The labour market research bureau Arbeidsmarktresearch (ARR), which is linked to the Department of Employment Law, is to collaborate with Transform Data International, which specialises in software for digital legal applications. The aim is to give students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with technology that impacts the work of legal professionals, so they’re up to speed with what’s going on in this field when they enter the labour market.

Legal Tech

Legal Tech refers to innovative, technological changes in the application of and approach to the law. E.g. digital initiatives such as chatbots and platforms for coordinating supply and demand in the field of law, and extensive development of tools that determine the user’s legal position through interactive decision systems. Legal Tech also includes artificial intelligence and blockchain. 

Amsterdam Law Practice

Rachel Rietveld is coordinator of the Legal Tech Law Lab for master’s students. The lab is linked to the Amsterdam Law Practice and gives students practical experience in the field of technology and law. ‘The legal professional of the future must know how legal IT applications work’, says Rachel. ‘It’s crucial that we educate our students on this subject, because Legal Tech is becoming ever more important. Students don’t need to be able to create systems themselves, but they do need to know the potential and limitations of these systems, for example. It’s also important to have a really good discussion around the ethics of this development.’

Neota Logic

Transform Data International supplies Neota Logic software to the education sector. The software allows students to create legal decision systems and document generators. In experiential learning courses, students can use the software to create content for law firms and companies, for example. After all, the software alone isn’t enough; it’s all about interpretation and taking a logical approach to the law.