sydney. Will a skilled legal practitioner like Ms Merjane outperform the AI, or will the AI take the crown?
Ms Merjane said: “The legal profession is evolving, and it’s crucial for us to explore how technologies like AI can complement our work. While AI has made significant strides, there’s still a lot to learn about its capabilities and limitations in a courtroom setting. This mock trial is a unique opportunity to showcase the strengths and limitations of both human and artificial intelligence in a legal context. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Professor David Lindsay from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) will preside over the courtroom, serving as the judge in the mock trial.
Mr Lindsay said: “As the acting judge, I’m keen to see how AI performs compared to a lawyer. The SXSW Sydney mock trial will be an engaging and educational experience, a chance to reflect on the future implications of AI in our justice system.”
Join Lander & Rogers for this exciting event and be part of the conversation about the future of artificial intelligence in the courtroom.
Event highlights:
Host: Courtney Blackman from the Lander & Rogers’ iHub
Lawyer: Jeanette Merjane vs. AI
Judge: Professor David Lindsay, UTS
AI Expert: Kenneth Leung, lawyer at Lander & Rogers
Audience Participation: The audience will vote on the outcome and one audience member will be chosen to act as a defendant, represented by Ms Merjane. Another will get to defend themselves using NexLaw.
The mock trial at SXSW Sydney will take place on 15 October 2024 from 3.00pm – 4.00pm at the UTS Collaborative Theatre. Attendees are invited to be a part of the conversation: SXSW Sydney 2024 Schedule
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About Lander & Rogers
Founded in 1946, Lander & Rogers is one of the few remaining truly independent Australian law firms and is a leader in legal tech innovation through its iHub, AI Lab, LawTech Hub, and AI Clinics.
With offices across the eastern seaboard of Australia, the firm has grown organically resulting in a unified firm with a strong focus on client and staff care.
“We believe legal services involve more than just the law – practical, commercial advice and exceptional client experience are equally important to our clients and to us”, says Genevieve Collins, Chief Executive Partner.
Lander & Rogers advises corporate, government, not-for-profit and private clients in insurance law and litigation, family law, workplace relations and safety, real estate, corporate transactions, digital & technology and commercial disputes.
The firm is global in approach, working closely with a network of leading firms to provide advice to clients, both domestically and abroad. Lander & Rogers is also the exclusive Australian member of the world’s leading independent network of law firms, TerraLex.
